Battling the shadows of fear

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

Fear is described as an unpleasant emotion. In essence it is being in a state of dread about something real or imagined; worry of attack or threat.  Fear, makes me uncomfortable.  It sets me on edge and like a child throw the covers over my head hoping the monster won’t see me.   

Fear wants me to be afraid and to hide and  in the shadows because it knows that the light will dispel its power.  God’s Word is that light of truth that will lead us and guide our steps when the shadows of fear come.  He tells us in Psalm 119:105 that His Word is a lamp unto our feet and light unto our path.  

We know that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but power, love and a sound mind ( 2 Timothy 1:7). So when fear lurks it’s head or we become afraid we must shed the truth of His light on it.  We must trust God and take Him at His Word.  He lets us know that when we are afraid, we can trust Him ( Psalm 56:3) and we can remember that if God be for us who can stand against?! ( Romans 8:31).

When fear comes we can shine a spotlight on our Father who gave His only Son for us that we might live( John 3:16).  We can lift up the light of Jesus who covers us in His shed blood.  He has overcome  the world and so we do not have to let our hearts be troubled ( John 16:33).  Yes, we face troubles, but we are more than conquers in Christ Jesus ( Romans 8:37).

So we can face those things that would make us be afraid with confidence, knowing that we are not alone.  That His peace is there to calm our minds as we trust Him.  God is with us and we do not have to be discouraged or afraid ( Joshua 1:9).  I don’t have to hide under the covers, but I can come out and stand in the light of His love.

Father, so many things come at me and there are times when I just want to run and hide.  Father, in those times may I recall your word and run to the safety of your arms and stay in the shelter of your wings.  Let me remember that You are with me in the shadows.  You have given me power, love, and a sound mind.  Let me not be afraid, but trust that You’ve got me.  Let me trust in your sovereignty over my life, knowing that whatever touches me had to go through You first.  Father, may I just take one moment at a time, giving it to You and trusting You to lead me on the right path.  You are good Lord. Trustworthy and true.  Help me unbelief.  Help me trust in You so that I will not be afraid.  In Jesus name. Amen

There’s a rainbow in the sky...

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.~Genesis 9:13

Yesterday , I saw the most beautiful rainbow arched in the sky.  It looked just like the one’s that you see on a Lucky Charms commercial or the stories about leprechauns finding the pot of gold.  The colors were so vibrant and it looked like the rainbow actually touched the earth.  

But here’s the thing, I drove right through it.  I Sure, my mind registered it, but my soul did not pause to respond to the gift that God was sharing with me and the world.  I was too consumed with running through all my cares and to-do lists, that I missed the sweet visual reminder of God’s steadfast covenant love. 

I failed to just take a moment to soak in the truth of God’s love for me; a reminder of hope and assurance that I am not alone.  A reminder that the floods of the cares of this life will not over-take me ( Isaiah 43:2).

Yet, my Father is all knowing and merciful.  The first words spoken to me once I reached my destination was, “Did you see that rainbow?”  You see, He covered me with His grace.  He met me where I was and turned my focus back to Him and His character.  He took my mind off of what I cannot do in my own strength to remember all the possibilities that lie before because of what HE Can Do- all things! This in Him, in Christ Jesus, I can do all things because He strengthens me ( Philippians 4:13).

My message today is to pause and take in the beauty and majesty of God; to marvel at the manifestation of His Word.  To not just “drive through” life trying to get to the next destination, but rather to walk with God as you walk the journey.  Do not be discouraged or dismayed for God is with us and we are not forsaken (Deuteronomy 31:6) His covenant is true and we can trust in Him.

Lord, I thank You for the rainbows.  Showers and clouds may come, but I can trust You to keep your Word.  I trust your Word and I thank You for your steadfast love.  Father, just help me to take one day at a time;walking with You by faith so that my heart may see what my eyes cannot. I give You all the glory and praise. In Jesus name. Amen 

God is always good!: Finding joy in the midst of a trial.

O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.~1 Chronicles 16:34

I have no clever words, but I have a praise on my lips.  Praise the wells up from the bottom of my soul for my God and my Savior for He is good.  He is good not because every situation and circumstance has worked out just like I thought it would, but just because He is God.  He is present and true to His Word.  He can be counted on and trusted.  

You know sometimes circumstances can just be thrust upon you, or so it may seem from our perspective. And here again is why God is good.  He is good because His ways and thoughts are so far above us.  

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.-Isaiah 55:8-9

 His view and thoughts are not limited by our human thinking.  Everything and I mean everything is under His control.  Whatever test or trial that we go through is just another opportunity for us to praise God and watch Him work in us and through us.  These tests, these “Mack Trucks” that sometimes slams right into our lives unexpectedly did not catch our Father off guard. 

James 1:2-4 tells us to

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

This concept of joy during difficult times may seem foreign or unrealistic, but my joy is not in the suffering but in my good, good Father who is with me.  He is with me every step of the way so that even when chaos swarms I can feel His peace.   I rejoice in the knowledge that I can face the Goliath’s of my life because it is not I who slays them, but my Father.  I rejoice because I know for myself, not what someone told me, but my heart knows just how much He loves me. I rejoice and experience the joy of expectation for what He is going do next because my Father does great things. He does wonderful things, things planned long ago.

