HEAVENSREEF

Let this year be a year that your faith grows and grows.  I pray for me and you that we will not walk in fear.   Fear is a funny thing that sneaks up on us when we least expect it.  Fear of the unknown works like this.  Fear can grip us in a hard way if we let it. 

ROMANS 8: 15   “FOR YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THE SPIRIT OF SLAVERY TO FALL BACK INTO FEAR, BUT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION AS SONS BY WHOM WE CRY ABBA FATHER.”

Make this year a year where your courage is bigger than your fear.  Take that next step into the unknown with your feet firmly planted in the word of GOD.  Read it every day of your life.  Because the holy word sustains like nothing else.  GOD knew we would need HIS spiritual food all the days of our lives.

I have a pretty sign in my house that is a great reminder about faith and fear.  It says this:

LET YOUR FAITH BE BIGGER THAN YOUR FEAR

Take that fear and turn to the LORD your GOD.  Instead of fear choose HIS promises over you.

1 JOHN 4: 4   “LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU ARE FROM GOD AND HAVE OVERCOME THEM, FOR HE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD.”

I have had fear grip me.  The first time I had to go back for my 6th month mammogram and ultrasound after all my surgeries and radiation for breast cancer I was paralyzed sitting in my car.  Honestly I couldn’t move.  But then I started to pray and I asked GOD to give me the courage to put one foot in front of the other to walk securely into the medical facility and then go through the tests.  I put my faith first and then my eyes on my Savior, my ROCK.  And before I knew it, the test was finished and all was well.

I don’t enjoy walking in fear.  It feels all shaky and uncertain.  The “what ifs” can grip your soul if you let them.  That is when we need to preach to ourselves these words:

DEUTERONOMY 12: 18   “…….AND YOU ARE TO REJOICE BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD IN EVERYTHING YOU PUT YOUR HAND TO.”

Let your fear turn into rejoicing, rejoicing that you are HIS now and forever!

DEUTERONOMY 10: 12   “AND NOW, ISRAEL, WHAT DOES THE LORD YOUR GOD ASK OF YOU, BUT TO FEAR THE LORD YOUR GOD, TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM, TO LOVE HIM, TO SERVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND ALL YOUR SOUL.”

The fear that we should have is only fear of the LORD.  To honor and revere HIM in all we do.  To make HIM our priority over everything and to behold HIM. 

Don’t be a slave to fear this year.  Instead walk in the sure confidence of the LORD your GOD.  Stay vertical with your thoughts and don’t take your eyes off of HIM.  The minute you do, the enemy gets hold of you and instills fear with his nasty ideas.  Don’t give in!  

GOD’S perfect love drives out our fear and with HIS love we truly lack nothing.

PSALM 34: 9   “FEAR THE LORD, YOU HIS HOLY PEOPLE, FOR THOSE WHO FEAR HIM LACK NOTHING.”

Don’t be a slave to fear, fear only the ONE TRUE GOD and when you do every day of your life…….you will lack nothing.  Keep reminding yourself:  FAITH OVER FEAR.  And stand firm!

2 CORINTHIANS 1: 24   “NOT THAT WE LORD IT OVER YOUR FAITH, BUT WE WORK WITH YOU FOR YOUR JOY, FOR YOU STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH.”