“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)

Stop running! Don’t you know who you are?  You are a child of the Most High God. You are more than a conqueror! You were born to win! Instead of throwing in the towel every time you are challenged, it is time to step up to the plate and defeat what has been defeating you.

As believers, I believe we often forget that the power of God has been made available to us in our daily lives.  Much like Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, we try to avoid dealing with challenges that come our way.  When we are not avoiding them, we try to play God in our own lives and do it all in our own strength.

Our salvation is not based on our works, but on our believing!  It is all through faith.  Remember upon the finished work of the cross, the Grace and Power of God was made available to you and me as we accepted the sacrifice of Jesus.   IT IS FINISHED!  When He uttered those 3 words on the cross it gave us access to that Grace and Power. What good news!

Again, we find Paul asking God each time to take away his weaknesses, his frailties, his mess-ups, only for God to respond; “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” This would have angered many of us. We want to be free instantly.

Take a look at Titus 2:11-12 (AMP) “For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind. 12 It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world.”  His Grace is Power!  It instructs us, equips us and empowers us.

It is by the grace of God that we are destined to conquer, destined to win. It is not by our own might, nor by our own power, but by the Spirit of Almighty God.  Take a lesson from Paul today and be a winner! From this point on, learn to boast in your weaknesses and allow His Grace and Power to be manifested in your life.

Father, forgive us for running from our challenges. I pray that we will begin to face every obstacle head on knowing and trusting that you have already equipped us with the Grace and Power needed to overcome every obstacle in Jesus Mighty Name Amen.

What are you afraid of?

Are you ready to embrace those fears and allow the power of God to be made known in your life? Do you realize the need to deal with your fears before moving forward?

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

1. A Bible Study on Waiting on God
2. The Names of God – A Bible study
3. The Names of Jesus – A study

The post What are You Afraid of? can be found at Thoughts about God.

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears”  Psalm 34:4 (KJV)

Susie seemed outwardly to be a well-poised, lovely young wife and mother with everything under control. She was active in her church and attended other Christian gatherings during the week. But secretly she was filled with fear from which psychologists and psychiatrists with whom she consulted were unable to set her free.

She became very discouraged and depressed. “What can I do“? she asked through her tears. “I have everything to live for and no real reason to be afraid, but my days are consumed with worry and dread and fear, as I anticipate all kinds of evil things happening to me, to my husband , to my children“.

“Do you believe that God in heaven has the power to remove your fears, Susie“? I asked.

“Yes, of course,” she replied.

“Do you believe He loves you“?

“Yes, I believe that.”

“Do you believe He wants to remove that fear from you?” And I read her the above passage.

We turned together to 1 John 5:14, 15: “If we ask anything according to God’s will, He hears and answers.” This is the promise that every believer can claim whenever there is a command or another promise. I asked her if she would like to join with me in a prayer of faith that God would deliver her according to this promise.

Together we prayed, and though there was no immediate, dramatic deliverance, with the passing of days God set her free. Day after day she claimed by faith this and other promises from God’s holy, inspired Word.

Are you plagued with fears? Are your days consumed with worry? Saturate your mind with God’s truth – God’s supernatural promises – and begin to claim by faith this supernatural life which is your heritage in Christ.

Bible Reading: Psalm 34:1-7

Today’s Action Point: At the first sign of a fear in my life, I will commit it to the Lord and trust Him for deliverance, and I will seek to help others whose hearts are filled with fear. I will seek to introduce them to the Prince of Peace – the God of all comfort.

by Dr. Bill Bright
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

The Effects of Fear

Fear of the Unknown

The Dark Tunnel of the Unknown

The post Deliverance from Fears can be found at Thoughts about God.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41: 10)

“God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of cringing fear) but he has given us a  spirit of power and of love and of  calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”  (2 Timothy 1:7 Amplified)

Fear comes to all people. We’ve all struggled with fear. Our greatest fear is the threat of what might happen. Fear is almost always based on the future. But what is the future to God? To Him the future is now! He lives in the eternal now, in which he sees and knows everything, including the future. God is faithful therefore we will be cared for. His plans for us are good therefore we have nothing to fear. (Jeremiah 29:11).

How can we face our fears? Let God love you in the middle of the fear. On a particularly troubled day, I visualized myself being hugged by God while he whispered into my ear,

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  (Isaiah 40: 10).

His prefect love gives me courage to move ahead in spite of the fear. As Rick Warren has said, “Courage is not the absence of fear; courage is moving ahead in spite of your fear.”

So let’s face this day with courage buoyed up by these words,

“The LORD is with me, I will not be afraid; What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6)

By Helen Lescheid
used by permission

If you have never surrendered your life to Christ, you can start today.  Here are a few sample prayers.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I want to trust you from now on. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life. Make me be the person You want me to be. Thank you for enabling me to trust you in these uncertain times. Amen.

