Are you ever afraid? I am...unfortunately I deal in fear at times. Sometimes my fears have been real, and other times they have taken the forms thoughts running through my mind and often like a little child who is afraid of the 'monster under the bed' or some other thought up or made up thing...and this year, I've been doing some things a little different. I know that my life needs continued transforming power which I believe comes from God so I committed to read and write a short line or two concerning what that verse means to me...I'd like to share them~all I have up to today for you to see and enjoy...FEAR BUSTING is kinda cool b/c it really seems to hit to the heart of the problem~FAITH. Someone has told me:
When fear comes knocking...
SEND JESUS to the door!
Oh yes, here's HOW HE IS helping me combat FEAR in my life and live so much fuller day by day~TY Lord!
I've heard it twice in this new year that there are OVER 365 verses directly dealing with FEAR in Scripture...I want to share them with you all in this year and focus on them each day in my recovery...won't you join me in DEBUNKING FEAR WITH FAITH??
(There are some wonderful recovery notes in the recovery Bibles, but this is my own thoughts I'm sharing...what are your thoughts??) God bless and BIG HUGS,c
FEAR~1/2
In Song: Psalm 23
http://www.bibleinsong.com/Promises/Music_promises/Psalms/Psalm23/Psalm23_4-5.htm
The Lord IS my shepherd and as I follow HIM...abiding or walking or living in the presence (shadow) of death...the reality of the brevity of life...NO FEAR OF EVIL...wow! What can evil do to me as HIS BELOVED? NOTHING! God's protection and provision are MINE...He's my God and my protector...my comforter...my all in all! THEN...the benefits are a table prepared for me...(DARE I SAY I GET TO EAT?? what food though? SPIRITUAL FOOD?? PHYSICAL?? I dare say, it must be all...well made/healthful/satisfying FOOD~perhaps not actually food for the body but for the spirit..or maybe it's physical food too..but either way...HE's prepared it for me...FOR ME..and anointed my head with oil~I am SET APART for HIS purposes and pleasure..HIS WILL in my life...then a huge blessing of my cup (my life? my all? my existance??) RUNS OVER~am I just pouring out in goodness b/c of HIS PROTECTION and provision?? TY dear Lord! TY TY TY for such a gorgeous reminder of ALL You do for me, with me and through me..amen
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FEAR~1/3
Psalm 91:4-7
4He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
This is a cool mental image of God having wings~the idea that HE COVERS ME with HIS faithfulness...HIS CONSTANT CONSISTANT ABIDING presence...protection...provision... as the mother bird covers her needy baby..the little baby bird who is so helpless and frail...
I WILL NOT fear or have terror at life's problems~there's nothing here to deny that there are things that are frightening~BUT JUST (and not a minimalization of it) a promise of HOW GOD will take good care of me despite what I'm going through...a thousand might fall (be defeated) beside me...ten thousand at my right hand (all around me??) BUT I'm GONNA BE OKAY...TY GOD for looking OUT FOR ME in all the turmoil of life... I can lay fear down~for right now...TY again God!
In Mp3 format you can listen to this portion in beautiful Scripture song:
http://www.bibleinsong.com/Promises/Music_promises/Psalms/Psalm91/Psalm91_4-7.htm
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FEAR 1/4
Psalm 19: 7-14
7 The instruction of the LORD is perfect,
renewing one’s life;(E)
the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy,
making the inexperienced wise.(F)
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
making the heart glad;(G)
the command of the LORD is radiant,
making the eyes light up.(H) 9
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;(I)
the ordinances of the LORD are reliable
and altogether righteous.(J)
10 They are more desirable than gold—
than an abundance of pure gold;(K)
and sweeter than honey,
which comes from the honeycomb.(L)
11 In addition, Your servant is warned by them;
there is great reward in keeping them.(M)
12 Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.(N) 13 Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins;(O) do not let them rule over me.(P)
Then I will be innocent
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.(Q)
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to You,(R) LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.(S)
FEAR isn't always a bad thing when I know that it is a healthy RESPECT and REVERENCE for the way I treat God and His Word in my life~WHAT blessings are there for me...what HOPE and JOY are mine when I do! TY GOD You are the source of all true freedom in this life!
Here's a list of the benefits:
life renewal
inexperienced are wise
heart glad
eyes light up
enduring forever
altogether righteous
WOW!
