“Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] (Hebrews 13:5, AMP)

I remember a time when I was so paralyzed by fear I’d lay awake at night with thoughts of anxiety and loneliness. I had lost the ability to look at anything through a positive lens. I longed to be near the Lord, but I did not know how to reach Him.

How could I possibly be contented with my present circumstances? How could God tell me He would never let me down? How could He say that He will not in any degree leave me helpless or without support? My husband had left me, and so had all my friends. I was no longer able to work due to anxiety and depression and had extreme social phobia.

However, God does not lie. His words in Matthew11:28 were about to be demonstrated to me in a powerful way: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

As I cried out to the Lord, asking Jesus for relief from my pain, He gave me an invitation to enter His rest by giving Him my anguish in exchange for a personal relationship with Him. He showed me that I could not come to Him with my hands filled with my own burdens and cares and attempt to receive from Him His goodness and rest.  I had to empty my hands of all the worry first.

I realized that I did not need to worry and fear. Jesus cares about me and I have nothing to fear with His tender and all sufficient care of me.  As it says is John 10, He is my Shepherd.  “I am the Good Shepherd; and I know and recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me– Even as [truly as] the Father knows Me and I also know the Father–and I am giving My [very own] life and laying it down on behalf of the sheep.” (John 10:14-15, AMP)

I began to consciously give Jesus my worries each time I found myself anxiously fretting over something. Each time I found myself worried and frightened, I refocused my mind on a favorite verse. I meditated on the verse or spoke it aloud, or both. After several weeks I began to feel significant relief from my anxiety.  Within months the Lord had surpassed all expectations that I had had of Him! I discovered anticipation for the mornings and my time with the Lord.

Truly, my Shepherd has shown me that He has given His life for me, and His blood has paid the penalty for my wrongs past, present, and future.

I can come before Him in boldness, knowing that I need not fear punishment. I can joyfully celebrate that I am forgiven and victorious – righteous because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross for me. I do not have to live in fear, trying to measure up to an impossible standard of perfection. I can dwell in the safety of God’s loving arms, letting His righteousness and perfect love soak into me. I know that He is at work to transform me into His image and likeness as I glory in the truth that I am unconditionally loved and accepted! Amen!

Father, Quiet my heart before You that I might hear You when you speak. Amen

Question: Do you have difficulty coming before Your Heavenly Father? How can the words of Scripture help to ease your fears? Which verses bring you peace and teach you that Jesus loves you and accepts you unconditionally?

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Walking in peace, with your heart calm even when your life is not, is one of the wonderful benefits of the Christian life. God reminds us to pay attention to what is going on within our hearts and to make some intentional choices.

Your heart is the well-spring of all of your life. It is the place that your reactions, your attitudes, your actions all bubble up from.  Some translations say, ““Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  All that you are as you walk through this day, with whatever it holds, will spring from your heart. That’s why God tells us specifically to guard that well-spring. We are wise to check what is residing in that well-spring especially when we find peace has vanished and worry and stress has taken it’s place.

There will always be one of two very specific things in the lead of all the things in our hearts. Faith or Fear. One will always be on the top of the heap. They cannot both occupy the same place. If faith resides there your well-spring will pour out peace and confidence in God’s care for you, even in the midst of uncertain times.

If fear resides there anxiety and depression will be the natural outward flow. Faith or Fear.  Every day we choose.  Many times a day we choose.

Faith over-rides Fear.  Fear over-rides Faith.

God tells us exactly what to do when fear grips our hearts and takes over our minds. Left unchecked it will scatter our faith and our peace like confetti in the wind and leave us anchorless in the storms of life.

Yet God in His love gives us specific instructions as to what to do.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

What a simple formula! Not easy – but simple. Worry is a call to prayer. The moment you become aware of that churning anxiety over ANYTHING, go immediately to your Heavenly Father.  Present your requests to Him. Then turn your thoughts and prayers to thanksgiving.

•     Thank Him for His promise to never forsake you.
•     Thank Him for the power of His name.
•     Thank Him for His intimate knowledge of every detail of your life.
•      Thank Him for His track record in your life when He has been there for you in the past.
•     Thank Him that He works all things together for your good as you trust Him.
•     Thank Him that He is at work establishing His kingdom in your life.

Your faith and trust in God will over-ride your fear and His peace will actually put a guard around your heart and mind so fear cannot over run you. It’s supernatural and it’s real.

