More courage is required. If we truly desire to live in the abundant life of Jesus – if we hunger for that not only for ourselves but our kids, our grandkids, our friends and co-workers – there is a foundational facet of our faith we must actively put-on. The journey of following Jesus is us actively becoming who we already are. In Jesus we’ve been made a new person – born again. But we must mature – grow – into everything we already are. God so longs for us to have everything He designed us to have that His heart aches when we say no to what is needed for abundant life. And the reason we typically say no to the Spirit, the reason we grieve the Holy Spirit, is…fear. Courage is foundational to productive faith. Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” It takes courage to live a life of obedience, a life seeking to not grieve the Spirit. Life as a follower of Jesus isn’t for the faint of heart. It takes courage to stand on biblical truth when it is not only no longer accepted in our culture but attacked. Courage is foundational to productive faith. It takes courage to persevere when wickedness is on the rise.