It’s been hard to keep it a secret…but it is my great joy to introduce the Courage To Bible Study that you can now sign up for.
Keep reading to hear all about the why, what, and how of this new study. It’s been on my heart and mind for a few months now and I’m so excited to share it with you and walk through it alongside you!
What’s the Courage To study about?
Whenever we describe courage, it’s usually through an action that is courageous. And where better to look for examples of courage than in the pages of Scripture?
Because God is just that cool, He has worked in the lives of humans throughout history to not only accomplish His will on earth, but also to bless and grow these individuals.
The pages of Scripture are filled with men and women who, though flawed and sinful, exemplified courage as they walked with God.
Though there are many more we could study, Courage To will cover twelve different historical figures from Scripture and the unique ways in which they showed courage.
Each chapter will contain five days of study that involve Scripture reading, questions to consider, and a key verse on which to focus. You should be able to complete each day’s study in about thirty minutes (which combines reading the Scripture and answering the questions).
Instead of going through it on your own, here’s the fun part:
How to join the Courage To study
The study itself is completely free and you’ll have access to each available chapter as soon as the study begins.
Each week will involve:
- The new chapter dropping on Monday morning bright and early
- A short live training on that week’s character and aspect of courage
- Daily discussion questions pulled from the study
- Giveaways for participation AND for inviting friends
- Other fun surprises as the study progresses
Note: This study has ended and signups are closed.
Why Courage?
God used a tough doctors visit, the steadfast love of my family, and the persistence of His Holy Spirit to get into my heart and challenge me: to build a life that glorified God and satisfied me.
It wasn’t a straight-line climb out of that valley. But neither was I alone for a single step.
Each day I’m waking up and re-committing to building a life of courageous stewardship. And that’s what led me to start my business so I could help other women do the same.
If you’ve visited my About page, then you know why I called my company Courage Dear. In addition to my lifelong love for the Chronicles of Narnia, I’ve always been drawn to “courage.”
At first, I thought it was because I’m the oldest sibling – guinea pig and trend-setter extraordinaire.
But my sisters, my friends, my coaches will tell you…I’m not that fashionable. But more importantly, I’m not always courageous.
I think about a lot of things. But taking courageous action? Usually I need a kick in the pants – a pep talk from a friend, a challenge from a coach…or a passage of Scripture delivered with a Holy-Spirit-fueled prick of the conscience.
That’s what happened with my life, with the beginning of this business, and with the inception of this study.
My story, part 1 - the courage to build
I won’t share my entire testimony here, but a few years ago (after walking with the Lord as my personal Savior for a while) I found myself in the very bottom of a dark valley.
My life had spun out of control, even though on the outside I had it all – a job in my field, a husband who loved me, good friends, a nice place to live…the list goes on.
But inside, I was a mess. When no one was watching, I struggled to get out of bed each morning, to do anything but consume TV after work, to take care of myself and my husband with even basic healthy meals.
God used a tough doctors visit, the steadfast love of my family, and the persistence of His Holy Spirit to get into my heart and challenge me: to build a life that glorified God and satisfied me.
It wasn’t a straight-line climb out of that valley. But neither was I alone for a single step.
Each day I’m waking up and re-committing to building a life of courageous stewardship.
And that’s what led me to start my business so I could help other women do the same.
My story, part 2 - the courage to act
During a lunch break at work on March 6th, 2020, I typed out a note on my phone titled, “Things I want to do.” In frustration, I brain dumped everything that I’d been thinking about but not doing, things I was doing and wanted to do better, and some opportunities that were just ideas. I didn’t feel like I had time for ANY of it.
I prayed and journaled, and God provided an opening with a business coach whose free community I had joined. A week later, I purchased a ninety minute coaching call with the goal of launching my business through a five day challenge she would help me set up.
Three days later, March 18th, we were told to stay home from work until “sometime in April” and a few other commitments I had were either postponed or moved online.
Throughout March and April consistently showed up on social media, coached my beta clients, and planned my five day challenge. In May, I purchased my LLC. June 1st through 5th I ran my challenge and in July, signed my first paying client! So Courage Dear was born.
Because I cried out to the Lord that I wanted more and He answered with, “Here you are, my beloved daughter. Here is the open door. And here also is the courage to act.”
At the end of the day, our God gives us the courage we need for everything He places in front of us.
My story, part 3 - the courage to wait
Just like my personal growth wasn’t (and still isn’t) a straightforward climb, neither has my business growth been a straight line.
I’ve tried and failed, tried and found a little success, and loved every step of the way.
Each winter, we vacation with my family to my favorite place on earth: Kiawah Island, South Carolina. We spend nearly as much time biking and playing games as we do reading, thinking, and dreaming.
One morning, after God walked me through an emotional mess of desperation and fear around my business, I felt the word “courage”pressed deep into my heart. It wasn’t a new word to me, since I named my business “Courage Dear” and chose “courageous stewardship” as my phrase for 2020.
But I was reading the book of Daniel at the time and considered how Daniel showed courage in spite of crazy terrifying circumstances.
And so the basis for the “Courage To” Bible study was born…only for it to wait.
My life for the last few months has felt like a massive waiting period. Waiting for growth. Waiting for the next season. Waiting for answers to prayer.
And I’m going to be perfectly honest and tell you that I’m still, each day, praying for the courage to wait.
But finally, the waiting time for this study is over. Now is the time to dive into God’s word together, to grow in courage together, and to glorify our courageous God together.
In this study, we are going to study flawed humans that God has used throughout history to shout His name, to proclaim His glory, to provide courageous examples for us to follow.
But let us never forget that we serve the perfectly Courageous One, who is the source of and the reason for all our own courage.
So now what?
Check out the Resources page for new studies as they become available.