Prayer of action:

Father God,

I confess that I often allow Your peace to slip from my heart.  Fear is often my first response to challenges that come my way. May I be conscious today of choosing to trust You with every detail of my life. Help me to have faith to leave the question marks in Your control and to trust You to carry me and to sustain me with your peace that is beyond understanding. Today I choose to put my trust in You. I choose to walk in Your peace.
Fill my heart with childlike faith today I ask in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.

Question: How can you walk in faith and peace today?

“Peace I leave with 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 be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Jesus has given you a promise and a gift. YOU have been given this gift.  It’s the gift of peace. Do you want more peace in your heart? The peace Jesus gives is unlike any thing the world calls peace. It is peace IN the turmoil of day-to-day living. It is a peace that steadies you and a calm that encases you even with life is not calm around you.

Jesus told His followers that after He returned to Heaven God the Father would send them the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, who would teach them all things and remind them of everything Jesus had said. Jesus knew that His followers would need a Helper, an Encourager and a Comforter to keep them sharp in their faith and to fill them with this peace. He knew that they, and eventually us, you and I, would need to be reminded of the things Jesus taught and of the peace that He has for us.

He gives us one instruction as He promises this peace. He tells us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

“Do not let ….” Here again it sounds like we have a choice to make … and we do. We can choose to ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with this peace and we can choose to remember all Jesus taught us about living in His strength.  We choose. Faith and fear cannot occupy the same space nor can peace and turmoil occupy the same place in our hearts.

A number of years ago a dear friend of mine received some challenging news about her health. She ran to the Lord and asked the Holy Spirit to fill her with peace. Daily she traded in the fear that came to rob her and daily she received the peace that the world could not understand. Her doctor even told her she was in denial. Yet she wasn’t. She was simply living in the promise of peace that has been given to each of us as Jesus’ followers. The world cannot grasp this kind of peace.

Today if peace is short in your heart and mind remember that Jesus has given it to you. His Holy Spirit is there to remind you and to teach you how to live in that peace. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with peace.

When fear comes to nibble at your heart or rush through your door to trouble you – stop and remember that you can make a choice. “Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Though the trouble may remain the peace of Jesus and the help of the Holy Spirit pouring peace over your heart, will carry you through.

Prayer of action: 

Father God,

Today I need the help of the Holy Spirit in allowing Your peace to fill my heart and soul and mind. May I not live in turmoil but choose to trade in my fear and my troubled heart for Your amazing peace and strength. It’s a gift I receive from You by the power of Your Holy Spirit. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Question: How can you choose peace today?

Is there something wrong with me? Will anyone ever love me again?  

When you become a single Mom your life suddenly turns upside down. It seems that fear can become as much a part of life as breathing.  I had no partner to help me so I began to balance the bank books, figure which bills to pay first, do the outside work, and the most importantly, be a stabilizing factor for my children. Fear gripped me so tightly.  As each week ended, I was afraid to start the next because of what might happen.

Fear can be overwhelming

Fears can make us feel like we are standing in a corner and totally out of control.  If we let it, fear can consume us and be the monster under our bed.  Max Lucado wrote a little booklet called, “Imagine Your Life Without Fear”.  If you get a chance to purchase this little 46 page booklet, it is powerful.  (Booklets are available on Lucado’s site, just $2 for a pack of 5 http://www.maxlucado.net/fearless/fearless-booklets-5-pack) I quote, “Fear, at its center, is a perceived loss of control.”

Do you feel that your life, like mine, is out of control? For me, each new day was a challenge and fear controlled me if I let it.  I could easily get my mind worked up and try and figure everything out.  Honestly, life doesn’t work that way.

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us.  The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.” (CEV)  Now doesn’t that sound empowering and freeing! God will help us as we move ahead. Tap into God’s power.  Will we still be afraid? Of course, but don’t let that fear grip you. Begin to work through the fear and ask God to help you to have power, love, and self-control.

Fear can be overcome

I remember knowing in my spirit that it was time to move out of the city where I was living.  I didn’t have any family support in the area, so as I asked God for direction He clearly opened doors.  It wasn’t easy.  Moving meant packing up the house, getting a new job, pulling my kids out school and dealing with my ex-spouse’s reaction to my decision. I could have curled up and said forget it because I was afraid, but God gave me the power to make the move.  Everything fell into place.  It was tough, but it was right!

Why not spend a few minutes writing out what you fear the most?  Sometimes when we write it out, it becomes easier to face. When you have your list complied, see what solutions you feel you can reasonably tackle. If you are having difficulty with solutions, call a friend who can help you ask questions and work through the list.  When we let go of fear, we can start to think of this new life as a new adventure with many possibilities. There will still be challenges.  But fear won’t be your only response to those challenges. You’ll have the strength that comes from knowing you can make choices for your family.

