Don't Be Afraid

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

Many things can cause anxiety such as tornado sirens screaming out, earthquakes, war, floods, heights, dying, getting cancer, snakes, bees,  and spiders. You can probably add to the list. God does not want His children afraid but wants them peaceful. Recently with the outbreaks of  F3 tornadoes in our area there were some anxious moments but I felt a sense of calmness through all those sirens going off.

Our enemy Satan loves it when God's children become fearful. If you get fearful it means your mind is off of God and onto being afraid. This is a time when you are having a weak moment and he likes to take advantage of you. Do not allow things to scare you. Know that Christ has your back so to speak. Know that you can rely on God to see you through and give you the peace only He provides.

PRAYER: Many things can frighten me Lord if I purposely choose to let them. I know you are my hiding place and I can trust you to care for me. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

BE CALM! GOD IS STILL GOD!

Are you worried? Are you fretful? Do you think the world is coming to end soon? Are you not trusting God to help you or help situations?

First of all remember that God is still on the throne. He has not abandoned you. He loves and cares for His children who call Him Lord. 2 Chronicles 16:9(NASB) says 'For the eyes of the Lord move to and for throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose hearts are completely His. You have acted foolishly in this. Indeed now you shall surely have wars.' I have loved that verse since a family friend of ours since my childhood wrote it on my birthday card many years ago. It just stuck with me.

God has a plan. He is not up in heaven worried that some dictator is going to dethrone Him, after all He is the Alpha and Omega, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 2 Peter 3:9(NIV) says 'The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.' He does not like His people and those that love Him to be oppressed. There is freedom in Christ. Freedom to live a life without fear.

Many people who call themselves Christians can not seem to let go of worry. It almost possesses them. In order to have that calm assurance of Jesus taking care of you and knowing the "bigger picture" you just have to have faith and trust Him. Your ultimate home if you have asked Jesus to be Lord over your life is of course your heavenly mansion. No more concerns up there. No more fretting. Simply being in awe of God's majesty and glory.

Are you not able to let some things go? I recommend finding a good scripture verse to cling to and keep with you if you start to be overcome with anxiety.

Proverbs 3:5-6(NIV) is one of my favorites. It says 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and He will direct your paths.' For a believer death is the ultimate prize. No more heartache, weeping, worries, troubles, sickness but just pure joy in the presence of God.

Whatever is taking away your peace take it to God in prayer and leave it there. Once again let me remind you it is Satan that wants to make you a worrier. Stop now and be a "warrior" for Christ.

PRAYER: Thank you for another day to sing your praises and make an impact in the world around me. Forgive me when I keep worrying as that shows I must not trust you to work. I need patience to be able live day by day. I refuse to allow the enemy to steal my peace and joy. In Jesus' name.Amen.

^{Click link below and listen to a wonderful song to give you peace. Why not lift your arms in the air and praise Him?http://youtu.be/MtbN5N8I8Hk}

OH WELL!!

 Exasperation is what I felt after writing a new devotion and have it entirely disappear. I know that the enemy probably does not like that I write about Jesus and he can do his thing to frustrate me. Especially when the devotion was completely from scratch and no drafts were available. I refused to have a meltdown. What good will it to to get frantic and worry? None. It will not bring the writing magically back. So what to do? Pray and move on.

We all have patience tests in life but for a writer, losing your work is a real test. I guess I need to ask God to help me recall what I wrote and start again. I am not sure what happened but for me to keep dwelling on it will achieve nothing. What is done is done. I can pray and let it go. All of a sudden I have a brand new topic and that is what I am writing right now.

So whatever has happened to you in your life that is beyond your control as well, has to be let go. You can not just sit and mull over something out of your hands.

This whole ordeal makes me think of the topic of peace once again. Imagine for a moment that you are a victim of a tornado ripping your house to shreds and scattering your belongings for miles. There is nothing you can do. As with one tornado victim I spoke with day or two after the 27 April 2011 F5 tornado ripped her home off its' foundation and placed in the middle of the street and then it collapsed,"I just want to find my drivers license". A few days later her neighbor whose home was barely touched told me she indeed had some how found it in this mess.Life mattered and material possessions were of little concern except maybe drivers licenses, birth certificates, and photographs.

