IT TAKES COURAGE by charles r. swindoll
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got sick of hearing myself say it! Today eep within, we imagine ourselves I still repeat those three words. as a mixture of Patrick Henry, Davy Crockett, John Wayne, and the prophet 2. “I must not forget.” We must not forget the Lord our God and what He has done Daniel! But the truth of the matter is that for us. most of us would do anything to keep from being different. We’d much rather 3. “I am accountable.” I am accountable to God whether I am in Asia, blend into the woodRather than rugged at the tip of South America, work. One of our greatest individualists, we are or at the North Pole. fears is being ostracized, rejected by “the group.” more like Gulliver of 4. “I get my standard and security from God.” There are other fears— old, tied down and Not from my friend, not fear of being made to immobilized by tiny from my business, not look foolish, fear of being even from within myself. talked about and misun- strands of fear, real or derstood. Rather than imagined. The result is Christ is my surety. Remember. Just rugged individualists, we both predictable and because “everybody’s are more like Gulliver of tragic: loss of courage. doing it” doesn’t mean it’s old, tied down and immobilized by tiny strands of fear, real or either safe or right. You keep flying high imagined. The result is both predictable above the crowd. Up there it doesn’t just seem safe and right, it is safe and right. and tragic: loss of courage. It takes courage to think alone, to resist alone, to stand alone—especially when Taken from Charles R. Swindoll, The Strength of Character: 7 Essential Traits of a Remarkable Life the crowd seems so safe, so right. (Nashville: J. Countryman, 2007), 20–21. CopyLet me suggest four thoughts to help right © 2007 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights bolster your courage: reserved worldwide. 1. “I am responsible.” I said that to myself so many times in the Marine Corps that I
