Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.  (Hebrews 13:5)

Mehdi Dibaj

Jesus said, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it" (Matthew 16:25).

Every Christian should be willing to be such a sacrifice for God that he gets cleansed by the fire of hardships and sufferings. "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21).

My heart rejoices as I walk with Jesus
the world behind me, the cross before me
I will follow Him for ever ... every day.

He will never leave us. He will never forsake us. It is the wish of every father and child to walk together. God too wishes that we walk with Him - that is to obey Him.

"I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless." Two people can only walk together if they agree together.

In the triumphal procession of Christ we will go forward by the power of God.

[Judy Harder]

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way.  (Psalm 46:1-2)

Mehdi Dibaj

In the story of Daniel's friends in the fiery oven, God teaches us an important spiritual truth, if we want to walk close to our Lord we must be willing to go into the fire because it is the safest place for us. Not only will our socks not burn, but our clothes will not even smell of fire.

I praise God that during these seven years that I have been in prison for my faith, the Lord Jesus Christ has been my strength in a wonderful way. I not only may walk close to Him in the midst of the fire, but I go forward as well.

He leads me through water and fire

He leads us in the way of the Cross.

Yes, God is our refuge and strength an ever-present help in trouble.

[Judy Harder]

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. (Psalm 68:19)

Mehdi Dibaj

On a busy road with strong winds and heavy traffic, the crossing of such a road is a frightening experience. A child would be very scared and cry, "Daddy carry me, Daddy carry me."

In our walk with God we often experience the same storms and danger. Sometimes the pressures are so intense that it seems impossible to go forward anymore.

In such storms, what should our attitude be? Is there any hope or help from God?

The Lord says; "Call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you and you will praise me."

Yes, we may cast all our burdens upon Him, for He cares for us. He daily bears our burdens.

Mehdi Dibaj is from Iran. While this book was being compiled, Mehdi Dibaj had been in prison for nine years. Early in 1994 he was released, but was murdered six months later. His courtroom defense was edited to form part of this book.

[Judy Harder]

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:

Mehdi Dibaj

In days of trouble I have learned to pray - listen - praise.

Pray

"Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me" (Psalm 17:.

Listen

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). "It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord" (Lamentations 3:26).

Praise

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me, he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called and the Lord heard him. He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:4-8a).

[Judy Harder]

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)

Irina Ratushinskaya

These words from Jesus seem strange. What is easy - and what is light?

Even the decision to start practicing it is heavy. But once having decided, we notice that it is easy. I experienced this in a camp with political prisoners. The life that the prison guards arranged for us seemed one dark nightmare. But by the spiritual attitude of my friends and myself this nightmare changed completely.

Why? Because we had an amazing sense of protection around us and a conviction that all the evil intentions of the guards ultimately would only lead us closer to the heavenly kingdom.

Knocked out by cold or hunger? Threatened with death?

But aren't we serving the Lord? The fear of suffering loses all its power when a person takes up that service.

The inevitable sadness only scratches the outer cover of the soul - but can never penetrate it. There, within, is only light and joy and peace. And from there comes new strength.

And every time you are astonished you remember: Christ did promise that it would be light!

[Judy Harder]

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Mehdi Dibaj

What a joy for a little child to sit on the broad and strong shoulders of his father. From that height he watches the passing of people, the business in the streets. He has fun and feels safe. When he does get frightened he clenches his arms even tighter around his father's shoulders. He knows he can trust his father.

Is this not our position in Christ Jesus? In the day of trouble He hides us in His shelter.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust'"(Psalm 91:1,2). The everlasting Father is our refuge. His immortal arms are our support.

Whatever our situation may be, He is always our refuge. During these past nine years in prison for my love for Him I have had the joy again and again of experiencing His strong arms of support.

Have faith in God.

[Judy Harder]

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:10)

Mehdi Dibaj

The Almighty God not only gives us strength to walk with Him, to go forward with Him or to go up with Him but also to come down with Him to the valley of the battle.

Or should I say, I may go up to Him - He will come down to me.

I may sit, in the heavenly places, on His "broad shoulders." He will kneel down with me in the valley of battle and hold my hand. The more I visit Him up there - the more I experience His help down here.

The mountains of life may be shaken, the pains of being separated from my beloved family may hurt, the prison cell may be dark - His unfailing love for me is not shaken and my love for Him is growing stronger every day.

[Judy Harder]

Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand. (Jeremiah 18:6)

Mehdi Dibaj

It is to the humble that God gives His grace.

It is in the fire that gold becomes pure.

It is the rubbing and cutting that makes the diamond brilliant.

It is in high temperatures that the rust of the pot is burnt.

It is through the narrow gate that we enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

It is in great difficulties that men of God are made.

Lord, make me such a man.

[Judy Harder]

You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.  (Psalm 139:5-6)

Mehdi Dibaj

Truly, living with God is glorious.

The darker the night, the closer the dawn.

The darker the clouds, the more plentiful the life-giving rains.

The narrower the way, the more God's unlimited help!

The greater the troubles, the more the comforts from God. Though the waves of the sea get higher, this can never disturb the calm of the depths!

Though the storm is violent, it cannot displace the mountain. Those who trust in the Lord are like mountains that cannot be shaken.

The person who lives in the shadow of the Almighty will never be disturbed by the heat.

[Judy Harder]

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through Him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 2:20)

Mehdi Dibaj

"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me" (Psalm 63:.

"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul" (Psalm 94:19).

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:.

"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:30).

"He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak" (Isaiah 40:29).

Blessed are we Christians, for we are God's children. I will thank Him forever for His loving kindness. I shout for joy in the night with my thankful heart. "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him - but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:9,10).

What a good God! What an incredible Savior.