Fear of the unknown…it seems like the entire world is reacting. So how can we as Believers respond the most appropriately to it? First, let’s ask ourselves a few questions. Has the Lord suddenly lost control and climbed down off His throne? The answer is no, for Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Next, do we believe in the authority and sufficiency of God’s word? If the answer is yes, then we must believe this Scripture that God did not give us a spirit of fear but of strength, love, and a sound mind…a sound mind meaning wisdom, good judgment, and prudence. And if this is so, we must also believe Scriptures such as Hebrews 2:51 that exhort us to not give in and become a slave to fear. Finally, as Paul exhorted Timothy to lead by example, we must then apply our God-given sound mind to everyday actions, all the while praying Psalm 91 to counteract this fear of the unknown.
Tag: daily devotions
Job 1:9-10 ” Does Job fear God for nothing? Satan replied. Have You not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?”
Satan accused Job before God by challenging Job’s motive. Satan claimed that Job lived as he did because he was blessed of God and had not suffered or paid the price for God’s continuing grace in his life. He questioned Job’s godliness as being just a means to financial gain, not true reverence. The Accuser ,Satan, is always lurking around, contesting, shaming, and heaping guilt… but remember this – he is powerless to penetrate that hedge of protection God has placed around us…unless we allow him.
I Corinthians 12:7 ” Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
The Holy Spirit not only sovereignly assigns Spiritual gifts to each Believer, but also empowers their use by providing the strength, skill, and means to exercise them. So you may ask yourself, “But I don’t know what my Spiritual gifts are.” It’s pretty simple. What areas are you talented in and what are you passionate about? Your gifts will always follow along those avenues. But more importantly, your Spiritual gifts are not for your personal edification alone…they were given to you to build up the body of Christ – the Church – as works of service for others.
Isaiah 9:16 ” Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.”
Elsewhere in Isaiah, God laments, “O My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.” (Isaiah 3:12) It’s almost like the blind leading the blind…with all of them wandering around in the dark. So how can we guard ourselves from this? The answer is discernment, wisdom, and sound judgment, based on personal knowledge of God’s word. No one will be able to lead you astray if you know the truth, and no one will be able to turn you from the correct way if you acknowledge that only Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Luke 9:23 “Then He said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’ “
This has to be one of the hardest verses in the Bible to do, and do well. This verse says that if we want to follow Jesus we must make a conscious decision to renounce our old self and instead follow the example of our crucified Christ. And no one, including Jesus, Himself, ever said it would be easy, for there is a tremendous cost to following the Lord. Considering it takes daily getting our priorities right and properly arranging our lives so that Jesus ranks supreme in everything we do, carrying our cross becomes a trial of faith and obedience.
II Samuel 22:31 ” As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.”
God’s way and word are without defect, faultless and entirely truthful. No part of the Bible is less important than another…for they are all God’s revelation for us. So why shouldn’t we seek spiritual protection and trust in the stronghold of God? For it tells us in Proverbs 30:5, “Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” So consider this – God’s way and word may be the shelter and sanctuary your hurting soul is longing for today.
Acts 6:3-4 ” Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
You think you can do it all…but you can’t. Within the early Church the apostles found themselves in the same predicament. So they did a very wise thing…they delegated. Yes, delegation can be difficult, but it’s a necessary part of good, sound ministry. The apostles knew what their job was…prayer and preaching, so they appointed suitable candidates in areas they weren’t called to. That’s because they knew wise delegation could only strengthen the ministry as a whole.
I Peter 1:15-16 ” But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ “
We are to reflect God’s holiness in our lives daily, for it tells us in I Thessalonians 4:7, ” For God didn’t call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” But it’s when our will gets in the way that the inner conflict starts between holiness and selfishness. Let’s just admit it…sin grows in every human heart, and when what we want to do goes against living a pure life, we’ll do one of two things – either we’ll rationalize our sin away, or we’ll mentally soften God’s command. But regardless of what we do, His Word won’t change…”Be holy for I am holy.”
Colossians 1:24 ” Now I rejoice in what was suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the Church.”
It may seem counter-intuitive, but we are not only called to suffer for the sake of Christ, but suffer well. Now man’s way of suffering is to demand why, blame others or turn our backs on God. But suffering well for Christ starts with changing our perspective, by looking at our suffering through God’s eyes not ours. And when we do this, we can then see the purpose, practice obedience, and persevere victoriously through the suffering. The Apostle Paul’s theology of suffering well was this: it produced joy in seeing the Gospel Message advanced, it exalted Christ, and it increased our faith.
Luke 18:41 ” ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ ‘Lord, I want to see.’ he replied.”
As Jesus was making His way near Jericho, He came upon a blind man sitting near the road. When the man heard that it was Jesus approaching he started yelling, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stopped and very bluntly asked the blind man, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Now obviously, Jesus knew the man was blind, so why did He ask him a question like that? He was asking the man to verbalize his heart’s desire… and his fervent hopes. He was also asking him to be explicit not general. The Lord wants us to pray specific prayers…for He wants to hear our heart’s desires. I remember well when we were looking for a new home in Idaho…my prayers were very general, “Lord, help us find a new home.” But it was during one of my generalized prayers that the Holy Spirit stopped me and asked what I wanted in that home. I started listing my heart’s desires one by one…large kitchen, fireplace, walk-in closet, jetted tub, a large space for a garden, and East facing windows to watch the sunrise. And He gave them all to me in a perfect home!
Safetypinlove 