You are not alone 

As I read the Bible, I am comforted to see that other people have fearful challenges too.  David had to face the Giant, The Apostle Paul preached to angry leaders of the law who had stones in their hands to harm him, Peter denied Christ, and the disciples faced drowning in a stormy sea.

Face your fears; don’t hide from them.  Call to God for help, He’s your lifeline. David killed the Giant, Paul was granted safety, Peter was given forgiveness, and Jesus’ calmed the stormy sea.  Ask God for wisdom as you face your fears.  Talk things over with a trusted friend.  Don’t let fear control you.

God assures us that He knows our worries and He understands. Psalm 55:22 says, “Our Lord, we belong to you.  We tell you what worries us and you won’t let us fall.” (CEV) In I Peter 5:7 it says, “God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to Him.”

As you face the day today, what areas of your life can you begin to release from fear? Do you believe that God won’t let you fall?  Who can you call to help you work through these fears?

Father in Heaven, we are so thankful that You want us to lay these fears at your feet. Fear can grip us and keep us from moving ahead. Help us take step after step into Your freedom.  Give us Your wisdom to begin this journey.  We thank you for Your Spirit that gives us love, power and self-control.  In Your Powerful Name, Amen.

There is HELP, there is HOPE, there is HEALING!

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But when I got to college I had a huge eye-opening experience. Players were quicker, taller, and much more athletic than I was accustomed to. While I did make the team, to my deep discouragement, I rarely played my first two years. As a result, I nearly gave up. “Why keep working hard,” I reasoned, “if I’m not going to play anyway?” At this stage in my life the cost of playing college basketball, even though it was my dream, was beginning to outweigh the benefits.

Is it worth following Jesus?

If you have been following Jesus for more than twenty minutes, you have probably experienced moments of doubt, uncertainty, and even anger at God. This is normal. Is it really worth being a Christian when the cost is so high? Like my dilemma with college basketball, you may have wondered if it’s really worth the effort to continue believing in Jesus. Maybe you have felt like the Psalmist who said, “But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked…surely in vain I have kept myself pure” (Psalm 73:2-3, 13).

I remember feeling this way as a high school sophomore. Since I grew up in a Christian home I had heard countless messages on “saving sex for marriage.” The consequences of ignoring God’s plan were engrained in me since I was young. I knew the reality of sexually transmitted diseases and other consequences of not waiting. But as much as I knew these things to be true, they didn’t seem to fit my experience. Quite a few of my friends were having sex but none of them (as far as I knew) had an STD, went through painful break-ups, or were particularly miserable. In fact, many seemed quite content with their choices. I honestly wondered, “If my non-Christian friends seem to be getting along just fine without obeying God, is it that important to remain faithful?”

If you have ever honestly wrestled with your faith in God, then the following thoughts are for you.

Embrace the difficulty and cost of faith

For some people believing and trusting in God appears to be quite simple. I am not one of them. Faith is not easy for me. In a world that emphasizes the present rather than the eternal, the powerful over the meek, and the visible rather than the invisible, I find it a struggle to live daily for God. It simply is not natural to die to myself and to live for God. For the longest time in my life I really thought I was alone in this struggle. But when I began to read the Bible more carefully, I realized that many of the godliest people struggled deeply with their faith. Consider a few:

David?David was “a man after God’s own heart.” He was personally chosen by God to be the king of Israel because of his humility, strength, and devotion. Yet even David experienced doubt and desperation in his relationship with God. Even though he had done nothing wrong, David had to flee for his life from King Saul. While hiding for his life in a cave David cried out to God. David’s honesty with God amazes me:

“I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord;?I make supplication with my voice to the Lord.?I pour out my complaint before Him;?I declare my trouble before Him.?When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,?You knew my path.?In the way where I walk?They have hidden a trap for me.?Look to the right and see;?For there is no one who regards me;?There is no escape for me;?No one cares for my soul” (Psalm 142).

Abraham

Out of all the people on earth, God chose Abraham to be the father of the nation of Israel. God promised to make Abraham’s name great, to bless him, to give his descendants land, and to protect them from their enemies (Genesis 12:1-3). Abraham chose to believe God through faith and “God reckoned it to him as righteousness.” But then God asked Abraham to do something that must have been utterly confusing for Abraham—to sacrifice his own son. The power of this command only sunk home to me when I became a father myself. I can hardly imagine being asked to do something more horrific than to take the life of my own son. Can you imagine what went through Abraham’s mind? Did faith make sense to him? Do you think he struggled with God’s command? I’m sure he did.

