Day 31 How we handle fear
“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” Deut. 31:6 MSG
What is the first emotion you usually feel when caught off guard? When things don’t go as you thought they would? What about when you’re facing an unknown? FEAR. But Biblically, God, Jesus and even angels tell us not to fear. Not to worry. Go to Bible Gateway and do a search on “Do not be afraid” and see what you get. I think you’ll get the point. Many of the encounters with God or His angels began with, “Do not be afraid…”
So why is fear our first emotion when we encounter God and He asks something of us, or takes us down a path that we don’t know? Are we afraid of what He’s going to do? Do we trust His plans for us? Many times, the fear is a red flag reminding us to trust and have faith in His plan, in His promises. It is to help us recall that He goes before us and with us in whatever He asks us to walk through.
What we do with that fear is critical to what happens next. Do we choose to surrender the fear and confidently grasp His hand in faith? Or do we allow fear to initiate our own control mechanisms and desire for comfort, thus missing a blessing for ourselves or someone else? Next time you feel fear, choose to proceed with faith. Remember, God is striding ahead of you! All you have to do is follow.
Day 30
Praise as created to do…
I will sing a new song to You, O God;
Upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You… – Psalm 144:9
Have you noticed the birds singing their hearts out each morning? Songs burst forth from them instinctively each morning as the sun rises, regardless of the storms in the night. They cannot help themselves but to sing praises to their Creator. It’s how they were created.
We don’t have to be in church on Sunday to sing praises to God. Our praise doesn’t even have to sound like lyrical, musical notes. Our praises can come in the form of glorifying His name among our coworkers, encouragement in the Lord to a friend during a tough time, or the fruit of the Spirit exhibited in our actions and attitudes. We may not have an actual harp, like King David, but we have our body with which to sing praises, literally and figuratively. We, like the birds, were created with a purpose, to glorify God (Isaiah43:7).
Let every created thing give praise to the LORD, for he issued his command, and they came into being- Psalm 148:5
Day 29
Working out in the gym is a love-hate relationship. We love the benefits of exercise, but do not like the commitment and discomfort of exercise. But each day we press forward, knowing that after we finish, we obtain a benefit.
Likewise, prayer requires commitment and is not always convenient. But, prayer yields many spiritual benefits. We find an example of this in Luke 18. There, a widow woman who had to commit to making her petition continually known despite experiencing hardship and denial. The widow, however, finally got the results she requested. In following, we must stay committed to prayer and know that positive benefits are imminent.
Philippians 4:6 & 7 (NIV) ~Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Day 28
We spend so much time and money to make our homes a comfortable place. We spend hours cleaning our home. We spend hours decorating our home. We spend hours making necessary repairs and having the latest comforts and home conveniences. But we have to realize that our homes are not permanent.
The late Reverend Billy Graham said,“My home is in heaven. I’m just passing through this world.” Christ says that he has prepared a place for us, and this place will be beyond what we can imagine or think. While we may enjoy the temporary comforts of this life’s home, we have an eternal home that will truly be forever.
Hebrews 13:14 (NLT )~ For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.
Day 27 Simplicity in Perspective
Simplicity in Perspective
You know the adage about perspective…how we either see the glass as half full or half empty? Our perspective is so important to our walk with the Lord. It can dictate whether we look at the day in front of us with peace, or anxiety…with dread and anger, or excitement and adventure.
Each day, when we rise, we can control our perspective. As moms, our rising can be filled with unexpected demands or rote ritual. But, remember, it doesn’t have to be an hour long quiet time, or a fervent prayer session on our knees (though those are beneficial as well). Our heavenly Father doesn’t qualify our time in that way.
A simple few moments of fixing our eyes on Jesus, and on His loving invitation to rest in Him, can be the reminder that we need to remember that, indeed, our glasses are full, and if we’re willing, can be overflowing with His living water. In those moments, when we hand our burdens and fears over to Him, we can choose to look at the day from His perspective, one of bountiful power, merciful grace, and love on a mission.
The LORD’S loving kindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. –Lamentations 3:22-23
Day 26 How we handle fear.
“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.” Deut. 31:6 MSG
What is the first emotion you usually feel when caught off guard? When things don’t go as you thought they would? What about when you’re facing an unknown? FEAR. But Biblically, God, Jesus and even angels tell us not to fear. Not to worry. Go to Bible Gateway and do a search on “Do not be afraid” and see what you get. I think you’ll get the point. Many of the encounters with God or His angels began with, “Do not be afraid…”
So why is fear our first emotion when we encounter God and He asks something of us, or takes us down a path that we don’t know? Are we afraid of what He’s going to do? Do we trust His plans for us? Many times, the fear is a red flag reminding us to trust and have faith in His plan, in His promises. It is to help us recall that He goes before us and with us in whatever He asks us to walk through.
What we do with that fear is critical to what happens next. Do we choose to surrender the fear and confidently grasp His hand in faith? Or do we allow fear to initiate our own control mechanisms and desire for comfort, thus missing a blessing for ourselves or someone else? Next time you feel fear, choose to proceed with faith. Remember, God is striding ahead of you! All you have to do is follow.
