Do Not Fear~Be Strong and Courageous!
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6)."
"Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and I will help you. I will hold you with My righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10)."
Fear, what is it and how do you overcome it? Fear is defined as 'a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil or pain, whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.' You may feel fear in a situation where you are threatened. You may be afraid when someone you love walks out on you. You may be fearful when you don't have the money to provide for your family. You may feel fear when you have been diagnosed with a life-threatening condition. You may feel fear when you think of the future.
No matter what the situation, fear can easily affect any of us if we are not prepared. Fortunately, Jesus has already provided the answer to counter any fear we may feel, regardless of the situation. First and foremost, there is no fear in His presence. The Lord Jesus is strong, mighty and powerful. He holds all things together. When we are rooted and grounded in Him, fear will subside. Fear is a normal human reaction and can be helpful if it causes us to leave a dangerous situation, however, it should not be a primary emotion. What I mean by that is, fear shouldn't cripple us and keep us from living and enjoying life. As a follower of Christ, you are kept in Him. Nothing happens to you that does not first pass through His loving hands. Why? Because He is sovereign~He has supreme power and authority. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:15-17)." As we keep this truth in our hearts, we will be reassured and comforted when trials come. And my friend, the trials will come!
You are either coming out of a storm or getting ready to go in one and you need to always be prepared so you aren't caught off guard. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes (Ephesians 6:10-11)." Whether you realize it or not, you are in a battle. Many people have the misconception that when they become a Christian their life will be free of pain and heartache and they will never have problems again. Jesus never promised His followers a life of ease. On the contrary, He said, "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33)." Christ has delivered us from the power of sin, and all that is in the world~the lusts of the flesh and sins of it by His ultimate sacrifice. He defeated the grave. He defeated satan, his demons and every spiritual force of wickedness by His shed blood on the cross. In Christ, we too are overcomers! Because of the finished work of Jesus and His Spirit living on the inside of us,we have a hope that the world cannot take away. We are part of an eternal kingdom. We are royalty! "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9)."
Our hope my friend, is not in riches, not in man nor anything this world can offer. Our hope is in Christ and in Him alone. As we look to Him, He will steady our hearts. He will give us His peace in every situation. He is our Rock and our refuge, the lover of our souls. So, as you continue in this journey called life, keep your eyes on Him. He is there, with every step you take.
"Surely, he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor (Psalm 112:6-9)."
"Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and I will help you. I will hold you with My righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10)."
Fear, what is it and how do you overcome it? Fear is defined as 'a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil or pain, whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.' You may feel fear in a situation where you are threatened. You may be afraid when someone you love walks out on you. You may be fearful when you don't have the money to provide for your family. You may feel fear when you have been diagnosed with a life-threatening condition. You may feel fear when you think of the future.
No matter what the situation, fear can easily affect any of us if we are not prepared. Fortunately, Jesus has already provided the answer to counter any fear we may feel, regardless of the situation. First and foremost, there is no fear in His presence. The Lord Jesus is strong, mighty and powerful. He holds all things together. When we are rooted and grounded in Him, fear will subside. Fear is a normal human reaction and can be helpful if it causes us to leave a dangerous situation, however, it should not be a primary emotion. What I mean by that is, fear shouldn't cripple us and keep us from living and enjoying life. As a follower of Christ, you are kept in Him. Nothing happens to you that does not first pass through His loving hands. Why? Because He is sovereign~He has supreme power and authority. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:15-17)." As we keep this truth in our hearts, we will be reassured and comforted when trials come. And my friend, the trials will come!
You are either coming out of a storm or getting ready to go in one and you need to always be prepared so you aren't caught off guard. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes (Ephesians 6:10-11)." Whether you realize it or not, you are in a battle. Many people have the misconception that when they become a Christian their life will be free of pain and heartache and they will never have problems again. Jesus never promised His followers a life of ease. On the contrary, He said, "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33)." Christ has delivered us from the power of sin, and all that is in the world~the lusts of the flesh and sins of it by His ultimate sacrifice. He defeated the grave. He defeated satan, his demons and every spiritual force of wickedness by His shed blood on the cross. In Christ, we too are overcomers! Because of the finished work of Jesus and His Spirit living on the inside of us,we have a hope that the world cannot take away. We are part of an eternal kingdom. We are royalty! "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9)."
Our hope my friend, is not in riches, not in man nor anything this world can offer. Our hope is in Christ and in Him alone. As we look to Him, He will steady our hearts. He will give us His peace in every situation. He is our Rock and our refuge, the lover of our souls. So, as you continue in this journey called life, keep your eyes on Him. He is there, with every step you take.
"Surely, he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor (Psalm 112:6-9)."
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