finding freedom from fear

September 1, 2016April 30, 2020

Unshakeable Faith Part 2

Are you struggling with fear of the future? Is your world shaking right now because you are unsure of how you will make ends meet? No doubt, we live in a shaky world. But we can live in it with unshakeable faith and experience unimaginable peace, joy and contentment in the midst of it all.

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. —Hebrews 12:28

Receiving – paralambanō (G3880) – to take into the mind
Kingdom – basileia (G932) – Christ’s rule and reign in our hearts and lives; clothed with His power and dignity
Cannot be shaken- asaleutos (G761) – unshaken, unmoved, not liable to overthrow and disorder, firm, stable, enduring.

Those circumstances in life that shake our world also serve to build our faith. They are opportunities for growth. Opportunities to grow deeper in our relationship with God and the training ground for learning to trust Him in even greater ways.

Hebrews 12:28 is a great reminder and encouragement to us. We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be moved, one that is firm and stable and secure. God is our Rock and Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of this foundation for our lives. We have to receive it as ours. We have to take up our places as daughters of the king and co-heirs with Christ.

What is shaking your world right now? What makes you fearful? In the last post we looked at the fear of vain imagining. We saw an example in scripture of those who allowed their vain imaginings to run wild and those who chose to trust God in the midst of their fear. Let’s wrap up today by looking at another example of situations that cause us to be fearful: concern for provision and the future. Continue reading “Unshakeable Faith Part 2”

October 27, 2015April 30, 2020

Whatever I Face…He Goes with Me!

When I feel alone, He goes with me!

When I am discouraged, He goes with me!

When I am overwhelmed, He goes with me!

When I feel inadequate for the task at hand, He goes with me!

When I am uncertain of the future, He goes with me!

When I am weary and worn, He goes with me!

When I am facing the unknown, He goes with me!

When the Lord God Most High goes with me, I can be strong and courageous knowing He will never leave or forsake me. I can rest, not in my own strength and abilities, but secure in God’s powerful presence.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, the plague that stalks in darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon. Though a thousand fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, the pestilence will not reach you. You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord — my refuge, the Most High — your dwelling place, no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent. —Psalm 91:1-9

Whatever I face…He goes with me!

Rejoicing in Jesus!

October 7, 2014April 30, 2020

Are You A People Pleaser?

The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. —Proverbs 29:25

Do you find yourself craving the praise and appreciation of others? How is this creating fear in your life? How is this affecting your faith?

Read: John 12:42-43

Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. —John 12:42-43

“Notice that John doesn’t say that their problem was one of poor self-esteem or feelings of inferiority. No, he pinpoints their problem as being a problem of love. What did they love more than the approval of God? The approval of man. What did they long for more than the praise that would come to them from God: “Well done, good and faithful servant”? They loved the praise of their peers. In fact, they loved it so much that they disobeyed Christ’s command to witness for Him.” —Elyse Fitzpatrick

The word loved in John 12:42-43 is a very strong Greek word, agapao. In the context of this passage, this is a word that means they lived for and were addicted to the approval of men.

Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. —Galatians 1:10

Galatians 1:10 poses a valid question for us to consider. When our lives are focused on gaining the favor of others or pleasing them for our own goals, we’ll be at cross-purposes with the Lord. Either we seek the Lord’s favor or we seek man’s favor and our choice affects the way we live our lives.

As you consider whether you have the disposition to fear man or try to gain others’ approval, can you identify behaviors that are linked to it? Continue reading “Are You A People Pleaser?”

September 18, 2014April 30, 2020

Perfect Peace of Mind

You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You. —Isaiah 26:3

Perfect peace in this verse is the Hebrew word shalom meaning: well, safe, happy, completeness, soundness, peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment.

A mind of perfect peace is…

…dependent on Jesus

…looking to Jesus

…leaning on Jesus

…seeking Jesus

…believing Jesus

…trusting Jesus

…loving Jesus

…living for Jesus

Free. Content. Joyful. Peaceful. Complete. Secure.

Rejoicing in Jesus,

September 12, 2014April 30, 2020

Facing An Unknown or Uncertain Future? Take Heart!

In this world you will have trouble…ain’t that the truth! But it’s a reality we like to try to avoid, deny or mask. How do we find peace for our troubled and fearful hearts in a world of trouble? Take heart!

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. —John 16:33

take heart – to have courage; to be of good courage; boldness. From the root word, meaning cheerful mind; courage, confidence.

