Tag: fear

Wall of Fire

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And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst. Zechariah 2:5

When walking through life, do you feel alone?

Do you feel often overwhelmed by the world’s rubbish thrown your way?

Tired of falling too often towards temptation?

Walk in your authority from God.

He’s with you. He covers you with His strength, protection, and peace.

Psalm 5:12 reminds us: Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

When feeling overwhelmed by life, picture God surrounding you with HIs favor like a shield.

But it gets even better.

Our verse from Zechariah shares God’s promise of a literal wall of fire.

This wall of fire surrounds you. Nothing can come through.

Picture this wall of fire burning up temptation. Burning up fear. Burning up anything coming your way that is not of God.

Can we still have problems with God as our wall of fire?

Sure. Jesus reminds us we will suffer.

But suffering under God’s plan is different from allowing the world’s rubbish to affect you.

Within God’s plan, suffering looks like glory. Suffering looks like peace. It’s the opposite of how the world defines it.

Paul mentions suffering as a time to boast in God’s strength.

May God surround us as a wall of fire.

May God’s wall of fire burn up anything that comes our way not of Him and Him alone.

May God’s wall of fire burn up our selfish tendencies, placing in us the desire for God alone.

May God’s wall of fire burn up fear when tempted to rely on human knowledge.

And may God’s glory be forever in the midst of us.

Photos by Paul Bulai, Cullan Smith, Olivia Snow, & Zac Durant on Unsplash

Roots

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So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

I’m convinced most of our emotional issues stem from fear.

Fear of the future.

Fear of being alone.

Fear of rejection.

We all long for meaningful relationships.

Yet we cannot control others, and what they choose to do.

When rejected, and it will happen to all of us, fear enters.

We worry the next person will do the very same thing.

Or we try too hard to keep the wrong person.

Emotionally, when we interact with fear, our body responds physically.

Tired, achy, moody moments are just the beginning.

When we dwell with fear, our body begins to break down in other ways.

Science shows us dwelling in fear brings anxiety and stress to our hearts, brains, digestive and immune system. All detrimental to our health, especially when holding onto fear longterm.

So what’s the anecdote to all this?

God.

God created us for a relationship with Him.

Remember before Adam and Eve sinned, God talked with them every single day?

Fast foward to Jesus, who was sent to redeem us.

To cancel our sin so we can go back to that relationship with God.

God longs for you so much, that He sent His son, Jesus, to die for you.

So you can talk with God here and now, as well as all of eternity.

The root of all fear, anxiety, and stress, is reliance on anything but God.

Train your brain to respond with God’s truth – His Word when fear dares to enter your mind.

Repeating 1 Timothy 1:7 aloud is a great example: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Respond with worship when your brain begins to dwell on the negative or impossible situations.

Ask God to fill you with Himself when you feel yourself heading down the wrong path again.

God is here. God is ready. God is willing to take all of it for you.

But the choice is yours.

Yank the crud by the root and refocus on God.

Again and again, speak God’s truth when weeds pop up.

Because they will. That’s what weeds do if you don’t keep regularly gardening.

After going to scripture again and again, you’ll begin to notice your reaction doesn’t immediately fall to fear anymore.

Pretty soon you won’t notice as many weeds. They won’t come back so often because the soil – your brain- can’t help them grow.

Colossians reminds us to keep our life rooted in Jesus and built up in him. Strengthen our faith. Overflow with thankfulness.

Relying on God reminds fear Who is in control. God. And His soil will fill your brain with truth.

Photos by Amir Kalhor, Antonio Lapa, Erik van Dijk, & Christian De Stradis on Unsplash

Goodnight

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Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

A couple of nights ago, the following tragedy unfolded near San Antonio, Tx.

It’s my friend’s story. Her daughter-in-law’s, actually.

What if it was yours?

She was going to bed for the last time.

Waking in the night, they needed to escape.

Rising waters. Nighttime rescue.

Floating debris. Pitch black darkness.

Her husband holds onto a tree, trying to reach her.

He cannot and off she goes.

He hears her calling his name, but she is beyond reach.

She was swept off to heaven that night.

Not what she thought would transpire after saying goodnight.

A precious life lost. Her family left to grieve.

What about you? Would you have been ready to meet your Maker?

There’s often no time to ready your heart in the midst of a tragedy.

Unfortunately, tragedies do occur, often producing death.

And it can happen in an instant. The blink of an eye.

So, what if it was you? Are you ready?

We never know when God will call us home.

Ready your heart today. Now. Right this minute.

John 14:27 reminds us God give us His peace. His perfect peace.

God doesn’t want our hearts to be troubled, and death is nothing to fear.

Why? Because of Jesus. His great love for you. His precious plan for you.

But here’s the thing: Death is nothing to fear only if you place your hope in Jesus.

In the sacrifice of His life in exchange for yours.

Your sins are forgiven.

Your future is secure.

Only if you are His. Are you?

Nobody plans to say goodnight for the final time.

Make sure your heart is God’s when you say goodnight this evening.

Photos by rachman reilli, Kelly Sikkema, Lukas Hron, and Yevhenii Aihubov on Unsplash

Final Curtain Call

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Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. James 4:14

Ever think about how life is not a rehearsal?

Only get one shot at all of it.

Every milestone.

Every age.

Every day.

Today, for example, you have only these minutes to spend once.

The ones you are spending reading this blog are used wisely.

Good job!

But what’s next?

Yes, life is spent with many mundane things, such as laundry, shopping, and caring for others.

But even the mundane can be exciting when thinking how temporary it all is.

Thinking about your emotions, do you want to spend your only today racked with guilt?

Will you spend your only today filled with self-pity, un-forgiveness, or fear?

You only get today once.

Don’t give it to the devil.

Today, you have a chance to spend your minutes praising God.

Today, you have a chance to spend your minutes praying to the One who created you.

You get the chance to care for those God has entrusted to you or relax with well-deserved rest.

Don’t allow yourself to squelch these precious minutes you can only spend one time.

Don’t give these minutes to the devil by dwelling outside of God’s peace.

Or living only for yourself.

Why? Because minutes turn into days, which turn into years.

Before you know it, you’ll be a decade older and not at all wiser.

Your family might become distant and you’ll find yourself alone.

Bitterness and self-righteousness are not good companions.

So choose to spend your once in a lifetime minutes as God ordained.

Ask God how He would like you to live.

Ask God who He would like you to love.

Ask God who He would like you to influence for His kingdom.

And spend those precious minutes for Him.

Because every minute is only spent once in our final curtain call called life.

Photos by Steve Sharp, Jon Tyson, Gwen King, &  Tony Lomas on Unsplash

Your Reflection

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In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

How well do you reflect Jesus?

Does your face reflect His love?

Do your actions replicate His compassion?

Do your words reflect His leadership, wisdom, and grace?

This morning as I looked out my large back window, I noticed something.

Overlooking a large space, I can see for over a mile.

On the horizon was a brilliant burst of sunlight.

Blinding almost.

It was twinkling, extending its rays like when you look at the sun.

But it was tiny as it was far away.

My first thought was, “Oh, the sun is peeking up.”

But immediately I dismissed that thought because the sun rises on the other side of my house!

Then I realized what I was looking at.

A reflection.

A brilliant reflection of the sun.