Almost every character in the Bible struggled with trusting God at some point in his or her life. Joseph wondered why he was sold into slavery. The disciples wondered why Jesus (whom they believed was the Messiah who would free Israel) was betrayed, beaten and ultimately crucified on the cross. Job wondered why as a righteous man he was experiencing such acute suffering. Similarly, you may have wondered why your parents got divorced, why a close friend betrayed you, or any number of other difficult circumstances you find yourself in the midst of. If so, you are in good company.

Even though faith may not always make sense from a human perspective, we can trust that God is good and that He has a plan for everything. God never let go of the steering wheel while David was fleeing for his life from Saul, while Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, or when Joseph was sold into slavery. This is why Joseph says to his brothers after revealing his identity, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result…” (Genesis 50:20).?It’s as if Christ is saying to us, “Trust me. I’m alive and in control of every situation. I will take your struggles and change them into blessings. I will take your suffering and turn it into joy. And how can I do that? I’m the sovereign, almighty Lord of the universe, who can do all things and who causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. So trust in me, no matter what.”

Think long term

Imagine putting a chocolate-chip cookie in front of a 3-year old and asking her not to eat it. Do you think she could resist? Recently some researchers did exactly this to study the human will. Children were given a single cookie with the promise that if they didn’t eat it for five minutes they would be given a second. While some of the children resisted the temptation others simply could not. The researchers found that the children who resisted the cookie at 3-years old were far more likely to succeed in school, relationships, financially, and in their future careers. Why? The simple answer is that success requires delaying present desires for later gratification.

Esau faced such a decision in Genesis 25:29-34. Famished after a full day of hunting, he faced a difficult test: have an instant bowl of a tasty red soup but give up his birthright (which granted him the majority share of his father’s estate in the distant future). Sadly, Esau settled for the temporary pleasure of a tasty meal. He lived for the moment rather than the future.?Ask yourself an honest question: In what ways are your decisions like Esau? How are you giving up long term good for a present thrill? Think about your decisions with money, school, and even sexual purity. Are you sacrificing God’s great plan for you for a temporary pleasure? Many of my friends who were sexually active in high school are now paying a heavy price. Some have been divorced and others have in fact gotten STD’s. Even though I felt like giving in to the pressure, I am so thankful that I had the strength and support to focus on the long term. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. You may not feel like continuing to follow Jesus and doing the right thing now, but remember, “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). It will be worth it in the end. Remind yourself that God will bless you in unimaginable ways if you remain faithful now.

Never underestimate the difference you are making?When I was a freshman in high school the senior quarterback, Eric, said something to me I will never forget. One Saturday night I was hanging out with some friends in my hometown, Julian. An older student—in fact a lineman on the football team—came up to me while I was sitting on the back of my truck and tried to pressure me into having a drink of alcohol. And for some reason he wouldn’t take no for an answer. As soon as he noticed, Eric came to my defense. He walked over and got right in his face and said, “Leave him alone. I’ve decided not to drink too. Sean has inspired me not to drink. I’ve never seen anyone stand up so strongly for what he believes. So don’t pressure him.”

To be honest, I was shocked to hear him say that. The reason I wouldn’t drink is because I made a promise to my parents that I would not have even a sip of alcohol throughout my high school career; nor would I let someone who had consumed any alcohol into my car. But I had never thought how my choices could influence someone else, let alone the captain of the football team! While this story worked out for good, I could tell you stories of when I failed to live up to what I believed too. I have made poor decisions at time that I know reflect poorly on me, my family, and my creator. But this experience taught me a profound truth—we can have a powerful impact on people’s lives even when we don’t realize it. Trust me: people are watching your life. If you decide to live for Jesus you will make a difference—even if you don’t realize it.

Never give up

As I look back on my basketball career, I am so thankful that I did not give up. My last two years of college I was part of two different teams that went 28-6 and 30-7, with two visits to the national tournament. And my senior year I was fortunate enough to be a team captain. Had I given up too early I would have missed out on incredible opportunities for growth and fun.

Similarly, as I look back on my spiritual life, I am so thankful that I have continued to follow Jesus. There have certainly been trials and temptations, but there is no doubt in my life that it has been worth it. Keep the faith.