Have a beautiful day! ;-))
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FEAR 1/5
Psalm 2
Psalm 2
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed,
saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 ¶ I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou
art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give
thee the heathen
for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth
for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10 ¶ Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish
from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed
are all they that put their trust in him. Fear is contrasted with trust. Clearly God can do as He wishes with us and He gives me great promise when He says "Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermosts parts of the earth for they possession. Thou shalk break them witha rod of iron; though shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." WOW~the people who wrong and hurt me are GIVEN TO ME? I suppose this idea is that God promises that I am going to come out on top somehow and be delivered from that pain if they hurt me with their wrongful ways...HE DOES THIS for me~WHAT A PROMISE! WOOT! I no longer have to be affected and concerned with the people who hurt me, but concerned with FEAR in service to God...fear...respect..honor...reverence..NOTHING NEGATIVE about this kind of fear~I guess trading in fear of men with fear the fear of God is sooo worth it~God's abiding promises...WOW!
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1/7
Isaiah 35:4 "Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you."
Isaiah is being instructed to share God's message of care and protection for the fearful~those of us who live in FEAR...a promise is added that God will come and save as well~WOW! God can FIX what I can't, and it's a blessing to remember THAT HE LOVES ME THAT WAY!
BE BLESSED TODAY...and FEAR NOT!
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1/8
This is yet another beautiful PROMISE of God's protection and presence...which gives PEACE..peace in the middle of life's storms! He's gonna HELP ME~and sustain me in the muck and mire of life...the image of His holding my hand is just precious, and little children, like me ;-)) grab on securely trust...Oh help me to trust HIS BIG STRONG HANDS!
fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.”
Isaiah 41:10,13
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1/9
DOES the Lord have a secret??
Appears so...oh yes, those who FEAR HIM...this is not a terror or irrational fear but honor and reverence~RESPECT...when I look to God there are AMAZING PROMISES for my life! His character OVERSHADOWS my own needy and weak character as I depend upon Him moment by moment...and as a human, I have to remember that life is in the moments...OneDayAtaTime...TY LORD!
Psalm 25:8-21
8 Good and upright
is the LORD;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
9 The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.
10 All the paths of the LORD
are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For Your name’s sake, O LORD,
Pardon my iniquity, for it
is great.
12 Who
is the man that fears the LORD?
Him shall He[a] teach in the way He[b] chooses.
13 He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
14 The secret of the LORD
is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.
15 My eyes
are ever toward the LORD,
For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me,
For I
am desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses!
18 Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies, for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred.
20 Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.
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1/10
Ruth 3:11 "And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman."
Ever worry about your reputation, what others THINK or believe about you? I have...and God's got our backs just like He had Ruth's when He protected this little widow woman who was in need of provision...Her reputation had been at steak and what Boaz the kinsman redeemer knew about her...well, her reputation made that she was foraging in his fields just peachy ...since a good marriage was next to follow and the linage of David furthered...God had a plan with Ruth's reputation~She was a virtuous woman, much like I should be..yeah, it's a different time period/culture...but God can care for me like He did her in providing for her needs and protecting her! Today is a GOOD DAY when God's GOT ME..(YOU TOO!!)
BE BLESSED!
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1/11
Proverbs 1:7, 20-33
7 The
fear of the LORD
is the beginning of knowledge;(G)
fools despise wisdom and discipline.(H
20 Wisdom calls out in the street;
she raises her voice in the public squares.(W)
21 She cries out above[i] the commotion;
she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:
22 “How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance?
How long will you mockers(X) enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?(Y)
23 If you respond to my warning,[j](Z)
then I will pour out my spirit on you(AA)
and teach you my words.
24 Since I called out and you refused,(AB)
extended my hand and no one paid attention,(AC)
25 since you neglected all my counsel(AD)
and did not accept my correction,
26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.(AE)
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when trouble and stress overcome you.
28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;
they will search for me, but won’t find me.(AF)
29 Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the LORD,(AG)
30 were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction,(AH)
31 they will eat the fruit of their way(AI)
and be glutted with their own schemes.(AJ)
32 For the turning away of the inexperienced will kill them,(AK)
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will live securely
and be free from the
fear of danger.”(
FEAR isn't always a bad thing...fear of the Lord IS the BEGINNING of knowledge...and listening to God means I will live securely and be FREE FROM the FEAR of DANGER...wow! Okay, so I better 'listen' to God and not be like that person in the verses who God won't answer...Lord, please don't let ME be that person...even for a moment today~help me to seek you in godly FEAR all this day and everyday!
What joy and peace there has to be...SECURITY when I can live FREE FROM the FEAR of DANGER!