The sun was hitting this spot just perfectly, lighting it up as if it were the sun.

Which made me wonder about us.

How brilliantly do we reflect Jesus?

When we are selfish, we don’t shine.

When we surround ourselves with misery, we don’t shine.

Walking with self-pity, we certainly don’t shine either.

And when we cling to fear, rejection, and despair, we are pretty dull as well.

Purpose again to praise God especially when walking life’s troubled road.

Trust God when you cannot see the road or even when you can.

Let your light shine so others may see Jesus.

Reflect Him so well, others cannot help but bow their knee to the One who created all things.

Photos by Ivana Cajina, Jonathan Borba, Josh Boot, & Oscar Ivan Esquivel Arteaga on Unsplash

Come On, Let’s Go!

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For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. Psalm 62:5

My first phrase as a child, was something like, “Come on, group, let’s go!”

I’ve always wanted to keep the move on.

Forget ahead.

Time is wasting!

Are you waiting on God for anything?

Usually we are as we always want something.

Are you waiting for God’s timing on something specific?

Or directions as you know something is about to change?

When waiting on God, we tend to wrap ourselves up in what we want.

What we want when we want it.

And that’s like now, right?

Or yesterday!

But there’s more.

When we are waiting on God, we tend to become anxious or worried as things are not moving fast enough for us.

And we become anxious because we think we know best.

Better than God.

And when we dwell on what we think should happen, and begin to feel anxious as we wait, fear moves right on in.

Worry and anxiety do not reveal God’s plans, instead keeping us bound to fear.

Do you want to see God’s plans?

Keep trusting Him, asking Him to reveal them to you in His perfect timing.

In the mean time, trust.

Trust He’s on the move.

Trust He’s got the plans.

And trust He knows best for you.

He’ll nudge you to move here and there.

And when He does, make sure to pay attention.

Don’t just sit there as a lump on the log, waiting for God to do everything for you.

When you pray and wait, actively participate in His plan. His solution.

Allow Him to work through you as you wait and as you walk into His future planned just for you.

Photos by Scott Higdon, Pawel Tadejko, Max Goncharov, & Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

No Match for God

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For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything. 1 John 3:20

Ever realized something about fear?

When fear speaks into your life, it’s about the present.

Your current circumstances.

It fills you up with worry about what may happen when presented with your current situation.

Except it’s so sneaky, you begin to think fear can perfectly predict your future.

I know because we listen. We listen so well, we believe it.

We believe the lies of fear.

Why does the devil try to wrap you up in fear about your future?

Because the devil, who is fear, doesn’t know your future.

He likes to predict it for you, but he has no clue.

The future fears you dwell upon are simply fiction.

Made up to scare you.

Paralyze you from acting on the will of God over your life.

But you know what is absolutely real and complete truth?

God’s promises for you.

He knows the beginning from the end and God’s promises to you will not return void.

When God tells you in Isaiah 41:10 NOT to fear and He is WITH us, holding us up with His right hand, you can believe it.

Because He said it, He will do it.

Or in Jeremiah 29:11, God tells us He KNOWS the plans He has for us. And they are very good, FULL of hope and promise, not harm.

That flies in the face of fear’s lies, does it not?

Finally, God promises to NEVER ever leave us. Deuteronomy 31:8 also reminds us God will not forsake us.

God is with us always and He’s not turning His back.

So when fear whispers into your ear, turn your head towards the promises of God.

Fear is full of lies, and God is full of truth.

Fear plays to your weakness and God is your strength.

When we are weak, He is strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

Thank you, God, for being our strength.

Fear, your lies have zero chance anymore.

Photos by Virginia Marinova & Joel Muniz on Unsplash

Intentional Words

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

A gentle tongue is the tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. Proverbs 15:4

Are your words gentle and intentional, rich with meaning?

We usually mean what we say, yes?

Or do you spout forth anything which immediately pops into your brain?

For example you might say, “I’m sick to death about it” when asked about a particular situation.

Do you want to be sick literally until the point of death?

That’s what you just said.

No, you didn’t mean that, so don’t say it.

Don’t declare death over yourself.

Or you might say, “I can’t stand my ______”. Could be a body part, your housing, or your job. Sometimes it can even include your family!!!

If you declare you cannot stand something, you are speaking death over it. Utter displeasure. And your body reacts appropriately.

If you cannot stand something, you wish it gone, because you can no longer deal with it.

Isn’t that too extreme to ever use again?

Thinking again about Proverbs 15:4, how gentle is your tongue?

Your words, are they intentional?

When you have a gentle tongue, your words become intentional in a good way.

You speak life with your words so perverse words do not break your spirit.

So how do we proceed? When your brain reverts back to the patterns of worry and fear, speak life instead.

Use your words to declare you fully trust God and are eagerly anticipating God’s plan to unfold. And until then, you are sheltering in the safety of His peace, absent of fear and worry. Why? Because you know He’s got this, you, and everything else.

A gentle tongue from the tree of life produces blessings for the giver and the receiver, erupting into happy bombs inside your head.

Recently while eating a late dinner in an Oklahoma diner, a waitress approached our table. I looked up with my salad question and smiled at her. She immediately gave me the nicest compliment, telling me I was so beautiful. What unexpected, sweet words!

Perverse speech affects us just as much, doesn’t it? Speaking from selfish hearts can bring all of us down real quick. Not what Jesus had in mind when He talked about fellowship with others.

Words are one of the biggest tools Satan uses to produce death in us when speaking over our situations and in others, when speaking to them.

Our words were designed for life. Remember that the next time you open your mouth, which will probably be soon.

Photos by Amador Loureiro, Kyle Glenn, Patrick Tomasso, & wisconsinpictures on Unsplash

Trusting God, Still

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You hem me in, behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5

Still I trust You, God.

Even when life throws me down.

Still I will trust You, God.

Even when a loved one passes on from this earth.

When my heart tears open once again.

Still I will trust You, God.

When my body betrays me, despite filling it with health.

When we wait for results, which are in the hands of God.

Still I trust You, God.

When life doesn’t make sense.

When I’m too tired to care much anymore.

Still I trust You, God.

When everything certain seems to disappear,

You, God, remain still.

You remain with me every moment of every day.

You hem me in behind, beside, and before.

You order my steps. Then you walk every one with me.

Nothing in this world compares to You.

You’ve always been there for me. And You always will be.

Even when life becomes too hard or very much real.

That’s why I trust You still.

And I always will.

Because Your faithfulness and gentle loving-kindness remind me I have nothing to fear.

Photos by Tomas Hudolin, Arleen wiese, Daiga Ellaby, & David Beale on Unsplash

Yielding Ourselves

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Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Ephesians 6:10

Ever tried to stop doing something you know you shouldn’t?

Could be eating too much sugar, drowning your sorrows in alcohol, or spending way too much time scrolling through your phone.

Could even be your attitude or reaction when things don’t go your way.

Or choosing to listen only to yourself instead of others.

All of it points to placing, you guessed it – yourself on the throne instead of God, the One who created you and all things.

Yielding to Jesus will break every form of slavery in our human lives.

Food, exercise, exhaustion, perfection, fear, anxiety, or pride.

Anything placed before Jesus can become a form of slavery as we feed that characteristic within ourselves instead of feeding our relationship with Jesus.

Some of those things are super great, like exercise or eating healthy.

