Send us a textThis week, we talk about Deborah, a prophet and judge who led Israel back to God after a period of rebellion. After Joshua died, the following generation of Israelites turned away from God, so God allowed their enemies to take control of them and oppress them. When Deborah became the leader of the Israelites, she encouraged Balak, the commander of the Israelite army, to fight against their oppressors, confident that God would bring them victory. Balak was intimidated, but because Deborah was willing to walk into battle with him, the Israelites defeated their enemies and were liberated. If Deborah were here today, she would tell us, “Encouragement makes all the difference.” God will use us if we are willing to be the biggest cheerleaders for the people around us. We must take our eyes off the negative and encourage others in every step they take in the right direction, building their confidence and belief that by God’s power, they can overcome. In addition to encouragement, Deborah would challenge us to “Be brave.” We live in a time that desperately needs brave men and women to step up and lead. We can be brave because we know who we are: fully loved children of the Most High King. We can also be brave because we know that Heaven is our home. We are citizens and ambassadors of Heaven, and we have the full support of Heaven’s armies ready fight on our behalf. And we can be brave because we know that God causes all things to work together for good. In the face of difficulty, let’s be people who are encouraging and brave. Our willingness to act might be the difference between oppression and victory.“Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take .’” – Joshua 1:9 MSGDiscussion Questions•  Talk about a time when God used someone’s encouragement to help you overcome an obstacle. What did they do to encourage you? Why was their encouragement effective?•  Discuss the concept of “everyday bravery.” It takes bravery to forgive. Turning the other cheek requires bravery. What daily deci- sions are you facing in which you need to be brave? What will empower you to take those brave steps?•  Talk about the fact that God works all things together for good. How do you go about releasing fear and trusting God in your life? How can you choose joy in the midst of the unknown?Thank you for listening to the Relate Community Church podcast! Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. If today’s message spoke to you, share it with a friend or leave us a review to help spread the word. To learn more about Relate Community Church, visit us at www.relatecommunity.com. You are always welcome here, and remember—you are loved

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