Psalm 56, 1 Peter 5:6-7

There are many fears in the world today. And while some are real, legitimate, fears, most are rooted in the lies of the Enemy. For he knows the power he wields when we are afraid. And as cunning as he is, Satan offers ample, worldly solutions to overcoming our worries. Because for every fear and phobia, there’s a book, exercise, or yoga pose hailed as a cure. Anything and everything, except the only thing, that can truly help us defeat our fear. And that’s having a close, personal, relationship with God.

Fear is an emotion that not even the mightiest Christian is immune to. David, who walked closely with the Lord, knew it well. Captured by the Philistines, his life hung in the balance. Afraid, I’m sure the mighty king of Israel cried his fair share of tears. I’m also sure he felt no less of a man in doing so. Because there is no sin in crying. No shame in letting out the pain we feel inside. God knows our wanderings, sorrows, and fears. He feels every groan of our souls and hears every cry of our hearts. And from His own loving heart, collects every tear in His bottle of remembrance, recording each hurt in His book.

That’s why even through tears David could declare, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Ps. 56:3-4) And by trusting, praising, and claiming the promises of God, we too can live unafraid. 

In 2 Timothy 1:7, God promises to give us bravery, authority, and power. Everything we need to rebuke the Enemy and take captive every fearful thought. In Psalm 115:11, He promises that if we respect and obey Him, not only will He provide divine help, but will be our mighty, impenetrable shield. One that can stand against any worry. And in Psalm 139:5, the Lord promises that wherever we go His protective hand of blessing is upon us, keeping watch on every side.

God cares about every aspect of our lives. He knows our hopes, dreams, fears, and doubts. And He loves us beyond measure. So much so that every tear we cry, our Father remembers. And one day, in one of the most wonderful promises of all, He will wipe away every tear from our eyes.(Rev. 21:4) And never again will we be afraid!

Pause and Reflect - 

When we are surrounded by enemies, it’s natural to want to run away. But God wants us to face each one hand in hand with Him and in His strength. Have you trusted God with every worry on your heart, and laid your fears at His feet?

Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is alive and active,” and “sharper than any double-edged sword.” Memorize a few verses that give you strength. And when fear calls, say those verses out loud. Because nothing stops Satan quicker than the spoken Word of God.

Lets pray together, 

Our dearest Father in heaven above, hallowed be Thy name. Father we thank You that there is nothing to fear from any man, nor the Enemy himself. For You have promised to keep us safe from all the evils and from those that oppose us. Father, we know that You do not give us the spirit of fear but instead power, love, and a sound mind. Please minister to our anxious hearts and replace all worry, anxiety, and fear with Your peace and calm assurance. And remind us of Your truth, which is greater than anything we might come up against. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen

 

John 14:27

After suffering a childhood trauma, I was diagnosed with PTSD. And as a result, I know first hand the debilitating effects anxiety can have mentally and physically in a person’s life. Feelings of panic. Spiraling irrational thoughts. And paralyzing fear. I used to deal with the anxiety by hiding myself away from the world. The safe little bubble I created kept the anxiousness at bay. But that’s no way to live. Because God wants us to live full abundant lives. To experience the peace that Jesus died to give us. 

I wish I could tell you there was a magic pill, a fool proof therapy, or a sure fire yoga pose to combat fear. But there’s not. Because what works for one may not work for the next. And even as a Christian, I fight the battle of anxiety every day. But I don’t fight it alone. This is a war I wage together with God. The moment I feel the fear start to creep in I cry out to my Father, sharing with Him every thought and feeling. I visualize His hand firmly gripping mine. And I recite out loud Bible verses reminding me of the Lord’s promise of peace. A promise that tells me if my fears never come to pass, or if my greatest dread is realized, Jesus is there.

We can’t just wish our fears away. We need to act on God’s Word instead of reacting to the situation. Today I challenge you to dig deep in finding the root of your anxiety. Begin with your doctor. Make sure there isn’t an underlying physical issue causing your symptoms. Talk to your minister, rabbi, pastor or priest. Ask around for recommendations for a good counselor. Share your feelings and struggles with those around you. And above all else, turn to the Lord. He loves you and wants to see you living in His peace. A peace, that dries our tears, quiets our fears, rejoices during trials, and sings in suffering.