But if that desire replaces your desire for God, then that desire has become a god to you, probably rooted in fear if you don’t perform exactly right.

We can only find victory over ourselves through Jesus.

Through Jesus’ peace and strength.

Love this poem from Amy Carmichael, a missionary to India in the early 1900’s:

Before the winds that blow decrease, teach me to dwell within Thy calm; before the pain passed in peace, give me, my God, to sing a psalm. Let me not lose the chance to prove the fullness of enabling love. O love of God, do this for me; maintain a constant victory.

Don’t you just love that phrase: maintain a constant victory.

A plea for God to not only win in our lives, but to keep winning.

Only happens when we yield ourselves over to God, who is infinately more capable than our sinful selves.

Lord, give us a portion of your sweet spirit, spilling out your life and love to others.

As life consumes us, help us to place You on the throne of our heart, wanting only what You want for us.

With You, we will have constant victory, even if we don’t see it.

Because You have already won. You are our constant victory.

Photos by Joshua Earle, Pablo Heimplatz, Guillaume de Germain, & Patrick Fore on Unsplash

Becoming God’s Witness

Published on by amylinnea4 Comments

I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

Why are you still participating with fear?

Why are you still choosing to partner without God?

God has overcome ALL things.

Fear. Anxiety. Bitterness.

Inferiority. Depression.

Everything.

God is above everything.

He created You in His image.

When Jesus came to die for our sins, we were given the opportunity for relationship with God Almighty.

Because God is above everything, He is above fear.

He is above anxiety.

He is above it all. Everything.

As God’s child, you are above everything, too, with God’s power running through your whole self.

The Bible reminds us the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.

Absolutely incredible.

Fear is nothing to God.

Anxiety, depression, and inferiority are mere bugs to step over.

Choose to focus on your identity in God.

As His child, you are no longer a slave to fear, anxiety, or anything not from above.

But you must choose.

When you do, your body will be healthier, because your mind will be at peace.

Fear wants to control you.

Satan wants to lie, convincing you God is not enough.

But He is. God.

He is absolutely enough and then some.

Psalm 34 reminds us He will deliver us from ALL of our fears when we seek Him.

Refuse those thoughts from the pit when they dare to enter your mind.

Send them packing, canceling their assignment with God’s truth.

Your body will be healthier.

Your mind will be peaceful.

And your smile will broadcast God’s strength to all who witness your beautiful face.

Allow Him to take over, changing your mind from fear to peace.

Allow His witness through you to guide others to His salvation.

Stand tall with God’s strength.

And become His witness.

Photos by M.T ElGassier, Guilherme Stecanella, & Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

Remembered No More

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. Isaiah 65:17

As God’s beloved, He renews you.

Renews your mind.

Your thoughts.

Your new self covered under His salvation.

God wants you to live within His freedom from your previous ways of thinking.

The untruths you held dear.

The inadequacy that gripped you.

The fears that wouldn’t let go.

When a thought pops into your mind, do you immediately believe it?

If it tears you down feeling worthless, it’s not God.

God will gently bring you into freedom.

He only wants the best for you, so as you embrace His freedom, you’ll feel better and better.

Science shows us brain pathways can be retrained.

But you must cut the ties with your former ways of thinking.

Your former ways of thinking apart from God.

Cutting your connection with the untruth means you don’t think about it like you used to.

When an old nasty thought pops into your brain, you declare God’s truth instead.

If you’ve suffered from negativity, you begin to thank God for His goodness.

You look for it. Search for it, proclaiming He is good.

If you’ve suffered from fear, you thank God for His protection.

You remind yourself how perfectly safe you are under His wings.

If you’ve suffered from loneliness, thank God for His companionship.

You begin to list all the ways God sees you and knows you.

Start today.

As Isaiah reminds us, the former things will be remembered no more or even come to mind.

Declare the lies you previously believed gone.

The fear previously holding you gone.

Your mind is pure, covered in God’s truth.

Renewed.

Walk in the freedom God has already provided you.

You are a new creation, inside and out.

As you replace the old thoughts with God’s truth, your brain will remember them no more.

Photos by Mike Tinnion, Priscilla Du Preez, &Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

Fret Not

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Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. Psalm 37:8

Would you agree anger is usually a result of not being in control?

Your spouse’s actions, your child’s reaction, someone bumps your car on the road.

When we are not in control, we tend to get angry.

And when we are angry, we become anxious.

And when we are anxious, we sin, which is evil.

That’s what Psalm 37:8 reminds us.

Filling our head with anxiety invites fear – the fear of not being in control the next time.

Almost like we throw open the door, allowing fear to walk right into our mind.

And when fear walks in, he tends to take over. Like take over everything.

Allowing our mind to walk with anxiety comes back to control.

When we are not in control, simply stated, we don’t like it.

Everyone likes to be in control.

Control of the home’s temperature, television choices, dinner menu, division of chores, and more.

When we are not in control of whatever it is, anxiety is born.

If not removed immediately, anxiety can grow as a thorn in your flesh, infecting not only your current mood but beyond.

Anxiety that has taken root in your flesh affects other areas of your life.

Why?

Because fear, which is the root of your anxiety, likes to take over completely.

You begin suspecting others when suspicion is not necessary.

You start to anticipate the worst when the best is yet to come.

Psalm 37 reminds us God wants His children to refrain from anger and worry. He knows it leads only to evil.

And now you do as well.

So what should we think of instead? Whatever is pure, lovely, honorable, and just. Philippians 4:8 reminds us of that.

With God’s help choose to focus on pure and lovely things. Your mind will not worry. Nor will it fret.

Ask God to fill your mind with His thoughts. His wisdom. His peace.

Ask God to remind you of His faithfulness.

He’s always helped you more than you realize.

Give things afresh to Him today, allowing Him to bring you His perfect peace.

Photos by Jason Rosewell, Maksym Kaharlytskyi, & Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Securely Held

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God holds you tight.

Securely.

Completely tight.

Right within Him, He holds you.

He holds your now, your past, and your future.

Navigating your path, He holds you securely.

Can’t see what’s ahead?

His hand will guide you.

Securely.

Fumbling around like there’s nothing to hold onto?

He’s right behind you, so it’s ok to let go.

Let everything go.

Let your burdens go.

One by one, place them into His capable hands.

Frustrated? Throw them down at His feet.

He doesn’t care how you do it, just give your burdens to Him.

And when you release the burdens, trust Him.

Completely.

Trust Him for your everything.

Here’s a picture of trust.

Recently, I volunteered to harness myself to a high rope, trusting not only the people, but the materials to hoist myself safely high into the air.

Panicking in mid-air, I asked to be let down closer to the ground before choosing to release myself to a safe swinging motion.

I had nothing to hold onto.

I had to let go.

That was the only option to feeling my feet once again on the safe ground.

I let go.

And I was fine.

It’s the same way with God.

Sometimes we have no vision of the future, or solid ground for our feet.

We only have God and trusting His vision for our future.

Your choice is this: to trust and let go or hang on for dear life with your own strength.

Choose to let go and let God have His way.

Yes, it might be scary, but with God next to you, there is absolutely nothing to fear.

Say no to fear and choose to let God be your everything.

I’d much rather choose God then relying on my strength alone.

But it takes guts. Real life guts.

