Face the Lion

By Dennis Lee

A man awoke screaming after having a terrifying dream. In the dream, a ferocious lion kept chasing him, and he would run away until he was completely exhausted.

Weeks later the man knelt in prayer. He recalled the dream and when the lion came toward him. But now, instead of running he stood still and faced the lion. Upon reaching the man the lion stopped and the man asked who the lion was. The lion replied, “I am your courage and your strength. Why are you running from me?” 

This man represents many believers in Jesus Christ as they continue to run away from their courage and strength. This is why so many don’t move forward in the will and way of God, and instead settle in the pews, or worse, do nothing with the gifts and talents they have been given.

But the sort of courage and strength represented by the lion isn’t ordinary courage or strength. It is lion-hearted. It is divine. It is God-given, and it is the courage and strength we long for, and yet we run from it. 

And the reason it scares us is that once we accept it, then there are no more excuses. But consider for a moment the victories that can be won when we stop running and accept what God desires to give to us and do through us.

Consider David’s victory over Goliath. David faced this behemoth of a man with only a sling and five stones. Yet, victory was achieved, not because of David’s skill of arms, but because of David’s courage and trust in God. 

David said to this Philistine giant, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand.” (1 Samuel 17:45-46a)

And so, let’s start placing our trust in where it truly belongs, and that is in the Lord God, and He will give us the strength and courage to face our fears, to overcome our doubts, and to be His mighty men and women of valor. 

Dennis graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master of arts in theology from Talbot School of Theology, along with a master of divinity equivalency degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Dennis is a prolific writer. He presently has two books, “From Here to There: A Journey to Spiritual Transformation,” and “Wells of Living Waters,” along with other books and pamphlets that he describes as “down the pike.” He also writes a religious column for a local newspaper entitled, “Rediscover the Bible for Life,” along with daily devotionals and thoughts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Living Waters Fellowship’s Website. Dennis is presently the senior pastor of Living Waters Fellowship in Mesquite, Nevada.

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Feature Photo by Wallpaper Access