"Fearless"

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I suppose most of us suffer at times with fear and anxiety.  We live in a crazy, chaotic, unpredictable world, with a seemingly endless supply of stresses, responsibilities, and unforeseen circumstances to deal with each day. 

But God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)  He is the answer, promising to perfect  that which concerns us. (Psalm 138:8)

There are so many Scriptures where the Lord commands us not to fear, reassuring us that He is with us, strengthening, helping, and upholding us throughout it all.  His heavenly angels are more in number and strength than any enemy.  They are all around us, fighting on our behalf.

When fear attempts to grip us, I pray that the Holy Spirit would remind us to run to the Source, or better yet, to continually abide in the Lord who gives us perfect peace. 

Nowhere else can we find the peace that only the Lord, in His word and in His presence can supply.  In Him we are restored to proper equilibrium and balance.  For it is the Lord who keeps in perfect peace those whose mind is stayed on Him. (Isaiah 26:3)

There is a battle that is taking place between flesh and spirit.  But I know that as we trust the Lord and rely upon Him, meditating on His decrees, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ, we return to a sense of calm and well-being in Him; the place where He desires we live.
(2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Scripture Meditation:

2 Kings 6:16 - Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.

Psalm 27:1-3 - The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.  Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.

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

Isaiah 43:1-3 - But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...

Deuteronomy 7:17-23 - If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’—  you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out.  So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.  Moreover the Lord your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed.  You shall not be terrified of them; for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you.  And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.  But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed.

1 John 4:17-18 - God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Psalm 46:1-2 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear...

Psalm 34:4 - I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.



"Feelin' Frazzled?"

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Feelin' frazzled?  Get away
Alone with Jesus, rest and pray.
Meditate on good reports
Thankful, enter into His courts.
Upon your lips, His holy praise 
Lift your voice and bless His name.
Lay down in Him, and patiently wait
All who are weary, be still in faith.
Trusting Him with all your heart
Your Red Sea He'll come and part.
Covering you with perfect peace
Every need you have He'll meet.
So come aside in sweet repose
A tranquil place where warm winds blow.
The Holy Spirit will come refresh
With gentle breezes, His very breath.
To bring renewal, to give you life
In His presence, you'll see the light.

Scripture Meditation:

Mark 6:31 - And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
Philippians 4:6-9 - Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for his answers.  If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.  And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right.  Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others.  Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.  Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

Psalm 100:4 - Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.  Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Psalm 37:7 - Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.
Psalm 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God.

Exodus 14:22 - So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

Philippians 4:19 - And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Matthew 11:28-30 - Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”



"Living Letters"

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We are the light of the world that cannot be hidden, but we are meant to shine for all the world to see; yet not us, but Christ in us.

We wait, we listen to what the Spirit is speaking, the very things the Father would reveal.  He touches our mouths and our hearts, purifying, as He fills us with His wisdom, that the word of God, bathed in love, would be effectively released.

We are the privileged ones, ambassadors for Christ, blessed to be the Lord's living letters, where His word, alive and active and sharper than any two-edged sword is emblazoned upon our hearts and meant to penetrate the hearts of man.

His word is like a fire that can't be contained, and we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

The Lord is the One who gives us a holy boldness to declare His truth.  For the time of singing has come

that many would be radically transformed and filled with a holy passion for the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Father says, "Open your mouth and I will fill it, for I indeed have something to say.  And to those who call upon Me, I will surely answer you, and show you great and mighty things."

Father, I pray, reveal Yourself to us.  Let the truth of God be upon our lips and reflected in our lives.  May we boldly speak as Your Holy Spirit gives us utterance, courageously proclaiming Your words of life.

Scripture Meditation:

Matthew 5:14-16

Matthew 10:27

Matthew 13:16-17

Hebrews 4:12-13

2 Corinthians 3:3

2 Corinthians 5:20

Jeremiah 1:9

Song of Solomon 2:10-12

Acts 4:20

Isaiah 60:1

John 12:49-50

Psalm 81:10

Jeremiah 33:3