Mark Twain wisely observed, “Courage is the resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.” The Bible tells us to “prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:13, New International Version). It also warns us of the time where the slightest sound of a falling leaf will instill fear into the hearts of men (Leviticus 26:36). Fear grows if it is not controlled.

It is not pleasant to live life in fear. We doubt ourselves and everything about us. We develop a negative frame of mind. It does not have to be that way. We do not let our little children go about moping about bad things. We try to train them to be hopeful and positive. We can do the same for our thoughts. Fill your mind with thoughts of courage and stories of courageous deeds and people—and you will become that way. Eliminate that which causes fear by channeling it into thoughts of being brave. Then live it!