Tag: fear

Blessed With Full Assurance

Hebrews 10:22 NIV, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings…”

One of the many treasures of living our lives in Christ is the full assurance that having faith in Him brings. This assurance isn’t based on circumstances, and it isn’t based on our own abilities. It’s based on who He is. We are able to have complete confidence in Him, because of His flawless character. Things don’t have to make sense to our natural minds, because His wisdom and knowledge far outweigh our own.

Nothing can replace the full assurance we receive from having God’s love surround us. We can be honest with Him about our feelings. We can give all our doubts and fears to Him in prayer, and He will give us His perfect peace. He holds our future and He holds our hand as we walk through this life. Draw near to God with a sincere heart, and find rest as you rely on Him to guide you.

Faith Defeats Our Giants

1 Samuel 17:26, 32 NLT

26 “David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”

32 “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”

David, the young shepherd boy, is a great example of what will happen when we act in faith and leave our fears behind. David understood His true identity. He knew that He was a child of God. He was confident in God’s ability to protect him. He understood that with God’s help, he would be victorious over Goliath, the Philistine giant that he was going to fight. David also remembered that God had given him victory in the past, when he had to fight lions and bears to protect his sheep.

Although David was a shepherd, and Goliath was a warrior who had been fighting all his life, David didn’t let that discourage him. He wasn’t the least bit concerned about Goliath’s qualifications. He knew that all he needed was the power of God to operate on his behalf. Because of David’s faith in God, he was able to defeat the giant Goliath with a simple stone.

1 Samuel 17:45 NIV, “David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

David’s story reminds us that no matter what “giants” we must face, when we put our faith in God, He will equip us with all we need to win the fight. David never let fear hinder him, and neither should we. The same God who empowered David, will empower us. No “giants” we face are too big for our God.

Rest For The Weary

Matthew 11:28 NLT, “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

There is a lot that we are up against on a daily basis, but Jesus offers us rest. We can give Him all our burdens in prayer. We can tell Him about all of our fears, and uncertainties. It doesn’t matter how small or insignificant our problem may seem. If it bothers us, then it matters to our God. There is no need to hold back anything from Him.

Jesus also gives us rest as we strive to know Him better. He wants us to trust Him with every step of our spiritual journey of becoming more like Him. No one is perfect, and growing in Jesus is a lifelong journey. We must trust Him with the process. There are times where we will feel like we’re doing better than other times. But as long as we are seeking the Lord daily, then He will help us to grow. The important thing is that we don’t give up.

The rest our Savior Jesus gives us, is a rest that can only be found in Him. He offers us His peace in a world full of chaos. His Spirit will lead us on level ground.

Psalm 143:10 NIV, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

Safe In The Shadow of Jesus

Psalm 36:7 ESV, “How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Some years ago I had a dream. I walked into an office building and once I got in a war broke out. There was shooting and loud noises all around me. I was terrified and was running through the building trying to find a place to hide. However, no matter how hard I tried, I could not find a refuge. So I called out, “Jesus, hide me in the shadow of your wings!” Immediately a shadow appeared. No matter where I went in that building, I was safe as long as I stayed in that Shadow. No one could see me. It was as if I was invisible. Not one of those flying bullets could harm me.

Although this was just a dream, the message it carries is very true. The Lord Jesus will always be our refuge. He will lovingly hide us in the shadow of His wings. He will protect us. Even though we must walk (or run!) through the trials of this life, He will carry us safely through. All we have to do is call out to Him. No matter what, He will be there. His love is steadfast, it endures forever.

Romans 10:13 NLT, “For everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”

Jesus Christ Never Changes

Hebrews 13:8 NIV, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

I’m very thankful that our Savior remains the same. His unchanging nature gives us a solid foundation. We can rely completely on Him to be who He says He is, and do what He has promised to do.

The world is ever changing. We can look back and easily see how much the world has changed over the years. We never know what to expect from day to day. But God and His Word are constant. We can rest knowing He will never forsake us and that He will faithfully take care of us. In Jesus Christ our future is secure. His love remains the same.

Nothing we encounter takes our Lord by surprise. He will walk with us and hold our hand through all things. We can put our complete confidence in Him. Regardless of what you are facing, may the peace of God guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus as you start this new week (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).

But Jesus

During the workday me and my coworkers usually discuss things that are happening in the news. The news can be scary because the world is becoming scary. It’s terrible what so many people around the world, and even in our own neighborhoods and families are going through. Jesus says in the world we will have trouble, BUT to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Psalm 20:7 NIV, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

BUT we trust in the name of the Lord our God. This is our hope. No matter what comes our way, we can say, “BUT, I trust in the name of Jesus.” When we trust in Him, we know that He will take care of our every need. His name is the name that saves. His name is above ever other name. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).

I’m thankful that in Christ Jesus regardless of what we see or hear, we have a BUT. Even when we close our eyes and take our last breath someday, it’s not truly over. We will leave this world behind, BUT we will spend eternity seeing Him face to face in all of His glory.

Just remember these two words…

BUT JESUS.

Keep Climbing Higher

Colossians 1:11 NLT, “We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,”

I admit there have been many times that I have questioned how God was working in my life. I have had days where I worried over rather or not He would answer my prayers. I have often let fear creep in and cause me to doubt His provision.

Worry, doubt, and fear have always worked together to try to keep us from enjoying God’s peace. I’ve discovered many times that the things I allow to steal my peace, have already been worked out by God. Reminiscing about His past goodness, will help motivate us to walk by faith right now in the present.

Even if we make mistakes along the way while trying to follow the will of God, He will still take good care of us. Being quick to repent keeps us in close fellowship with Him. When our hearts are devoted to Him, He will work out what is best for us.

His grace and mercy extend far beyond our difficulties. As we persevere through the challenges we face, we are getting stronger in Christ Jesus, and helping to make a difference in the lives of others. If we make Him a priority, He will give us strength to keep climbing higher.

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