finding freedom from fear

Unshakeable Faith Part 2

1Sep | 2016

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

Whatever I Face…He Goes with Me!

27Oct | 2015

posted by susan cady Leave a Comment

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 He goes with me, I can be strong and courageous knowing He will never leave or forsake me. I can rest secure in His 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!

Are You A People Pleaser?

7Oct | 2014

posted by susan cady Leave a Comment

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 which 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 a disposition to fear man or try to gain others’ approval, can you identify behaviors that are linked to it?…continue reading

Change Your Mindset

25Sep | 2014

posted by susan cady Leave a Comment

Sometimes my thoughts can drive me crazy and leave me mentally exhausted! The information that floods my head on a daily basis can be overwhelming — “to do” list, family concerns, children, work, marriage, the upkeep of my home, finances, health, the chaos in the world around me and abroad and on and on. I can find myself focused and fixated on the wrong things, which in turn can lead to worry, fear, frustration and just being stressed out in general! So what’s a girl to do? Romans 12:1-2 offers us some insight as we continue to explore cultivating a peaceful and joyful mind, heart and life.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

We see two contrast in thinking this passage: a mind conformed or a mind transformed.

conformed – syschematizo (GR4964) — to fashion alike, conform to the same pattern; to conform one’s self (i.e. one’s mind and character) to another’s pattern; a masquerade.

transformed – metamorphoo (GR3339) — to change one’s form, to transform; refers to an invisible process in Christians which takes place or begins to take place during their life in this age. From two words meaning to shape, form in the midst of (together with), fellowship.

It’s not hard to conform to the world’s way of thinking. We are bombarded with thousands of messages a day telling us how we should think, feel, look and act. …continue reading

Perfect Peace of Mind

18Sep | 2014

posted by susan cady Leave a Comment

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.

Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. —Matthew 11:28-30

Facing An Unknown or Uncertain Future? Take Heart!

12Sep | 2014

posted by susan cady Leave a Comment

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 – tharseo (G2293) – to have courage; to be of good courage; boldness. From the root word, tarsus (G2294) meaning cheerful mind; courage, confidence. See also tharrheo (G2292) (another form of word) meaning to exercise courage, be confident, be full of hope and 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

An Overwhelmed Heart

6Sep | 2014

posted by susan cady Leave a Comment

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)

Fighting Fear in the Battles

4Sep | 2014

posted by susan cady Leave a Comment

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 feel 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 heart and lives. Take a look at what happened in 2 Chronicles and note how Jehoshaphat chose to respond instead of react in the midst of this fearful situation. Be encouraged by what you learn!…continue reading

Fearful…Anxious…Worried?

3Sep | 2014

posted by susan cady Leave a Comment

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.

A Steady Heart in Bad News

1Sep | 2014

posted by susan cady Leave a Comment

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.