I serve a good God, the only God, who is intentional about His plans for me ( Jeremiah 29:11). I do not know what tomorrow holds or the next second for that matter, but I do know that God is working it out for my good.  

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.~Romans 8:28

So I give thanks to my Lord for He is good.  I thank Him for His loving kindness and His faithfulness.  I thank Him for not giving me a spirit of fear, but rather love, power and a sound mind( 2 Timothy 1:7).  I thank Him for the opportunity for Him to be glorified in my life through whatever situation and outcome that He seems fit.  I thank Him for moving me from one glory to the next.  Christ in me my hope of glory ( Colossians 1:27).

Father, I love You and I thank You.  I thank You for your sovereignty over my life and every situation and circumstance.  I thank You for another opportunity to praise You.  I thank You for opening my eyes to see beyond what is in front of me.  Thank You for your Word and love that regulates my thinking.  I thank You for You, for time in your presence. I pray that as I go through this current trial that I hold on to the joy of You and that You be lifted up and glorified.  I pray this for all of my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Not my will Lord, but thine be done.  In Jesus name. Amen 

The Before and After

Before picture:

This is what the Lord says: “ ‘Your woundb is incurable, your injury beyond healing. 13 There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healinge for you. ~Jeremiah 30:12-13

After picture:

But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.~Jeremiah 30:11

In these two verses I see a before and after picture.  Before Christ, there was no hope.  No cure for the wounds that cut deep.  There was no remedy for the sores on my soul caused by sin, whether they be self inflected or the afflictions of living in a sinful world.  Either way I was lost.  I can see so vividly how I was stuck in the pit of despair and sadness.  I was an exile, an outcast from all that I knew.  I was a Christian.  I believed in God and what Jesus did on the cross.  Yet, I stood outside of my life looking at it crumble before my very eyes because my knowledge of Him was so elemental and my thinking limited.  Instead of running to Him.  I ran away from Him and to false gods seeking comfort that only He could bring.  How I functioned then is beyond, but I know that it was only by His grace.  

That was then, before a true relationship with Christ.  Before I truly began to receive the love that He has for me.  In  the after is restoration. Praise God for the after.  In the after  is redemption and hope.  I find it to be so amazing that many of the same afflictions are present, such as my struggle with bipolar disorder.  Yet, I no longer stand outside of myself, but rather with God at my side.  The after picture shows a balm of the Lord healing my wounds. What I can not do and man can not do, God does through the blood of His Son Jesus. 

In the after I can look beyond my present circumstances and know that a better day is coming.  I can get up when I am tired and weary because I know that I can go to God for strength.  In the after I run to Him.  I lay my head of in chest and receive comfort.  I hold on to His hand so that I can go in the right direction.  I remember that my part does not have to be my future and I rest in the present with the hope and assurance of His love.

Father, I thank You for the before and the after.  I thank You for your discipline and correction.  I thank You for the healing that only You can bring. I thank You for the hope that is You.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen

By His Design

He said, "Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.~Jeremiah 18:6

Yesterday,  I saw a beautiful display of pottery.  They were in all different shapes and sizes.  The colors were vibrant and each creation had a purpose.  I overheard the artist remark that they were all made with dusts and water.  My mind immediately leaped to Jeremiah 18:6 

He said, "Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.~Jeremiah 18:6

This verse has stayed with me over the last week or so.  I find such comfort in knowing that God is the one shaping and molding my life, especially when it feels like everything is out of sorts.  This verse wells up within to remind me that I am God’s design and I will be what He has declared me to be, even if that means He has to shatter me to make something new and even better.

At first thought, shattering sounds so devastating.  Why would God want me to experience that type of “horror”? Why would I need to experience the heartaches abs heartbreaks of life?  That is definitely one way to look at trials and tribulations, however God has told us to count them all joy.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.~James 1-2-4

Therefore, when see God reminding us in Jeremiah 18:6 that He is God and that there is nothing that is impossible for Him (Luke 1:37).  I see Him breaking those things in me that will keep me from displaying His glory.  I see the beauty in the fractures because my brokenness opens me up to the many possibilities that God has waiting for me to receive and be.  He is taking the dust of my mistakes and imperfections and adding His Spirit, His living water ( John 4:10) and creating a unique work of art.  

This jar of clay is being made with purpose.  I made with a hidden treasure (2 Corinthians 4:7).  So no matter what happens in my life. I know that God is at work.  He is at the wheel shaping me.  It does not matter how dark things may seem or how warped my life may look at the moment, I can trust God. There is nothing is too difficult for Him ( Jeremiah 32:27).  There is no situation or circumstance that He can not handle.  No affliction of the mind or body that He can not heal and allow me to overcome, for He is my potter and I am His clay.

Father, thank You for being God.  Thank You for keeping me in your love.  Father, it is You who has formed me and it is You alone who can shape me into what You have declared.  Father, help me to rest in your hands and trust your grace.  Help me Lord, to remember that it is You who adds breath to my life.  It is Your living water that turns my dust into clay.  Every day is full of opportunities and reasons to rejoice because my life is in your hands.  Thank You and may my life bring You glory and praise.  In Jesus name.  Amen