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1/12
Matthew 10:28 "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— 10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
26 “So
do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[b] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[c]
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
This particular passage contains imho a great paradox~losing my life will save it (vs 37). HOW can losing be gaining? It appears to be in the sacrifices of service~Jesus is clearly sending out His disciples (the 12) into ministry and service to share His message...He explains a good deal about its impact~the divisions that it will cause/THE COSTs..(v17-38). There are costs~namely DEATH..and more...And verse 38 discloses the sacrifice of 'taking up my cross and following HIM)~doesn't sound much like a 'wealth and prosperity doctrine' does it? But the PROMISES are clear: AS I FEAR NOT (as He instructs them twice (v 26 & 28)) I can trust Him as He promises reward...verse 42 says as I provide service to my fellow man, I won't lose the implied reward~ WOOT! There's a whole lot in here for me today~and giving God my FEAR and living FEARLESS is certainly an act of obedience to Him...Wonder what would have happened IF one of those disciples or a group of them had said...NO LORD, WE ARE NOT GOING~we're too afraid? It's a scary world out there! (and it was~Remember the times they lived..ROME and crucifixion/violent justice all around)! Woo~wonder what impact their disobedience would have had on the message being shared from Him?
Because of His promise, I can safely and confidently say for today~YES JESUS~I'm going...TY!
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1/13
Today for some is a DREADED day~day of poor or bad luck but I've chosen for many years to believe today is good and a gracious gift from God...Here's our verse for today~
Genesis 15:1 "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."
1 After these events, the word of the LORD came(A) to Abram in a vision:
Do not be afraid,(B) Abram.
I am your shield;(C) your reward will be very great.
2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”[a] 3 Abram continued, “Look, You have given me no offspring, so a slave born in[b] my house will be my heir.”
4 Now the word of the LORD came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body[c] will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then He said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”(D)
6 Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness.(E)
7 He also said to him, “I am Yahweh who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”(F)
8 But he said, “Lord GOD, how can I know(G) that I will possess it?”
9 He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
10 So he brought all these to Him, split them down the middle, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut up the birds.(H) 11 Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was setting, a deep sleep(I) fell on Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him.
13 Then the LORD said to Abram,(J) “Know this for certain: Your offspring will be foreigners(K) in a land that does not belong to them; they will be enslaved and oppressed[d] 400 years.(L) 14 However, I will judge the nation they serve,(M) and afterward they will go out with many possessions.(N) 15 But you will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.(O) 16 In the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”[e](P)
17 When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your offspring,(Q) from the brook of Egypt(R) to the Euphrates River:[f] 19 the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaim, 21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”
God encouraged Abram after he had been to war earlier with Sodom...and well, it seems to me that on the heels of God's great promise of protection/to do something great for him, he asks God a pressing question that had been bothering him:
I have no heir~whatcha gonna do about that? Sometimes in the face of God's great promises, the nagging of my heart for the things or issues I have will become paramount in my thinking~an overshadowing of what He promises for the limited view of my heart as I see lack...and Abram lets God know his concern~his desire for a child...God is so faithful...and He is not offended by Abram but begins the process of meeting His desire...the desire of Abram's heart...and of course, the rest is history~a son was given...(called laughter by his mother...imagine being ooold and conceiving a child?? LOL) Uh...I say, you go Sarah...LOL..but not me...I AM too old! LOL..but in this account of God being concerned with Abram's pain and longing, I too can trust that God will give me what IS BEST...on HIS time table and in HIS way...(I am not praying for another child, okay??? LOL)But I
am looking to the way of the cross~Jesus to be my shield...what BETTER protection is there? NOT!
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1/14
Genesis 21:17 "And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven and said unto her, What aileth thee Hagar? FEAR NOT for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is." Imagine having a son who's father really doesn't want him...who is born in less than ideal circumstances or who's very existence causes trouble within the household...Ishamel, the first born of Abraham was such a son~and his mother Hagar certainly suffered at the hands of her mistress, Sarah...I can just imagine the jealousy and rage~the angst Sarah had for this boy and his dear mother...oh what a troubling thing for Hagar to see...of what distress when she grabs her boy and runs away from Abraham's household...She clasps her boy...and...she prepares herself and ultimately him to die...rejected, hated, abandoned, and alone...but God hears this boy...hears and has the angel of God reassure Hagar that there IS a plan...for GOD HATH HEARD...and He hears me. He knows right WHERE I am...even when I don't...even when I am suffering...even when I'm facing death....life worse than death...what reassurance this voice from heaven, the angel of God who asks her WHAT AILETH THEE, Hargar? Oh isn't God interested in all my pain today? OH YES...HE HAS HEARD....me.....
BE BLESSED TODAY and FEAR NOT!