Be sure to head over to https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion!

Zephaniah 3:17 

We all have fears. Some rational, others not. And all have felt the grip of panic that comes with anxiety. The one that feels like a storm raging inside. A violence which causes our thoughts to swirl madly, our hearts to beat wildly, and our chests to tighten beyond breathing. But as with any storm, there is an eye. That place of stillness. A calmness which always appears in the middle of even the strongest hurricane. God is that eye of the storm. A victorious Savior, He calms the seas and quiets our storms with His love.

When we’re filled with fear and anxiety, unable to shut off our thoughts, we crave God’s quietness. To be able to just let it all go and rest in His perfect peace. Peace stemmed from the deep, unconditional love He has for each of us, His precious children. His love for us is so great, our Father in heaven rejoices with great shouts of joy, and songs of everlasting devotion! 

And because of His gift of the Holy Spirit, He now lives inside each of us forever. Never again do we have to face the storms of life alone, nor give in to fear and anxiety. For when we stand in the eye of the storm, there we will find the blue skies and sunshine of God’s perfect peace. All we have to do is be still, and focus on His quietness, promises and love.

The next time you find yourself struggling with your thoughts and spiraling out of control with fear, I challenge you to go to God in prayer immediately. Ask Him to calm your spirit and fill your heart with His peace. Receive His gladness. Let His quietness push away the storm clouds of anxiety. And let God’s love shine upon you like the rays of the summer sun appearing after the rain. 

Be sure to head over to https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion!

Today's Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 2

What are you afraid of right now?
If we fear the future, we're afraid of the unknowns; losing loved ones, friendships, jobs. Will the kids walk away from their faith?

What about our possessions? Our homes? Our health? Will we have enough money for the kids college, or retirement?

What about rejection? Or worse, failure? "What if I try and fail and people see me as who I really am?" Does it surprise you that the Apostle Paul dealt with some of these same fears?

I wanted you to read this passage from the Amplified Bible, for it gives you a better sense of Paul's emotion,

As for myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom; For I resolved to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (utter dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you. And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them], So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5 AMP)

The moment Paul is describing here is when he first visited the town in Corinth. You can read about that time, and God actually coming to visit Paul in the night to reassure him in Acts 18:1-11.

Does it comfort you to know that Paul was fearful? The man, who was probably the greatest Christian of our time, and certainly the greatest missionary. The one who wrote most of the New Testament dealt with fear? It does me!

We honestly don't know if this was only at the beginning of his ministry or if this was something he always had to deal with! Could this fear, dread and the propensity to experience great trembling be the thorn in the side Paul asked the Lord to remove in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9?

Fear is a universal problem! We all deal with fears at times. Fear can come on like a wave  and take us down almost before we're fully aware of what happened. The word fear is used 441 times in the Bible and afraid 167. There are also words such as: dread, frightened, terrified and faint.

Fear can be defined as the complete state of anti-God. God is farthest from you when your heart is filled with fear. Think on this! Fear is completely relying on your own resources and suddenly realizing they aren't adequate enough to sustain you. Look back at what you fear most and take a look at who are you relying on to meet that need.

Now look to what the writer of Hebrews shared in Hebrews 13:5-6,

 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Most assuredly not!] So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? 

Let me ask you, if God promises us five times in verse 5 alone to never leave fail or forsake us, who moved away when fear grips us? Not God! He keeps His promises and Paul knew this, if not then, he experienced it throughout the rest of his life.

James knew it as well, which is why he wrote, So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you..." (James 4:7-8 AMP)

Take your fears to Jesus! Turn and lay them all out at His feet. Cast all of your cares upon Him and He will sustain and help you, for He would never allow His children to fail, fall or be moved.(1Peter 5:7AMP)

Blessings!
sue

Today's reading: 2 Timothy 1:3-7