But it’s so worth it.

Face your fears.

Face your what if’s.

Because those are nothing compared to a future with God.

Let go of what is secure and let God hold you instead.

Photos by Kayra Sercan, Elahe Motamedi, Catherine, & Ben White on Unsplash

Leaving Our Junk

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As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

What is God calling you to leave behind?

Your identity?

Worry?

Anxiety?

Future fears?

Your health?

Your family?

Control over your surroundings?

When God calls you to Himself, He asks you to leave things behind.

But often, we begin following Him while dragging things along side us.

We drag worry along as we fear the future even though we know God’s got it.

We drag our family as we obsess about their poor choices even though God loves them more.

We drag our health as we demand to be healthy while choosing to inhale junk.

We drag our false identities even though we know who we are as God’s heir.

And we drag control, desperately wanting life to surrender to our every whim instead of surrendering to God’s will.

As God’s child, we need not bring anything on our journey with Him.

All we need is ourselves as God brings everything else.

And He is perfect, holding our perfect plan set before us.

We mess it up when we drag things along.

When we don’t leave all our junk behind.

We are so selfish, wanting to conform our surroundings to fit our whims. Our desires, hopes, and dreams.

But God’s ways are better. His ways are higher than mine. And they are higher than yours.

What is holding you back from running into all God has for you?

Photos by Karsten Winegeart, Jametlene Reskp, Jonathan Borba, & Aaron Owens on Unsplash

I Refuse

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

..to allow my child’s negative attitude bring mine down to their level.

..to participate with fear when it whispers into my ear.

..to give worry any seat at my party when I know God holds my future in His capable hands.

..to withhold forgiveness from those who don’t deserve it.

..to filter life through a negative lens.

..to dwell on justified wrongs from others instead of living within my blessings from God.

..to participate with negative attitudes from those around me.

..to focus on what I don’t have, switching to all the blessings I do have from God.

..to agree with the lies from the pit of hell, instead purposing to agree with who God says that I am.

..to find my worth in ungrateful children who have not matured to what God has given them.

..to rely on the world to give me my worth in their terms.

..to define my value in the world’s unreachable standards.

..to stoop to the devil’s level as he tries to fill my head with destructive thoughts.

..to rely on myself, instead relying on God and His Holy Spirit to fill me with His power and all truth.

..to be a door mat, ignoring my God-given desires, quietly asserting my value within my home.

..to be ungrateful, instead smiling as I remember all the good things God has given to little ole’ me.

..to forget what my salvation has cost my dear Savior who sacrificed everything.

..to define parenthood on the ungrateful whims of children no matter their age.

..to seek my selfish desires above what plans God has for me.

..to expect more of others than they are capable; God is everything, filling in holes created by others’ lack of compassion or thought.

..to keep pursuing my own selfish ambitions, instead asking God what He has for me and my future.

..to listen to the devil as his only purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy all that I hold dear.

May God give us His strength to purpose our thoughts only on Him.

He is all that we need.

May God fill us up with His strength, power, peace, and love as we go forth spreading His purpose to others.

Listen, my friends, to our Lord, ignoring your flesh and the devil’s deception which foil God’s plans for you.

Photos Priscilla Du Preez, Drew Beamer, Miguel Bruna, Clay Banks, Heather Ford on Unsplash

Following God When Asked

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By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 ESV

Has God directed you a certain way, but you’re not sure why?

Has God asked you to go a certain way, but you’re not sure where?

Trusting God while walking in darkness takes guts. We’re talking seriously strong guts.

Trusting someone we cannot see for a direction we are not sure where?

Are you crazy? Yep. You?

I wouldn’t call it crazy. I would call it trust. Wild trust. But trust with a secure foundation.

Abraham had layers of trust with God, knowing he could rely on God’s faithfulness.

While he did not know where he was going, he knew God was with him.

That God had ordained his steps. That was enough for him.

Is that enough for you? We have layers of trust with God, too.

Faithfulness found in the details of our lives when we care to look back. To remember.

God has always been there for you. He continues to be and will continue to be.

His faithfulness to you stretches over all of your days.

With God, there is nothing to fear, because you can look back at His personal faithfulness to you.

When He asks you to go somewhere, you can go.

When He asks you to do something, you can.

Even if you don’t know all the why’s, what if’s, or where’s, you can start on the journey.

Count yourself blessed. Just like Abraham, your faith in God will enable you to follow God all the days of your life.

Why would you follow anyone else?

Photos by Hugues de BUYER-MIMEURE & Samantha Sophia on Unsplash

Locked Up

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The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

Are you locked up?

Are you paralyzed with fear?

Filled with anxious thoughts, unable to move forward?

When we choose to rely on our own strength, we tend to lock ourselves up, away from everyone and everything.

When that happens, we choose to remain alone.

Stuck.

Separated by God’s peace.

Why do you choose to do that?

Don’t you trust God to help?

When life seems impossible, that’s when God can step in, revealing His purposes.

But only if we let Him.

God gives us a choice.

To move with Him or without.

If we choose to ignore Him, we will become stuck.

Stuck within our selfish strength or stuck within our paralyzing fear.

But if we let God help us, our lock will relent, releasing the door to open.

God promises to enter, but only if we say yes.

How have you said no to God?

What areas of your life are closed or even locked to God?

Time to allow Him to unlock your prison door!

Photos by Beth Macdonald, Shazaf Zafar, Everyday basics, &  Jornada Produtora on Unsplash

Dear God, Help!

Published on by amylinnea3 Comments

The Lord will rescue His servants; no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned. Psalm 34:22

This is big.

Too big.

Too much.

I can’t even wrap my mind around it, so there’s that.

I’m going to call it simply impossible.

Dead end, that’s where this situation lays.

No literal way out.

My mind is wrapped in anxiety and dread.

Blanketed with fear, causing my stomach to lurch whenever my mind remembers.

Standing at the edge, I throw up my hands in surrender.

God, I can do nothing to help.

I am not in control.

God, please help.

Please take it all away, sweeping in with Your goodness, health, and peace.

I know Your plan is not for evil, but for good.

And I know you created us with the choice to follow Your virtues or not.

While I cannot control the whims of others, I can purpose myself on You.

On Your truth.

On Your wisdom.

On Your peace.

We all face mountains, be them family situations, health, or other, that become defining points in time.

How will your mountain define you?

Turning to God, trusting Him to solve it all?

Or turning into yourself, which will 100% fail you and those you love.

Turn to Him, who created our universe and everything within.

Turn to Him, giving Him every worry, anxiety, and fear.

Turn to Him and let Him hold you, making it all better.

And watch Him work miracles.

Either you’ll see Him solve things as only He can, or you will witness Him providing you with His perfect peace within the storm.

Either way, your front row seat will behold His perfect miracle just for you.

Photos by Phạm Trọng Họ,  Ben White, & Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash

Destroyer

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The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

That’s the new name I have for the devil.

Destroyer.

Why?

Because I’ve come to a sudden realization.

Satan literally wants to destroy me.

All of me.

He wants to keep me stuck within the boundaries of fear.

He wants to remind me of my failures, which are many.

He wants to keep multiple rejection memories on the forefront of my mind, building more when he can.

He wants to tie my hands, believing there is no more hope with my family.

He wants to fill my mind with doubt, fear, and anxiety.