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1/15
Genesis 46:3 "And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: FEAR NOT to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation." Ever worry about your kids or the kids in this world, going places you've never been before or the FUTURE? God has great promises for those who follow Him..He's promised a great future just like He promised Israel or Jacob as he contemplated heading to Egypt, that foreign place where he knew there were 'issues'.... and then...getting such a promise? Sure takes the worry outta all that POTENTIAL bad stuff..TY GOD! You've got my future! TY!
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1/16
I Chronicles 28:20 "And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD."
Teaching FAITH to our children has to be the MOST important thing we can do in this life~David's great legacy over and over in the lives of the future Kings of Israel was so and so king (put whoever king's name you'd like in here out of I and 2 Kings or Chronicles...) "he did (or did not) do according as his FATHER, David..." David's faith and acts of worship MATTERED...and so do mine...even though, like David who sinned, I am not perfect. May my children see the God of Heaven, my Father IN ME~teaching them to FEAR NOT and all of His mighty attributes and character through mine: love, courage, faithfulness, honesty, generosity, humility, patience, joy, peace, longsuffering...all...TY GOD!
BTW~this applies to future generations as evidenced by the chronology of the heritage of David in the royal linage...WHAT WE DO matters!
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1/17
II Chronicles 20:17 "Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you."
Imagine going to war...NOT FIGHTING...imagine STANDING STILL..and SEEING the salvation of the Lord with you...IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF HUGE HUGE victory this would be...and whoohoo!WHAT A CELEBRATION afterwards... The Lord promised the nation of Israel just this kind of PROTECTION and PRESENCE in the face of disaster...WHY won't I believe HE CAN and COULD and WILL/WOULD..for ME? This is SOMETHING to really *think* about... "FEAR NOT nor be dismayed...for tomorrow, GO..." Action is the key...ACTION!
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1/18
Isaiah 41:13 "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."
God has my right hand as I walk in this life...HE IS helping me each moment of the day~WHAT peace is mine! TY Lord!
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1/19
Isaiah 41:14 "Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."
Okay, so Jacob was a deceiver~loads of character defects! But GOD SAID: I WILL HELP THEE! I'm so glad HIS HELP doesn't depend upon ME being GOOD! I'm sure just as God didn't wink at the flaws in His holy men of old, He's not winking at mine~but...HE'S PROMISED to HELP me! TY GOD! THERE IS HOPE for all of us..even me!
BE BLESSED!
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1/20
Isaiah 44:2 "Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun,
whom I have chosen."
2 This is what the LORD says—
he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun,[a] whom I have chosen.
Footnotes:
- Isaiah 44:2 Jeshurun means the upright one, that is, Israel.
GOD made ME and formed me in my mother's womb~MADE ME UPRIGHT...I'm not low and downcast or LESS~CHOSEN THINGS ARE VALUED! ...I AM HIS! FEAR is swept away IN HIS HELP! TY GOD!
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1/21
Luke 12:7 "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."
I can't imagine COUNTING all the hairs in my hairbrush that seem to 'magically' appear in it after a week of grooming~BUT God knows just how many are in MY HEAD (all the time)...oh man, that's pretty detailed, I'd say! God is INTERESTED in THAT kind of detail about MEeee??? And He tells me to FEAR NOT~ I am OF MORE VALUE~WOW!!...yup, I am.. :-)) (GRIN!)
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1/22
Luke 12:32 "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."
Got your CROWN ON?? We're HIS FLOCK (not some
other shepherd's..LOL) and GETTn' the KINGDOM! WOOT! NO MORE turkey scratching for ROYALTY, okay?? WE'RE HIS AND GOT NOTHN' TO FEAR~HE SAYYYYS so! WOOT! (Don't get much better!)
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1/23
Revelation 1:17 "And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last."
I just can't imagine what it will be like to SEE the Lord, but if this verse is any indication, my arrogance and pride will all get wiped out somewhere between when my eyes and brain connect and my body HITS THE GROUND! What comfort though in HIS TOUCH~healing touch, He offers when HE SAYS, I AM THE FIRST and the LAST~This to me, just says it all...beginnings AND endings...in my life, in this world,,,for EVERYTHING. I really don't need to FEAR~for when God's GOT ME in the start and end~WHAT can FEAR do to me?
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1/24
I Kings 17:13 "And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son."
Interesting story~widow woman who running OUT of provisions (flour of some kind) has dealt with the prophet Elijah...now she's to take care of God's portion first (by caring for Elijah making him a cake,) BUT NEXT, she is to fix for herself and her boy...ALL without fear...wonder HOW scared I am when I'm running OUT of the very thing God is asking me to give HIM?? Evidently, God shows HIS PROVISION and PROTECTION to this little widow woman/mom by making SURE there is ENOUGH~oh yes, Lord...there IS ENOUGH...TY...Lord, help me to have YOUR PERSPECTIVE on YOUR provision/protection/promises! AMEN!!
