Proverbs 29:25 NIV, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”
Proverbs 29:25 GNT, “It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the LORD, you are safe.”
This verse is an encouragement as we walk with the Lord. Obeying His direction has to be our top priority. If we become concerned with what people think of us, over what God thinks, we will not fulfill our God given purpose. Fear of being rejected by people will lead us away from God’s will. His approval is what counts the most. He will bring the right people, resources, and opportunities into our lives. Following His path brings blessing.
Photo by: Tobi of Murnau, Germany 🇩🇪
Although obedience to God may pull us away from our comfort zone, we can trust Him to give us what we need. He has promised to reward us when we diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Our faith will grow as we read God’s Word, do God’s Word, and trust God’s Word. (Romans 10:17). He is our Safe Place.
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Fear is one of the many ways that the enemy attempts to steal from us. He uses fear to keep us from walking in the freedom that the Lord Jesus died to give us. We may feel fear at times, but through Christ we can still move forward. His power working in us enables us to accomplish what we need to.
Photo by: Jill Wellington of Michigan, USA 🇺🇸
I’m thankful that when we feel fear, we can call out to the Lord in prayer. We can ask Him to help us to refocus on who we are in Christ and teach us to work through the fears that are holding us back. We are free in Him to leave our fears behind and operate in the power, love, and self discipline that He has given to us. His love is our refuge from fear, as 1 John 4:18 reminds us, perfect love cast out fear. God loves you perfectly; so fear not!
Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
I’ve learned and still learning that I don’t have to worry, because the things I spend time worrying about, God has already worked out on my behalf. I may not always see it right away, but that doesn’t change the fact that He has worked things out. He has a good plan.
Photo by: Sharefaith of Medford, Oregon USA 🇺🇸
When fear and discouragement try to creep in, we can remind ourselves of God’s continuous presence with us. He personally goes before us and paves the way. We just have to walk the path He has already laid out for us. Knowing that God has already gone where we are going is a comfort. It also gives us the confidence we need to move forward in faith. After all, we’re called to live by faith and not by sight, which of course is an amazing privilege (2 Corinthians 5:7). We’re blessed that there is so much more than what we see with our natural eyes. Living by faith draws us closer to the heart of God as we learn to trust in His faithfulness and wisdom.
Take heart! God will never fail you or abandon you. He is with you every step of the way, so remain faithful and obedient. He rewards us as we diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
Proverbs 3:25-26 NLT, “25 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, 26 for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.”
These verses always bring me comfort because there are so many unexpected and tragic things happening in the world today. The media is filled with depressing news reports and shocking headlines. It can certainly invoke feelings of fear and insecurity. Since life changing things beyond our control can happen suddenly, we may find ourselves feeling uneasy. However praying for those who are hurting due to tragedy and offering assistance when possible is how we can intervene to help.
God reminds us through these verses in Proverbs not to fear sudden disasters and destruction. He is our security as we live each day. Although there is no way to know what each day will hold, we can be at peace knowing the Lord is sovereign over each day and He will provide what we need and protect us.
Proverbs 2:8 NLT, “He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.”
Photo: Denniz Futalan of Philippines 🇵🇭
Tragedies will sometimes happen because it’s a part of life. Of course knowing they will happen doesn’t make it any easier when they do, but focusing on the Lord keeps things in order. He cares deeply about every detail of our lives. We can share anything with Him in prayer. It’s important that we stay anchored in the truth of God’s Word, because having His Word hidden in our hearts, will strengthen us and keep our souls secure during trying times.
When life leaves us speechless, the Lord understands the cries of our hearts. We don’t have to always have the right words to say, or understand all the why’s. We’re human and He understands our pain.
I’m thankful that we have the peace and comfort that the Holy Spirit provides to us. He is our ever present Help in trouble (Psalm 46:1), and we can depend on Him to keep our hearts in perfect peace as we keep our minds stayed on Him.
Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
Psalm 5:12 NIV, “Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
Rest today knowing that if you’re walking with Jesus, His favor surrounds you. He is not only walking with you, but He has also gone before you (Duet 31:8), and His Spirit lives inside of you (1 Cor 6:19).
Therefore, do not be afraid, because no weapon the evil one tries to form against you will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). God is faithful, and He will watch over you day and night (Psalm 121:5-6).
Walk confidently in the Lord Jesus. He will never fail you.
Proverbs 9:10 NIV, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding are much needed for us to navigate this life. Having reverence for God (fear), is the foundation of walking in wisdom. Acquiring more knowledge about who God is, is how we gain understanding about how He is working in our lives. God has always been and He always will be (Revelation 1:8). His wisdom and knowledge far exceed our understanding, however He promised to give us wisdom if we would ask Him to (James 1:5).
We will not know or understand every single thing, because God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). However, He will not withhold anything from us that He knows is good for us (Psalm 84:11). We can trust Him to equip us with what He knows we need to live victoriously for Him.
God gave us His Son Jesus so that we would be able to have a relationship with Him. Having a relationship with our God through Jesus is the way we gain knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. What a privilege it is to know the one true living and eternal God!
Isaiah 26:3 (NLT), “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
Trusting in Jesus and keeping our thoughts fixed on him, will keep us living in perfect peace. When everything around us is spinning out of control, we can depend on Him to be steady. God is very much involved with the details of our lives, even when we feel otherwise. Just because we may not understand how He is working, does not mean He is not working.
Keeping our thoughts fixed on Him by meditating on scripture will remind us of His sovereignty over our lives. When we give our situations over to the Lord, His perfect peace will comfort us. He is with us no matter what it is we must endure.
Sometimes we wonder why God allows us to go through certain challenges, but we must trust His plans. Everything that He allows into our lives is for a reason. He can see way beyond the surface. His purposes stretch all the way into eternity. His faithfulness to us is also eternal, it will never end. Be encouraged. The Holy Spirit of God is with you.
Drawing Closer to Christ 