And, hello!

Satan wants all of that for you, too.

Satan is out to destroy us.

All of us.

If he succeeds, then our witness for God is negated.

Because God has already won, Satan can only do this one thing.

All Satan can do is destroy our witness on earth, so we are unable to bring more people with us to God.

And let me tell you – he will try as hard as he can.

He will stop at nothing.

Why?

Because he has absolutely nothing to lose.

News flash:

Satan’s already lost, so he is dripping with greed, desperate to take you with him.

You and as many people as he possibly can.

So what is your response?

Will you let him destroy you?

Slam God’s sword into the ground, and say NO.

When you ask God to infuse you with Himself, He will enable you to stand firm.

And with God on your side, Satan literally has NO CHANCE.

He will not destroy you.

Instead, God will free you to bring others to Himself with you.

What an honor.

Photos by Michael Dziedzic, R.D. Smith, Stormseeker, & Ricardo Cruz on Unsplash

Re-Focus

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And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

When all the noise is stripped away, what is your focus?

In the dark of night, what grips your soul?

Worry?

Dread?

Fear?

Or Jesus?

In this world, we will have trials.

But Jesus.

In this world, we will struggle.

But Jesus.

In this world, pain will come and go.

But Jesus.

Jesus has overcome the world and everything in it.

All our trials, struggles, and pain are piled at the foot of the cross.

What has removed your focus from Jesus?

Family?

Job?

Our country?

Jesus knows the beginning from the end.

What better to focus on then the author of all life?

Look at your mountain.

Now look again through Jesus.

Looks manageable now, doesn’t it?

Trials are real, but Jesus is bigger.

Struggles are exhausting, but Jesus is bigger.

Pain can be excruciating, but Jesus is bigger.

But Jesus.

Jesus is over, under, and beside all things.

All of the trials, struggles, and pain.

Refocus on Jesus, purposing only to trust Him with everything.

Your past, present and future.

Photos by Brady Stoeltzing, Michail Dementiev, Matteo Grando,  Kyle Johnson, & Tim Bogdanov on Unsplash

Living with a Purpose

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I will walk with integrity of heart within my house.

How does one walk with integrity of heart in his house?

And is the Psalmist speaking of his actual house or inside his very self?

Walking with integrity within yourself means aligning yourself to God.

Asking Him to fill you up with Himself.

His very wisdom and power.

And choosing to keep doing that, looking away from evil.

I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.

How does one not look upon worthless things?

Things not worthy of God?

Maybe God wants us to concentrate on Him, not worldly cares.

We should only purpose to look upon or seek out what He wants us to do.

See what He wants us to see.

Notice what He wants us to notice.

I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.

How do we hate the work of those who fall away, not allowing it to cling to us?

When people fall away from God, they tend to spread poison.

Words.

Accusation.

Fear.

They fall away for a reason.

Don’t cling to that.

Don’t accept it or allow any of it to cling to you.

Fling all of it off, pursuing God’s truth instead.

Pursuing the truth you know is God’s.

A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. Psalm 101:2-4

How do we keep our heart from being perverse?

By concentrating on God’s sovereignty.

His purpose for us.

His identify for us chosen before we were born.

Align yourself to God’s heart and your heart will be far from perverse.

As the Psalmist ends, they purpose to know nothing of evil.

Nothing.

Evil creeps in every moment of every day.

Are you purposing to know nothing of evil?

We all say so, but do we actually mean to?

Believing lies in your head is evil.

Refusing to believe how loved you are by God is evil as you call God a liar when you declare yourself unlovable by Him.

Creating space between yourself and God, wanting your own way is evil.

Selfish.

Purpose to know nothing of evil.

I’m going to try my hardest.

You?

Photos by Jonathan Cooper on Unsplash & https://unsplash.com/@inchristalone

Weeping

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When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. John 11:33

Jesus was fully human and knew sorrow.

He wept with us.

He was filled with compassion.

Sorrow moved Him deeply.

Just like you and me.

Our weeping friends or loved ones move us deeply.

Sometimes we are the ones weeping and others are moved to compassion for us.

Weeping signals sorrow.

That something is deeply broken.

Wrong.

Needs to be fixed.

That’s when God moves in, if you’ll let Him.

Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.“

Weeping can bring fear, as one usually cries when feeling alone.

Suddenly by themselves.

But God reminds us that He is with us.

We are NOT to be dismayed, because God is our God.

He promises not only to be with us, but to strengthen us.

He wants to help us, holding us up with His righteous right hand.

Weep.

But bring it to the feet of God.

Tell Him all of your sorrows.

He will listen, as a compassionate faithful friend.

And then He will take your sorrow, turning it into His peace.

Sometimes it takes time, especially if the wound is fresh.

But if you faithfully keep giving all of it to God, He will continually strengthen you, holding you upright with His righteous right hand.

Photos by Ksenia Makagonova,  Jordan Whitt,  Annie Spratt, & Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Imagine

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But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly. Psalm 52:8-9

I cannot even imagine life without Jesus.

Living in absolute fear without the foundation of my all knowing God.

Not sharing my deepest fears with the One who already knows.

Not asking Him to remove my fear, replacing it with His complete peace.

I cannot imagine not having the eternal security of heaven because of Jesus’ death on the cross for my sins.

Imagine thinking about death without Him.

Death would be the end.

No more.

Imagine life without Him.

Life would be completely up to you and me…….and chance.

That would be too much pressure.

With my personality, I’d beat myself up for sure.

A lot.

I cannot imagine going through the valley of death without God’s perfect peace.

Walking in the shadow of death without God’s protection and presence would have been the end of me.

Even with God, life is no walk in the park.

But without Him in my life, all I can say is wow.

I cannot imagine life without my Savior.

Life would not be life.

It would be so materialistic and surface like.

I’m so thankful I don’t have to trust myself to get through life.

Not only to get through, but to succeed.

Thankfully, we don’t have to imagine life without God.

God is here.

He has been, is, and always will be.

Forever and ever.

There is no life without Him, there was no life without Him and there will be no life without Him.

Can I get an amen? 🙂

Guess what?

We never have to imagine a world without Jesus, unless we choose to.

Thank God!

Photos by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Wonder Woman ’84

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Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

How are you blocking God from showing you what He has for you?

How are you blocking your freedom from springing forth?

How are you blocking God’s peace from covering every fear?

How are you blocking the very presence of God through what you hold too near?

When we hold onto things we shouldn’t, we block our progress.

When we hold onto the way we think things should be, we block God from moving.

When we hold onto our old familiar fears, we block God’s peace which passes all understanding.

When we hold onto things from the past, focusing on the loss instead of the present, we block God from carrying us into the future He has for us.

Yes, God is sovereign.

Yes, He can do anything.

But He allows us to choose.

We can choose to stay stuck with ourselves or move into the freedom He has for us.

Forgive me, but I must bring up Wonder Woman.

Yes, the female super hero in the movies today.

Watching Wonder Woman 84, she wrestled with letting go of her first love.

By focusing on that loss, she slowly lost her super powers.

Only when she let him and the stinging pain completely leave did she regain her superhero strength, pivotal to her destiny.

Completely applies to us and what we hold onto instead of God.

When we hold onto things instead of giving them to God, our “super powers” are blocked.

God’s peace cannot penetrate.