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1/25
Luke 1:13 "But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John."
GOD heard Zacharias' prayer for a child~HE CAN HEAR ME! (IMAGINE AN ANGEL showing UP to SHARE GOOD NEWS! THAT would be...fear inducing. BUT he was told, FEAR NOT...I am NOT gonna FEAR either.) Seen any angels, lately?? ;-)) The thought is pretty cool!
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1/26
Zechariah 8:13 "And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong."
God can take a BAD circumstance and TURN IT AROUND...making ME a blessing (in or through it!) AND HE TELLS ME TO "Let your(MY) hands BE STRONG." THIS IS my part...MY ACTION~what I gotta DO! So today, Lord, make my hands strong to DO..for You! TY Lord!
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1/27
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.I John 4:18
They say, LOVE CONQUERS ALL~yup....pretty much covers it..b/c IT DRIVES OUT FEAR! WOOT! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Oh yeah! Isn't it GREAT that GOD IS LOVE? HE IS..and look what LOVE can do! ;-))
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1/28
I Chronicles 28:20 "And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD."
FEAR and dismay~BUSTED...b/c God won't FAIL NOR FORSAKE me until I have FINISHED all the work for the SERVICE of the HOUSE OF THE LORD...Sounds (to me) like God is interested in my service in HIS HOUSE...I will be busy today for HIS KINGDOM~HIS HOUSE! TY Lord!
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1/29
II Kings 6:16 "And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them."
IF I COULD SEE the battle as God does...IN HIS VIEWPOINT~what a change I could live in! Lord, help me to put on my spiritual glasses and SEE this battle like You do and then to ACT accordingly! WOOT~V I C T O R Y issssssss HIS!
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1/30
Isaiah 35:4 "Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you."
DEFINITION: RECOMPENSE~repay, reward
I have to keep in mind that GOD KNOWS and SEES all~and HE WILL REPAY/REWARD what pleases HIM...Okay, so I KNOW I'm not perfect~nope, far from it...but He tells me to FEAR NOT and HE COMES WITH VENGENCE with repaying or reward..He's gonna come and save ME~WOOT! (Wonder what he's gonna do to my enemies?~NOT MY BUSINESS!) I am gonna focus on HIS CARE for...ME! TY Lord!
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1/31
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.I John 4:18
PERFECT LOVE~the Love of GOD drives OUT fear...woot! Help me, Lord to walk in YOUR LOVE!
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More on FEAR in the month of Feb:-))
2/1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Psalm 46:1-3
Imagine TOTAL catastrophe~I almost can't, but the Y2K scare was terror inducing enough...MOUNTAINS INTO THE SEA? I think a whole lot about those 'jumpers' from the World Trade Center~people facing fire and flame so hot it was MELTING steel...okay, so...GOD IS MY REFUGE and STRENGTH...A VERY PRESENT H E L P...in trouble...TY Lord!
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2/2
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Psalm 56:3-4
FEAR has no schedule, but WHEN it crops UP I can look to HIS WORD for comfort and peace...I WILL NOT FEAR...
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2/3
So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? Hebrews 13: 6
Humans can do a lot to each other, but I can CONFIDENTLY say that GOD IS MY HELP!
GO GOD! GO GOD! I am depending upon YOU!
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2/4
2/5
Daniel 10:19 "And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me."
NO fear, peace and strength...ALL IN HIS speaking to me..."LET MY LORD SPEAK"...He strengthens! TY LORD!
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2/6
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Sooo WHO gives FEAR??? ANY guesses??? I *think* I know...I'm guessing~YOU DO TOO!
TY God for NOT giving me fear...but POWER, LOVE and SELF-DISCIPLINE! WOOT!
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2/7
I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27
Jesus said these words to His followers...I can count on HIM b/c I TOO follow...Soo true, the world can't deal in my troubles or FEAR...on HIM giving me PEACE of mind and heart! TY Lord!
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2/8
They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. Psalm 112:7
CONFIDENCE...NO FEAR of bad news...the Lord's care...HIS CARE...CONFIDENCE... SOUNDS GREAT to me! WOOT!
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2/9
Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one! Isiah 44:8 NLT
I am coming to believe and understand that there IS NOT help aside from GOD...HE IS the ROCK! Amen and AMEN! TY Lord, God! Help me to rely upon You more and more! Check my fear~big time God and let me rest in You... ;-))
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