Take the next step:
Living a Christian life in a secular world
When God asks for patience
Do you feel like giving up? Talk to a mentor

Take the next step:
Have you been suffering?
Dealing with death
Are you experiencing a crisis? Talk to a mentor.

Take the next step:
Dealing with life’s hard questions 
Does God care?
Are you dealing with death and disease? Talk to a mentor.

These two mental pictures are merely glimpses of Scott Hamilton’s life. There is no doubt that he has faced his own ups and downs; yet, when asked what he prays about, Scott discussed having a grateful heart. Gratitude! Despite being drained physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, in his heart, all he wanted to do is say: thank you. Even still, a heartfelt conversation with a nurse opened his eyes to the true meaning of being a Father.

Take the next step:

Learning to trust God during through tough moments?
Dealing with grief?
Need to speak with someone about grief? Talk to a mentor

 How would YOU describe your life?

Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. If stress dominates your life, you could be looking to move passed those situations. It’s hard to cope with stress when you can’t put the past behind you. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Are you ready to choose a different path?

Jesus came, and died, and rose again to wipe the slate clean. He was scourged, tormented, and finally nailed on the cross for humankind’s sins – this was all part of God’s plan to bring you and I back into relationship with him. God wants to be a part of your life … in fact, not just a part of your life, but wants you to live in full fellowship with Him. Is this the life for you?

God loves you and created you to know Him personally. He longs for you to have the kind of full life you were always meant to have. So why do people not experience this kind of life? People are lost and separated from God, so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love. Because of our sins, we justly deserve judgement. But God provided his Son, Jesus Christ, as the only provision for our sin. He died in our place, then he rose from the dead.

We must individually trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know God personally, receive forgiveness for our sins, and experience His love: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12)

We trust God through faith. You can trust Christ right now by faith through prayer! (Prayer is just talking with God.) God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. The following is a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?

If you have a question first, click here.

At some point in his life, Olympic Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton felt satisfied with his career accomplishments. It wasn’t until he faced death twice that he began to wrestle with the true purpose for his life. There is no doubt that he has faced his own ups and downs; yet, when asked about what he prays about, Scott discussed having a grateful heart. Despite being drained physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, in his heart, all he wanted to do is say: thank you. Even still, a heartfelt conversation with a nurse opened his eyes to the true meaning of being a Father.

Scott’s outlook on his life surpasses human rationality. Despite the storms he has weathered, he still says that “the only true disability in life is a bad attitude.” He had so much to lose; and yet, even more to give.

Take the next step:

“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.”  (Isaiah 54:4a)

In the first chapter of the book of Joshua God told him several times not to fear and to be of good courage. I think he must have needed to hear that, don’t you?  We all do at times!  It seems that just when we think we have conquered an area of fear in our lives another situation comes our way and we have to overcome our fear all over again.

Joshua’s situation brings comfort to us.  As we know, Joshua took these words to heart and acted in faith despite his fear.  We know that love casts out all fear and that the act of faith is our weapon to conquering it.  God doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle.  He actually provides for us AND equips us for the things He is asking us to do.  He won’t ever put us in a situation we aren’t prepared for.

Faith is rooted in our trust in God. It is propelled by His love and requires our action.  Faith isn’t faith until we put feet to it.  What would it be like to put feet to faith?

When we trust God and His ability above our own and obey without knowing the outcome – that’s faith.  In Hebrews 11, the “Hall of Faith” is mentioned.  We read through the lives of the heroes of our faith and can we see that every one of them was required to act upon their trust in God.

It is so easy to allow fear to get in the way of pursuing our purpose in life.  Often, it is that very thing that we fear most which usually identifies what we are purposed for.  In order for God’s purposes to be fulfilled in our life, we must put feet to faith and act upon those things that He is calling us into.

When we walk in obedience and trust God we get to watch Him come through in our situations in ways we could never dream of!  By faith, Abraham obeyed when God called him to a place not knowing where he was going, and lived in a wonderful land of promise.  By faith, Noah prepared an ark having been warned of things not yet seen.  He and his family were saved!

God calls His people to live lives of faith.  Faith pleases God, and faith moves His hand upon our lives and situations. Are you walking in faith? Are you living in faith?  You’ll know you are if you’re in a place of utter, complete, dependence upon God.

Father God,

Increase my faith and help me live in total dependence upon You.  I surrender my life and all I am to Your will and the very things in which You are calling me into.  I ask for Your Love to cover me and declare that today I will go forth in courage and in obedience to Your word.  In the Mighty Name of Jesus,  Amen.

Question: What about you – are you living in faith?