Today's Fun Fact: Jesus left us with His peace.
Do you struggle with a spirit of fear? I did—for thirty-five years.
What causes fear? The Bible shows us two contrasts: the fear of the Lord and the fear of man. The fear of the Lord is reverent—recognizing that God, our Creator and Lord, is sovereign. The latter fear, however, is a spirit of fear that the Bible goes on to explain is unhealthy and has to do with punishment. 1 John 4:18 says: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."
Have you noticed that the enemy counterfeits what God calls good?
In my newsletter, Courage in the Face of Fear, I share how Maddie struggled with a spirit of fear. It would be a friend who would help her to see fear as a person, to acknowledge the fear, face it courageously, and then lay it down.
Before she came to this place of understanding, she was on a desperate search for anything that would help her with the anxiety and panic attacks she faced. It would be a painting of a girl looking up at the Hand of her Healer that would give her the words to explain what she so desperately desired—peace.
Our world teaches us to fight for what we want and need. But God encourages a much different approach. A loving mentor challenged Maddie to focus on Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
A promise from Proverbs 19:23 shares what happens when we operate from this posture: "The fear of the Lord leads to life, then one rests content, untouched by trouble." The Hebrew word for rests here is לוּן or "lûn" which means to lodge—abide.
Even before Maddie could see the fear, she had to abide in the One who would set her free from it.
To be still is not to be complacent. To abide is an active verb.
In Revealed Mercy, book two of the Revealed Book Series, Grammy teaches her granddaughter how to posture herself in the Presence of God, surrender her heart, and abide in Him. Amazed as the desired peace fills every pore of her body, a song is born.
Enjoy Into Your Hands:
V1
On this day of promiseI see your hands
The sacrifice you made
You took a stand
No greater Love than this
Your life for mine
You see the broken heart
I try to hide
V2
On this day of promise
I take your hand
In your mighty power
I’ll take my stand
No greater Love than this
You give to meTake my broken heart
And set me free
BR
Into your hands
I commit my spirit
Lord my God
Make your face shine upon your servant
Faithful God
Into your hands
I commit my spirit
Lord my God
Save me in your unfailing love
I trust you God
V3
On this day of promise
I see Your Hands
My healing in your wounds
Redemption’s stand
No greater love than this
You called my name
Healed my broken heart
And took my shame
CH
Into your hands I commit my spirit
Lord my God
Make your face shine upon your servant
Faithful God
Into your hands I commit my spirit
Lord my God
Save me in your unfailing love
I trust you God
Revealed Fire ©
After this miraculous gift from the Lord, Maddie is ecstatic. Looking up, she asks the Lord how she can find this inspiration again. Suddenly, the scripture she learned from Ms. Bonnie popped into her mind: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
This was followed by the invitation of a lifetime:
"Abide in Me, my Child."
Today's free download is a group of Phone wallpapers that will encourage you to walk in the Lord’s peace. I pray the Lord will strengthen you through His Spirit.
Join me next week as I share practical steps for facing fear and operating in faith.
A Prayer for you:
If you, too, struggle with the spirit of fear, I would encourage you to place it in the hands of the Healer, as Maddie did.
Pray this with me:
Father, You are sovereign, and You are good. Thank You for Your perfect love that casts out all fear. Lord, I see the fear surrounding me and choose to turn from it and turn to You. Jesus, I trust in You and believe that You came to set me free. I renounce any agreement I have made with fear and ask that You grow my mustard seed of faith. I place the things that cause me to be afraid (name it) in my hands and place them at Your feet. I trust that You have me and my circumstances in Your hand and ask that You deliver and heal me as You have promised. Your Word states that you did not give me a spirit of fear but One of power, love, and self-discipline. Please pour out Your Spirit and help me to abide in You and boldly move forward in Your calling for my life, for it is for freedom that Christ has set me free. In Jesus' Name, I pray, amen.
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