We’ve been talking in this series about our “gap moments“. How there is a moment of time, a gap, when we are faced with a difficult or fearful situation where we have a moment to choose our response or to simply react, letting our emotions have full vent. This week in class, we looked at three women who all faced unknown, uncertain, and fearful situations and futures. What can learn from their stories about “taking heart” —being courageous, confident, and full of hope in the midst of fear, uncertainty, and the unknown? Continue reading “Facing An Unknown or Uncertain Future? Take Heart!”

September 6, 2014April 30, 2020

An Overwhelmed Heart

When my heart and soul are…

overwhelmed

doubting

anxious

full of multiplying cares.

God’s presence is…

my comfort

my renewed hope

my cheer

my joy

my consolation

my delight

When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. (NLT)

When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy. (HCSB)

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. (NIV)

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. (NASB)

Rejoicing in Jesus!

September 4, 2014April 30, 2020

Fighting Fear

A Lesson from Jehoshaphat

This week in Bible study we looked at the story of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. What can we learn from his “Gap Moment”?

Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-34. (Download the handout from class.)

What can we learn from Jehoshaphat about fighting fear in the midst of a battle? Jehoshaphat received word that a “vast army” was coming against them. And his first response was not to gather the troops or map out a battle plan. We all face what feels like “vast armies”. Sometimes it is an enemy from without, a difficult situation or circumstance that has come upon us. Sometimes the battle is in a relationship. Sometimes the battle is internal as we fight against those “what if” and “if only” thoughts that can assail our minds. And sometimes we are battling the sin in our hearts and lives. Take a look at what happened in 2 Chronicles and note how Jehoshaphat chose to respond instead of reacting in the midst of this fearful situation. Be encouraged by what you learn! Continue reading “Fighting Fear”

September 3, 2014April 30, 2020

Fearful…Anxious…Worried?

Fearful…?

Anxious…?

Worried…?

Stressed…?

Overwhelmed…?

Distracted…?

Lay it all down at the feet of Jesus!

…pray

…ask

…give thanks

…praise

And experience the presence of Jesus that will protect, strengthen, guard, and keep watch over your heart and thoughts and flood your soul with a peace incomprehensible and beyond understanding.

September 1, 2014April 30, 2020

A Steady Heart in Bad News

Our hearts can be steady and firm in times of trouble and bad news. Psalm 112:1 tells us we can have firm and steadfast hearts because we fear the Lord and take delight in His Word. His Word and His Spirit encourage our hearts, renew our minds, realign our thinking, and enable us to rest secure in the One who is in control of all things. Instead of fixating on the problem, we can fix our eyes on Jesus. He is near. We do not need to fear, only trust Him because He is the same yesterday, today and forever, the One who was, who is and who is to come! Steadfast! Trustworthy! He will never leave or forsake us.

Rejoicing in Jesus!
Susan

August 31, 2014April 30, 2020

Fear Not…I AM

Jehovah — I AM

God reveals himself as Yahweh/Jehovah —LORD. It is the name by which He has been know from the creation of the world and it is His forever name. It is the proper name of God. Yahweh/Jehovah translates “He who is”. When He says, I AM who I AM in Scripture, it means “He who is” and He subsists in a manner superior to all other beings! He is the self-existent, all-sufficient One. He is the One who was, who IS and who will be. His name Yahweh/Jehovah, LORD, is often compounded with another word to describe the character of the Lord in greater detail. For example, Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD who provides, in Genesis 22:14 or in Exodus 17:15, Jehovah-Nissi, the LORD is my banner.

One of my favorites is the contracted form of His name, Jehovah/Yahweh, which is JAH and means He IS! (Note: In the Holman Christian Standard Bible translation, they print JAH whenever this contracted form of the Lord God appears. It is found particularly in the Psalms). So often I need that. I need to know that He IS in this moment. That He IS sovereign. That He IS all-powerful. That He IS unfailing love and so much more. There is great comfort for me in knowing God IS present in my every moment. I have nothing to fear! He will strengthen me. He will uphold me.

Therefore, HE is to be the object and focus of my worship, because He alone is worthy. And when I focus on the greatness of the great I AM, my preoccupation with self diminishes. And the amazing thing is, instead of feeling alone, empty, discouraged and fearful, I end up being filled with the power of His presence. I experience His joy, peace, love, acceptance and comfort in my life, and my heart and soul just SOAR! I experience this because HE is! He is present in this moment.

Rejoicing in Jesus!