Fear stays.

Deep disappointment overwhelms.

Give every little thing to God.

Everything from your past, present and future.

Only when we let old things go can we move into the amazing plans God has for us.

Let the disappointed dreams go.

Let the past hurt rest.

And let God fully reign.

Photos by Priscilla Du Preez, Jack Ward, Helena Cook, & Jared Subia on Unsplash

Longing

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May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! Psalm 20:4

What is the longing of your heart?

The deep down longing?

To win the lottery?

To get married?

To make it through the day?

How bout to know God?

To know the living God, who made ALL things?

He wants to know you.

In fact, He already does.

Inside and out.

All those ugly things you don’t like to talk about?

He already knows.

All those deep dark fears, thinking you’re really not good enough?

He knows.

He sees your future fears.

He sees your past regrets.

He sees your broken heart.

He sees everything.

And you know what?

He still loves you.

Not only that, but He longs to have a relationship with you.

Jesus longs to fill your voids, canceling your debt upon your back.

Sometimes Christians keep their burdens.

We know we are saved, but we hold onto the things we regret.

We hold onto the things we wished were different.

Bitterness.

Anger.

Fear.

Unloving.

We hold onto it all.

But guess what?

God knows it all.

Every little thing.

And He still wants you fully as you are.

Come unto Him, lay down your everything, including that secret fear you’ve held for your entire life.

Might be scary, but it’s worth it.

Know why?

Because God, who knows the beginning from the end, will take your fear and hold it for you.

He will hold it.

When He holds it, it becomes love.

Your fear becomes perfect, because God is perfect.

He rights wrongs.

He cancels sin.

He creates beauty from ashes.

What are you waiting for?

Run to Him.

Submit, and give Him EVERYTHING.

In return, He will give you His peace.

His perfect peace.

There is nothing in this world that compares.

Nothing.

Photos by Vadym Lebedych on Unsplash

Hiding

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“Am I a God at hand,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord. “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 23:23-24

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What are you hiding?

A secret?

What is your deepest fear?

What are you hiding behind?

Job status?

A relationship?

Sin?

Do you subscribe to the notion that no one would like you if they really knew the whole you?

These all boil down to fear, due to misplaced trust.

Trusting in yourself before God.

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When you hide in your fears, you place yourself in charge.

You are telling God you don’t trust Him.

Come out.

Come out from behind the couch and place your hand into God’s.

Tell Him your fears.

Tell Him your anxieties.

Ask Him to replace them with the truth.

His truth.

He’ll do it.

He’ll cover you with His feathers, encapsulating your very self.

Instead of hiding from God, hide within Him.

Use His protection against fear.

Use His protection against anxiety.

Use His truth to replace the lies you’ve believed your whole life.

After all, He already knows everything.

And He’s still right beside you. Always.

Photos by Caleb Woods & Annie Spratt on Unsplash

 

Definition of Fear

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When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. Psalm 56:3

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Fear is the absence of peace.

Fear is behind the desire for mortal knowledge when the world offers none.

Fear is the belief that God is not enough.

That God is not here.

Fear showcases our deepest fears.

Fear brings us to our knees.

Fear paralyzes our next move, hijacks our thoughts.

Fear wraps us tightly into bondage.

Sounds horrid, yet we often choose fear, inviting it to stay.

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If you are reading this today, you are living in the midst of our society’s fear.

The fear of the dreaded killer virus COVID-19.

Fear of the economy taking a nose dive, taking your 401k with it.

Fear of losing your job or income whether short or long term.

Fear of running into someone less than 6 feet away.

Fear of running out of food or, gasp, toilet paper.

In this life, God has given us choice.

We may choose to believe the truth or not.

We may choose to believe His very Word or not.

Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”

When I am wrapped up in fear, I choose to unwrap, and decided instead to wrap myself in Your peace.

In Your presence.

In You, the absence of fear.

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Photos by Laurene Gicquel, Kelly Sikkema, Jon Tyson, & Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Toilet Paper

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For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.        2 Timothy 1:7

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The spirit of fear is real.

And it is NOT from God.

Nor are the feelings of panic or anxiety.

They are also NOT from God.

Rushing to purchase extra toilet paper stems from fear.

Combing stores for even more supplies rises from fear when your pantry is already overflowing.

Submitting to anxiety while watching the news creates a response in your body that long term, will lower your immune system.

Science backs it up.

Fear is not good for you.

Fear binds you up.

Fear causes you to react irrationally.

It is the opposite of peace, which is ordained by God.

Instead of fear, God has given us power.

His power.

He has given us love.

His love.

And He has given us a sound mind.

His.

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When we refuse the thoughts of fear and embrace God’s words of truth,

When we submit to His love for ourselves and others,

And when we use His power to stay in peace,

Fear will melt away.

Anxiety will leave.

Our mind, body, soul, and spirit will be filled with Him.

Choose to focus on Him.

Choose to weight fear with wisdom.

You’ll be able to walk away from the toilet paper, the eggs, or the cleaning supplies at the store, leaving it for someone who really does need it.

Yes, we all like to be prepared, but let it rise from wisdom, not fear.

And in the end, trust in Him for all of it.

Even more toilet paper.

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Photos by Joseph Barrientos & Claire Mueller on Unsplash

Clinging to the Old

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Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are becoming new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Are you?

Clinging to the old?

The old meaning your self without God.

Your sinful self.

The self that feels better some of the time.

1 Corinthians 5:17 suggests, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away.”

When we become a Christian, declaring our faith in God, we become new.

Our mind, body, soul, and spirit become new in the eyes of God.

Because with God covering us, we are without spot or blemish.

Old things pass away, meaning our sins are forgiven.

But my question is this: what old ways are you still holding onto?

What comfortable sinful actions do you insist on instead of how God wants you to act?

Just because the old has passed away doesn’t mean you can’t ask for it back.

Picture a closet.

You declare your faith in God.

God replaces all your clothes with new garments.

They are perfect.

Not always comfy, but made by God just for you.

You wake up, deciding what to wear.

Since you are still irked by yesterday, the shiny new clothes almost blind you.

You instantly wish, audibly, for that ratty sweatshirt.

You blink, and see it crumpled back on your floor.

Do you wear it?

Up to you.

Your old sinful nature is wiped clean with Christ’s forgiveness.

But your old ways can and will still creep up, tempting you to wear them.

You must keep your faith in God, asking Him what to wear each day, each moment.

Should I wear faith or fear?

Anxiety or peace?

Self-pity or grace?

Fear, anxiety, and self-pity are a whole lot more comfy at times, yes?

But they make you ugly.

Ask the One who set you free to keep setting you free each and every day.

And each day you choose God and His ways, it will become easier and easier to reject your old ways.

And pretty soon, that ratty sweatshirt in the corner will disappear.

But only if you decide you want it no longer.

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Photos by Jozsef Hocza, Zui Hoang, Martino Pietropoli, Patryk Sobczak, Tommaso Pecchioli, & Christian Fregnan on Unsplash

Belief

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Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12

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How high is your belief?

Belief in God.

Belief in His goodness.

Belief in His faithfulness.

Belief in your God-given gifts.

How much do you believe?

How deep?

I can say things until I’m blue in the face.

Others can share God’s truth over and over.

But unless you take His words into your heart, they mean nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

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We all have our own choices.

