(in)courage - Women of Courage: A 40-Day Devotional

Copyright 2019 by DaySpring Cards, Inc.

All rights reserved.

Printed in China

978-1-5359-6546-0

Published by B&H Publishing Group Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification: 248.843

Subject Heading: WOMEN / COURAGE / WOMEN IN THE BIBLE

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible and CSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Also used: English Standard Version ( esv ), ESV Text Edition: 2016. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Cover design by Emily Strnad. Cover photo Rawpixel.com/shutterstock. Cover illustration Anugraha Design/Creative Market

Photography, shutterstock: : Jit-anong Sae-ung

Photography, unsplash: : omar-lopez

Photography, (in)courage: : Luke Davis, Main Street Studios, Siloam Springs, AR

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Introduction

Hello, dear friend! Were so glad youve picked up this devotional. Created as a companion for the (in)courage Devotional Bible, this book features brave women of the Bible. Many of these women are featured in the devotional Bible, but here we dive deeper into their stories and their hearts, sharing the incredible inspiration weve found for facing our lives with courage.

After all, if youre like us, youre probably looking for a little courageor a lot of courage. We know how overwhelmingand sometimes even scarylife can be. We know how it feels to enter a new opportunity, a difficult situation, or even just the everydayness of life and wonder...

How am I going to do this?

Am I strong enough?

Am I brave enough?

Am I the only one whos felt this anxious or scared?

Can anyone help me figure this out?

Can anyone show me how to find courage?

When we dive into the Bible for answers and inspiration, God provides deep meaning and real guidance for our lives through the stories of women in His Word. Though they lived hundreds of years ago, women from Sarah and Naomi to Lydia and the woman at the well can teach us so much about facing brokenness and hopelessness with courage today.

These are not the Sunday school lessons of your childhood! No catchy choruses or flannel-graph dolls here. When we decided to look to the women of the Bible to learn about living courageously, we opted out of the surface level stories and simple platitudes weve been given in the past. Instead, we took a more personal approach and got to know these ladies at a deeper, more meaningful, more relatable level.

Our hope is that by putting yourself in these womens sandals, you can walk the same brave roads they did, through brokenness, betrayal, and tragedy, to gratitude, hope, and second chances. We hope you can learn, just as we are, to live courageously despite unusual, difficult, or even frightening circumstances.

Featuring forty brave womensome well-known (like Ruth, Elizabeth, Mary, and Martha) and some lesser-known (such as Shiprah, Puah, Lois, and Eunice)this devotional will walk with you through the hardest days and leave you with the courage you need to lead, to love, to trust, and to turn to God in every situation. From women who were called to step into leadership roles to women who had to rely on Gods daily provision for their needs, these heroes of the Bible show you exactly how to lean into the strength of the Lord when your own isnt enough.

Each reading begins with a passage of Scripture, then delves into a womans story with detail and depth that illustrates exactly how much she was loved and cared for by God. It ends with encouragement to apply the days lesson in your own life and a personal prayer that gets right to the heart of the matter and more importantly, the heart of God Himself.

May each of us begin this journey with honesty and openness, prepared to be inspired and moved closer to the One who gives us strength and courage as we spend time with some incredible women of the Bible.

Become a woman of courage! Be part of the (in)courage community with daily devotions delivered straight to you. Join us at www.incourage.me.

Day 1

Naomi

Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the L ord granted conception to her, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi, Blessed be the L ord , who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel. He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him. Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became his nanny. The neighbor women said, A son has been born to Naomi, and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

(Ruth 4:1317)

Naomi was no stranger to brokenness. Her life was marked by loss and difficulty. Her husband and two sons died at an early age, which in her culture at the time, meant that she had no provision, future, or safety. She also lived in a foreign land, which would have further isolated her from the tight-knit community around her. Her life was hard, and her heart was becoming hard as well. She even insisted on being called Mara, which means bitter, because she said, [T]he Almighty has made me very bitter. I went away full, but the L ord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the L ord has opposed me, and the Almighty has afflicted me? (Ruth 1:20b21).

Yet even in this state of devastation and grief, Naomi kept moving forward. Though she was convinced that God had turned His back on her, she returned to the land of promise anyway. While she initially tried her best to discourage her daughters-in-law from accompanying her on the journey, she eventually accepted Ruths determination to go with her. As this faithful daughter-in-law stuck by Naomis side and provided for the two of them, Ruths friendship began to soften Naomis heart to see the mighty work God was doing in both of their lives.

Naomi truly began to see the Lords faithfulness to her and her family when Ruth providentially met Boaz, the one distant relative who was not only legally required to care for these women, but was also kind toward them. That glimmer of hope fed Naomis faith, inspiring her to counsel Ruth toward the relationship with Boaz that God had prepared for her. By following her mother-in-laws advice, Ruth eventually married Boaz and gave Naomi a grandson. And not just anyone grandson, but one who would be part of the lineage of Jesus! What a gift of redemption!

Instead of turning his back on Naomi, God was stepping in right beside her through the friendship and loyalty of Ruth, the provision of Boaz, and eventually, the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Naomis story may have journeyed through brokenness, but it doesnt end there.

Are you, like Naomi, bitter about your life? Are you convinced the Lord has taken everything from you and left you alone? Are you certain this is the end, the way it will always be?

Will you consider that perhaps your life is not over, that perhaps God still has plans for yougood plans to help you and not to harm you? Oh, friend, just look at what He did for Naomi! Look at the way He used Ruth to keep her from the deepest pit of despair, give her the tiniest bit of hope when things seemed most dire, and redeem her enormous loss for blessings beyond her imagination.