Day 25 Comparison the thief of joy
Comparison the thief of joy
Theodore Roosevelt accurately wrote that, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” So why is it, friends, that we repeatedly kick our joy to the curb in order to be more like someone else, or have what they have, or criticize and judge what they do? It’s almost automatic…we judge mission fields (Africa or at home), kids’ performance (athletic, academic and social), level of spirituality based on involvements, and moms…we judge each other on all of the above and even our commitment as mothers (working or SAHM).
“You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part ”mean anything.” 1 Corinthians 12:27 MSG
Comparison moves us away from who we are in Christ and results in either pride or insecurity. Each of us were created with gifts and callings to become part of the body of Christ, as we can read in 1 Corinthians 12. We don’t serve the same, worship the same, work the same or look the same. Yet, all of us have a place in the body…us, our neighbor and God’s created loved ones in “name your country”. Our identity is in Jesus, and our purpose is to run the race HE gave each of us. When we’re blinded by pride or insecurity, we are blinded to the course He set before us.
When you find yourself trading your joy for comparison, take back your joy and cheer that brother or sister on. Fix your eyes unwaveringly on the source of your identity, Jesus, and run your race.
“How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring God?” John 5:44 MSG
Day 24 Who is like the Most High? Idolatry of our feelings
Who is like the Most High? Idolatry of our feelings.
El Elyon means Most High God (Gen 14:20). He is called that for a reason–He is over everything and everyone. He always has and always will be. Can we agree on that?
Good. Because we, His creation,walk around carrying our guilt, shame, fear,anger and insecurity like an umbrella. We put it over our heads and fasten it like a yoke over our shoulders. We cling to it as if it is who we are. But ladies…this is idolatry!! Because of Whose we are, that isn’t who we are. In clinging to them, we’ve made those things bigger than our Most High God!
Why is it we think that what Jesus did to free us from our guilt, shame, fear and insecurity isn’t enough?? Is what we’ve done, experienced or feared more powerful than our Most High God? When Jesus said, “It is finished, ”do you think He meant “It is finished for everyone except ‘Sally?” NO! He is over all of it, making His enemies, and ours, a footstool (Luke 20:43). “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
”Set down your shame, your insecurities and fears…they are idols before He who longs to take their burden from your shoulders. Our “junk ”isn’t too heavy and isn’t more powerful than the cross, and it isn’t bigger than Him! Who is like the Most High God???“
God is higher than anything and anyone, outshining everything you can see in the skies. Who can compare with God, our God, so majestically enthroned…” Psalm 113:4-5 MSG
Day 23 The Harvest
The Harvest
The harvest, what a plentiful word it is…it signifies a time of great reward, a time to bring in a harvest; to reap; to glean, a time that follows a great exertion of time, energy and work. As I ponder over this word,it occurred to me, we live in various seasons, not only in the physical but in the emotional and spiritual as well. There are good seasons and bad seasons…there are seasons of great abundance; the harvest, and seasons of great drought. During those times we typically do one of two things…praise God for all of His goodness or lean on God because there is no way that we can stand through this, let alone walk through this on our own.
What if we put all of our faith in God and, through Him, conditioned ourselves to live everyday as if we are in a time of great harvest, steadfast in a posture of gratitude…a time of plentiful abundance and a time of great JOY! “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11. It all comes from the Lord, the good, the great and the sometimes really hard…but in the end He weaves it all together for HIS glory and He keeps each promise to those who call Him Father.
Lord, allow us to delight in every season that you offer us, allow us to truly live everyday like it is a great harvest…because we know that every detail is delicately weaved together by you, the Superior Creator, the One who loves us so much that each moment has been planned out impeccably for our goodness.So, let us put our full trust in you, Lord, and be thankful for the harvest of each day!
“So, let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith” Galatians 6:9-10.
Day 22 Peace found only in Jesus
Peace found only in Jesus.
“I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!” –John 14:27 TPT
What does peace look like to you? Don’t we tend to judge it based on what we think it should be? Usually we define it as comfort that can be material, financial, physical or psychological. But comfort is the world’s term. We’re never promised it-in fact, we’re promised trouble.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. –John 16:33 NIV
Comfort may be how the world gives…buy a new jacket, have another glass of wine, post a selfie of you living out the perfect moment, seize control of a situation to achieve your desired outcome. But that isn’t how Jesus gives us peace. Our peace is found in our identity in Him, as His bride, His beloved, a cherished child of the Most High God. Our peace is inevitably tied to His trustworthiness, His reliability, and His ever-present help. Knowing that whatever we may face, final victory has been procured by Jesus. We step into that peace when we surrender the trouble to Him and take courage in His provision.
Don’t miss that Jesus calls this peace a gift. It is a gift of grace, just like our salvation. We can’t achieve it on our own… we can’t buy lasting peace, drink lasting peace, fake lasting peace or control it. Our perfect peace is only found in Jesus.