To believe God or not.

To believe Him when things are rolling along nicely.

But to also believe Him when you’re plodding along in a deep dark forest.

How deep is your belief?

Even when you cannot feel His hand, do you know He’s still there?

Even when you’re disappointed yet again, do you look instead to His faithfulness?

It’s normal to flip a bit.

To flip on belief when a doubt enters your brain.

A thought pops into your head, planting a doubt, and you respond like you almost agree.

Instead, when little doubts land on your arm, slap them like a mosquito, killing them on the spot.

Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Doubt that is.

Why?

Because doubt always leads to something else.

If you don’t immediately slap that doubt away, it stays in the corner of your mind, coming to the surface every so often.

Something else a few minutes or hours later will try to confirm that doubt.

Now you’ve got a bigger problem.

That “confirmed” doubt has doubled.

Folks, it only gets worse from there.

Doubts are believed when belief in ourselves overtakes our belief in God.

When we determine it’s up to us to be happy.

It’s up to us to solve our moments.

Our belief in God is the cornerstone of everything.

If we don’t believe He is enough, we search.

If we don’t believe He is faithful, we doubt.

If we don’t believe He is here, we panic.

Keep your belief deep, so your roots are well watered when the ground above is parched.

When life is cracked and dry, you will still thrive because your roots are well-watered.

Choose to deeply believe, because life is very real.

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Photos by Liam Pozz, Jeremy Bishop, & Christopher Paul High on Unsplash

 

Today & Tomorrow

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Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18

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Ever heard the phrase “He is already there?”

Meaning, Jesus is already there.

He’s in the past.

He’s here now.

And He’s in the future.

He is already there.

Already preparing for you.

Ready and calm.

It’s comforting, but only if we believe it.

Knowing God already knows and is there comforts us, but only if that’s enough.

And it should be.

God should be enough.

His presence, love, and peace are enough.

But only if we turn ourselves off, wanting to control some part of it.

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Take tomorrow for example.

Not sure what is going on, but God is already there.

And He is enough.

Worry or anxiety begin to assert themselves into our situations only when we allow ourselves to regain control.

When I thrust myself and my desires into the plan.

Invading God’s perfect plan.

Yes, God gives us desires and needs, and when those are aligned with His will and not our flesh, we will remain in peace.

But when we decide we must plan for this or that, what we are really doing is removing our trust from God.

Removing our trust.

Not a good idea.

And when we remove our trust from God, we are telling Him he is not enough.

Not enough.

God, who created ALL things is not enough.

Ok, when you spell it out that way, our anxiety does seem a bit ridiculous.

Ya think?

Remember God has your back.

He is with you yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

He is already there.

Already there waiting for you.

Keep placing your trust in Him.

Let Him walk with you each moment.

Tell Him your worries, but allow Him to solve them.

Listen after you speak.

And trust that He is enough.

Because He is.

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Photos by Todd Trapani, Ruslan Zaplatin, & Perchek Industrie on Unsplash

Ugly Poster

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The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

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What does it look like?

The big ugly poster you see when you begin to think poorly?

When you start dwelling on the nasty?

What does it look like?

Your big ugly poster.

Because you tend to hold it up too much.

You’ve seen it enough times to know what it looks like.

Mine really doesn’t have any pictures on it.

It’s mostly black.

Dull.

Frankly, all it does is obscure my view.

My view of all my blessings.

You?

Guessing yours is similar.

Sometimes the big ugly poster can change, adding hurt from the past.

Or dreams that were crushed.

Or people who have broken you.

Or situations you wish were different.

Guess what happens when you only see the big ugly poster?

Your mood becomes absolutely horrid.

Your fears begin to hold center stage in your vulnerable brain.

Hopelessness and despair become your companions.

Time to put it down.

With God’s help, put it down.

Tear it to pieces.

Train your arms to never scoop it up again.

And if you forget, throw it down instantly, as if it were poison.

Because it is.

Your big ugly poster is poison.

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The antidote to fear is security.

Look around and see how God has provided for you.

The antidote to hopelessness is hope.

Open your eyes and see all the blessings God has poured out on you.

Remember.

That’s the answer.

Remember God is in control and remember all He has done for you.

And will do.

Stand up straight.

Straighten your crown.

And smile.

And while you’re at it, step on that poster.

Photos by Kelly Sikkema, Corinne Kutz, Brandi Redd, JESHOOTS.COM, & Fiona Smallwood on Unsplash

Fear’s Enemy

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Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Luke 10:19

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Truth.

Truth is Fear’s enemy.

Why?

Because Fear wants you to ignore truth.

Fear wants you to focus on worry, neglecting all things true.

What are you afraid of?

What fear has gotten a hold of you?

Ever think you’re not good enough?

That’s fear.

God’s truth holds that you are enough just by being you.

Fear of rejection begs us to ignore ourselves, bowing instead to unloving our very selves.

Afraid you’ll lose your job?

Doesn’t God hold all things in His hands?

Doesn’t He promise to bring you your needs like He clothes the flowers in the fields and the sparrows of the air?

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Can you be a Christian and still fear?

Absolutely.

Why?

Because we forget Whose we are.

We forget and turn instead to our flesh filled minds, churning out our own responses to life.

When Satan (or fear) whispers a doubt in your mind, what is your response?

Do you agree with it?

If so, that’s an invitation for fear to move on in.

Makes it even easier the next time, which I can guarantee you will happen.

You know that.

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What if, instead, you refused it?

You declared God’s truth instead?

You would win, that’s what.

Your mood would stay out of the toilet.

Satan wants fear to rule your life.

To dictate your every move.

To make you apprehensive of making any mistake at all.

To become afraid to use your voice, standing up for yourself.

To worry about being alone.

To worry about being a substitute wife, because you’re not his first one.

To compare yourself to others who have had space in a loved one’s heart.

Fear is based on the faith of the unknown.

The what if.

Don’t you dare base your life on what if.

Base your life on what now.

Base your life on what now with God.

He knows.

He cares.

He’s enough.

Kick fear to the curb.

And slam the door.

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Photos by Yusuf Evli, Aaron Burden, Adam Muise, & Aime Cox-Tennant on Unsplash

If God Does

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Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

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“If God puts you there, He is amply sufficient.”  Oswald Chambers

Unpacking this, there is so much to see.

If God places you anywhere (and He does, because He is sovereign over all), He is completely and totally enough to cover all of your fears and anxieties, washing your mind with His peace.

Completely and totally enough to cover it all.

Even those fears you harbor deep inside.

He is enough, washing your mind with His peace.

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If God places your hands to work, He is more than enough, helping you not only survive, but thrive.

If God places you at home with your less than appreciative child, His love for you will cover the gaps, filling your heart with Him.

If God places you in a hospital, caring for a loved one, His care for you will shine through your care of that loved one.

If God places you in front of a large crowd, your voice will carry His message to others, speaking to their very souls.

If God places you somewhere to stand up for His name, His strength will carry you securely onto the wings of His safety and love.

If God calls you to live without your spouse, His care for you will cover all of the holes left behind.

If God calls you to mother or father children who have grown in your heart alone, His grace will marry the lines between parent and child.

When God places you, His child, in any situation, He will be enough.

He is enough.

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He will do all this and more if you place your trust in Him, wanting to mirror His likeness.