You let go and let God. You give Him your concerns. In the big scheme of things my lost writing is frustrating but is really no big deal. 1 Peter 5:7(NIV) says 'Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you.' Indeed He does care. Pray and leave it with Him. Losing things and having material you have worked on disappear into cyber space is annoying but in order to have peace you have to move on.

John 14:27(NIV) 'Peace I leave you, my peace I give you.I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid.'

PRAYER: Lord thanks for the ability to forget and move on when I am frustrated about losing things especially when there is nothing I can do. I cast my cares on you Lord and ask you to work in my heart to not let me be burdened by earthly issues that do not really matter. In Jesus' name.Amen.

GOD CAN HANDLE THAT

What has got you down or stressed out and worried today? It is easy to say " let the Lord handle it" but really what good does it do to worry, speculate, fret, and try to figure out something yourself? True , God does want you to have peace in your life. You are more effective for him when you are not anxious all the time.

 The Bible tells us in  1 Peter 5:7 to " Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you". You pray so then trust God and attempt to let matters go. In Psalm 55:22 it also says "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you, He will never let the righteous fail."

It takes faith, trust, and belief. He is God and you have cried out to him to relax and let him do the work he has planned.  God is a big God and Nothing is impossible for Him.(See Luke 1:37).
Ephesians 3:20 has been one of the first verses the Lord used in my life as a single girl living in California and it simply says "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than we ask or think according to the power that works within us."

What breakthrough or answer to prayer are you waiting for in your life or the life of a loved one? God is still working and the story is not over yet so just have faith and keep loving Jesus.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I have faith that you can do all things and when I doubt things will change I nice then I am doubting your awesome control and proper. Forgive me for times I doubt and do my own thing. I truly want to give you the fears I have and trust you to answer in your time. In Jesus name. Amen.

Click on link to worship the Lord in song.
http://youtu.be/A9Ya7ryNob4

'STRUGGLERS' AND SINNERS

 Look around you.  Are you visibly able to tell who has just had an abortion, or maybe gone through chemo, been in  jail, or perhaps stolen office supplies? Not really right? 'Sinners' and 'strugglers' are amongst us and we are some of them. Our job is to love people and not judge and condemn. That is how you win people to Christ by having the attitude such as Jesus did in John 8:11 when he told woman caught in act of adultery "Go and sin no more".

There are all sorts of problems going on in people's lives around us we are unaware of. I sit here in a coffee shop writing and look around me and have no idea what people have been through or are going through. Court battles raging, miscarriages, pregnant and unmarried, people being sued, those who have been incarcerated, betrayed and hurting people, lost jobs, death in the family, cheated on a test, addicted to porn, an alcoholic, lied, sick, lonely, hurting, worn out people beat down by the situations of life yet if you ask someone how they are doing the usual answer is "fine". Oh really? Why do we answer like that when you really might feel as if you could burst out in tears?

1 Peter 5:7 tells us to "Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you." It is Satan who tries to get you feeling hopeless and discouraged. When that feeling comes on you think of all the good things there are about your life to be thankful for. Matthew 11:28 reminds us to "Come to me all you who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest." Oh to rest with Christ and to truly give Him your load, how wonderful it would be!

The point is, there is hurt out there all around you so why not try to first of all not think of our own problems for a while and see what you can do to brighten someones day around you? That simple smile will work wonders.

 Just remember everyone has struggled and we all have been sinners. The good news is God can set us free to live a life of freedom in him. All of us have struggled at one time or another and all of us have sinned. It says this in Romans 3:23. Now remember we are not supposed to purposely sin if we know better but God will forgive.  Only blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not forgiven. James 4:17 says "Anyone then who knows the good  he ought to do and does not do it sins."  Be on your guard about  trying to categorize sin, because there is no such thing. And careful telling others they are wrong as you have three fingers pointing back at yourself.

So as you go about your day today if you are down keep your thoughts on Jesus and also remember there are many around you going through tough times. Go out and be a light in a dark world.

PRAYER: Lord you came to set the captives free. All of us have been through hurt and pain Lord. Thank you for setting me free or how you are going to set me free. I will resist Satan and he has to leave me alone. In Jesus name. Amen.
Click on link to worship the Lord in song.
http://youtu.be/zASHA-9WhHY