Lions are supposed to be “The Kings of Beasts.” However, the Cowardly Lion, in the Wizard of Oz believes that his fear makes him inadequate. He does not understand that courage means acting in the face of fear. Only during the aftereffects of the Wizard’s gift, when he is under the influence of an unknown liquid substance that the Wizard orders him to drink, is when he not filled with fear. He argues that the courage from the Wizard is only temporary, although he continues to do brave deeds while openly and embarrassedly fearful.

Courage is defined as mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. Courage…it’s already in you. No need to go search for the Wizard to give it to you. It might be buried under many layers but it’s in you. The Cowardly Lion thought that he needed a higher power to give him courage. Our God has already planted courage within us, there is no need to search for what is already in us. We just need the WILLPOWER to activate it. You cannot win without WILLPOWER! We got to do it! Time is of the essence. Our purpose is too serious. Where is your WILLPOWER?

When courage is absent from us, we suffer. We let time go by when we could’ve accomplished things that day. We let FEAR…fear hold us back. Courage doesn’t mean that fear doesn’t exist. Courage is greater than fear. Fear keeps us from being led by the spirit. We have to get courage activated.

We can’t be faithful if we are fearful. Period. You become a slave of what you are fearful of. We need courage! We need to face the things that we fear. What we fear controls us. We are God’s children. We cannot simultaneously believe that we are his children and live with the spirit of fear.

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. — 2 Timothy 1:7

What do we need courage in?

1. Approach to Life
   1. Don’t wake up in the morning afraid.
      1. When we dwell on those kinds of thoughts, we’re not going to have peace. We need to pay attention to what we’re thinking about. All through the day, we should go around thinking, “God has me in the palm of His hand. All things are going yo work together for my good.”
   2. Be full of FAITH every day.
      1. Have the attitude of “I can! The world is pregnant with stuff for me.”
2. Approach to your Dream
   1. the Word is designed to encourage you. There are miracles on our path.
   2. God has birthed in you a dream which is linked to your purpose.
   3. Time is of the essence
3. Approach to Doing what you should
   1. Do the right thing.
   2. What opportunities are you missing out on?
4. Approach to Wholeness
   1. Confront yourself. God search me! Purify me! Take anything that’s not like YOU away from me Lord God!
   2. Face your demons. Face your giants.
5. Approach to death
   1. Live to leave a legacy behind.
   2. Don’t be afraid of death. The fear of death will take us there.

Glorify God with your gifts and talents. A lot of times we have certain things that God has given each of us but we don’t have the courage to use what God has given. Get the dust off of them! Activate your inner courage! Be great! You can win with what you got! God will make a way but FAITH must make the climb. You bring the WILL and God will bring the POWER.