To be His hands and feet.

To shut yourself down, pouring out His life instead.

Shutting yourself down doesn’t mean you become nothing.

It’s the opposite, really.

Shutting yourself down means turning off your selfish ways and pouring out God.

God, who loves all of us so very much.

Remember Whose you are.

Remember what that means.

That when He places you in life, He is more than enough.

More than enough.

Overflowing amounts of Jesus are available you.

I’d rather have Him than anything else.

Thank you, God, for being more than enough today.

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Photos by Michael Liao on Unsplash

Your Grave

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So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

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Have you walked out of your grave?

Seriously.

With our God’s saving power pulsing through your veins, you are free.

Free.

You are no longer bound by the death of this world.

Death from words has no power over you.

Deathly situations will no longer paralyze you.

Death from fear of the unknown no longer consumes you.

The absence or death of joy, filling yourself instead with insecurity, can no longer claim you.

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So,

Have you walked out of your grave?

You’ll know because you’ll feel the freedom God so desperately wants to give you.

When God saves your soul, first and foremost, you are headed to heaven.

When you die, you no longer worry where you will forever remain.

However, there is a second part.

God longs for you to be saved from this world here on earth as well.

Saved from the death all around you.

Saved from deathly words swallowing you up.

Saved from deadly situations paralyzing you.

Saved from fear of the unknown consuming you.

Saved from joyless living, aligning yourself with insecurity and unloving thoughts.

Jesus wants to redeem your life on earth, too.

He wants you to walk around completely loved, completely valued, and completely prized.

Why?

Because you are His.

His beloved.

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He has saved you from not only eternity away from Him, but He has also saved you in this world.

You are victorious.

You are free.

Together with God, you are victorious over anything this world throws at you.

Have you walked out of your grave?

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Photos by Rubén Bagüés, Jonathan Farber, Scott Rodgerson, Alexander Andrews, & Matthew T Rader on Unsplash

Daily Effort

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Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

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Walking in life-giving steps requires daily effort.

Deliberately stepping into what God has for you is a choice.

It’s rather easy to stumble, falling into death.

Death?

Walking into self-pity.

Agreeing with rejection.

Joining with unloving.

Listening to fear.

Satan knows our weaknesses.

Tempting us is rather easy as we are so used to succumbing to his pitiful ways.

We are so weak.

Yet, with God, we are strong.

So very strong, we have literally no idea.

No idea, whatsoever, what power is ours.

Power that can shut down the devil’s temptations in an instant.

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Guard yourself.

Guard myself, how?

Writing down your precious blessings from God.

Listing scriptures which proclaim the truth of God over the lies of Satan.

Tuning into worship music, filling your brain with the praises of God.

Telling fear to go.

Cancelling the assignments of rejection.

Declaring God’s power over all.

Then stepping back in line with life.

The life hidden under God’s all-powerful wings.

But you must also choose to stay.

Choose to stay aligned with God.

Completely.

Walking with God produces life.

He’ll take all of your fears and lay them to rest.

Believe Him.

Because He is life.

Your life nestled safely in His hands.

Photos by Olia Gozha & Ben White on Unsplash

Open House

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For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

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It’s open, come on in.

Whose there, you ask?

Fear.

Doubt.

Jealousy.

My house is open, so they walk right in.

Unknowingly, I invited them.

How?

Through believing lies in my head.

Honestly, I thought they’d leave.

But they don’t want to leave.

In fact they refuse to leave without me demanding them via God’s power.

Why don’t I ask them to leave?

Why haven’t I?

Because I’m comfortable with them.

The bondage feels familiar.

It’s who I am.

They came into my house so long ago, I can hardly remember feeling freedom.

My house guests have not only stayed a long time, they have completely moved in.

In fact, I even built them rooms.

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I made room by kicking out peace, love, and security.

Has God come by lately?

Well, I haven’t invited Him over for a bit.

It’s been awhile and my house is slightly messy.

Messy with fear, doubt, and jealousy.

I’m afraid to clean up.

I don’t think I can.

But I’m jealous of my friend’s clean house…..she has so much peace from God.

I want that, too.

Does this sound at all familiar?

Declare God’s truth and pray this prayer:

God, please come back into my life.

Cleanse me from anything that is not of You.

Fear, doubt, and jealousy, leave now, in Jesus’ name.

I declare my house to be a house of God.

Amen!

Now walk confidently in God’s power.

His peace.

And close the door to fear.

In fact, change the locks.

Because God is back in control.

Photos by Mona Eendra, Alfred Leung, Leyre Labarga, Jose Aragones, & Annie Spratt on Unsplash

 

Fear

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For I am the Lord your god who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13

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That one.

I’ll take her.

She looks like an easy target.

I’ll whisper a lie into her head and wait for her response.

Should I tell her no one really likes her and she’ll never measure up

or

should I remind her of all her recent sins, convincing her she’s trash?

Eh, doesn’t matter.

Either lie is believable.

Oh good.

She took it.

Believed it, too!

You can tell by her mood, which has plummeted downward.

Oh, and the tears.

I’ll come back again tomorrow, whispering another lie.

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Wow, it worked!

This is seriously almost too easy.

Destroying people with lies is amazingly simple.

You say this girl is a Christian?

Well, glad she’s not walking in God’s truth.

If she was, she would declare my words a lie.

Does she even know Whose power is hers?

Thankfully, she seems to have forgotten.

My job is done.

She looks defeated, no longer able to fulfill God’s plan for her.

Score, I win again!!!!

Time to find another victim.

I’ll return now and then, making sure she’s still under my thumb.

Who knew my job as Fear would be so dang easy?

Photos by Michael Mouritz ,Soragrit Wongsa , Jeremy Perkins , & Eric Ward on Unsplash

 

Doubt

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Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” Matthew 14:31

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Where is my next victim?

I’ll pick him.

Over there.

The one looking at his phone.

I know… they are ALL looking at their phones, but I mean the one over there.

The kid wearing a striped shirt.

I’m going to whisper a doubt into his head.

Great- he looks concerned.

What do you know….looks like I succeeded.

It’s tomorrow and I’m at it again.

I see him getting ready for school, so let’s pile on the doubt.

Oh good, he thinks he’s the stupid kid walking around at school.

He just threw his things down in disgust at himself.

Let’s confirm the doubts and really take him down a few pegs.

Wait, he’s a Christian?

Not sure if that matters.

Look, we got him to skip praying, so I can move in yet again, confirming the doubts yet again.

No, instead, I’m going to double the doubts.

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What is my name?

Fear.

I tend to rule.

No, I do rule.

I have absolute power when folks give it to me.

How do they give it to me?

Succumb to the lies I tell them and don’t believe the truth.

I’m only silenced with the power of God.

But if I can get them to forget all about that, I win.

I am so used to winning, it’s almost boring.

I’m serious.

My job is so easy.

Oh no.

That kid I taunted is in Bible class.

He’s listening to the teacher proclaim victory over fear.

Let me quickly plant a doubt.

Shoot, he declared the truth in immediate response.

Now they are praying and he is agreeing.

Guess I have to leave him for now.

Time to find another victim.

Let’s try her…..

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Photos by Issam Hammoudi, Michał Parzuchowski,  Ryoji Iwata, & Lukas Juhas on Unsplash