Another Sample Prayer:

Dear God, today I bring you my life, my hopes, my dreams, my deepest yearnings … You know me intimately. You knew me even before I was formed in the womb. You called me into this world to do good and live the life I was uniquely and specifically created for. I ask for Courage and Wisdom to live this life–the life of my dreams. Show me where to start and help me be open to hearing your Voice today. I ask for a greater consciousness of your Presence, today and every day of my life. Amen.

If you prayed either of these prayers, we would love to hear from you on the form below and we would love to send you some online resources to help you in this journey that are beginning with God.

FURTHER READING

The Side Effects of Fear – by Charles Stanley

His Wings Shelter You – A Devotional by Max Lucado

What or Who is Your Goliath? – by John Grant

How to Know God Personally | Salvation – How to be Saved

The post God is the Answer to all our Fears can be found at Thoughts about God.

Read: Matthew 6:25-34

Fear obviously produces anxiety, but it also creates chaos in our lives and even affects those around us.

Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins.

Fear hinders us from becoming the people God wants us to be. When we are dominated by negative emotions, we cannot achieve the goals He has in mind for us. A lack of self-confidence stymies our belief in what the Lord can do with our lives.

Fear can drive people to destructive habits. To numb the pain of overbearing distress and foreboding, some turn to things like drugs and alcohol for artificial relief.

Fear steals peace and contentment. When we’re always afraid, our life becomes centered on pessimism and gloom.

Fear creates doubt. God promises us an abundant life, but if we surrender instead to the chains of fear, our prayers won’t be worth very much.

What are you afraid of–loss, rejection, poverty, or death? Everybody will face such realities at some point. All you need to know is, God will never reject you. Whether you accept Him is your decision.

The Bible tells us that God will meet all our needs. He feeds the birds of the air and clothes the grass with the splendor of lilies. How much more, then, will He care for us, who are made in His image? Our only concern is to obey the heavenly Father and leave the consequences to Him.

By Dr. Charles Stanley
used by permission

Used by permission; http://www.intouch.org/

FURTHER READING

Giving Fear an Eviction Notice – by Karen Woodard

Faith or Fear – by Julie Cosgrove

Fear of the Unknown – by Daniel Forster

Overcoming the Stronghold of Fear by Daniel Forster

The post The Effects of Fear can be found at Thoughts about God.

Jesus, I’m so grateful that you gently lead and insistently love me in the midst of both faith and fear.

“They were on their way to Jerusalem with Jesus leading the way, those who followed were afraid.”
Mark 10:32

They had heard Jesus teach on the green hillsides, they had eaten the bread and fish He miraculously supplied, they had watched boys, girls, men and women touched by His heavenly healing. They believed Him to be the Savior. They followed Him. And now they were afraid. His words now contained the not-so-good news that following meant far more than food and healing and good feelings. Following this Jesus meant walking with Him all the way to the cross in Jerusalem.

We read in the Bible that at the cross only a few women stayed near their bruised and battered Lord, but scripture and history confirm that the fearful followers eventually returned. Their fear turned into the deep faith that would move mountains of hate, replacing them with love and joy and promise. They would bravely tell the world that following Jesus brings both earthly peace and eternal life. He transforms fear into faith.

Jesus, I’m often afraid on this path of following you, but I’m so grateful that you gently lead and insistently love me in the midst of both faith and fear. I want to be a faith-full follower. Help my faith to grow.

By Marilyn Ehle
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•   We Plan – God Directs

•  Stepping Into a Personal Revival

•  Salvation Explained

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The post Afraid but Following can be found at Thoughts about God.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:8-10 (NIV)

Have you ever noticed God is always telling us to not be afraid? For instance, in the Bible, whenever an angel shows up with a message from God, the first thing the angel says is: “Do not be afraid.”

There are all kinds of reasons we might be afraid to receive a message from God: We’re afraid of change, afraid of losing control, afraid of sacrifice.

We’re afraid of living apart from the pretense that we must be good enough.

Yet, the good news of great joy is that you don’t have to be good enough because God is good enough on your behalf!

The Bible teaches us to fight fear with faith—faith that Jesus will cover all our sins and shortcomings.

Practical Nativity:

•  Replace fear with faith. God’s perfect love drives out all fear (1 John4:18). As you abandon your fears, ask God to guide you toward great faith: “I believe, Lord; help my unbelief.”
•  Chase God, not perfection. You will never reach perfection, but Jesus, through his death and resurrection, is your perfection. God doesn’t love you because you’re the best in your class or because you try really hard. God loves you because he loves you. Slow down, shake off your anxiety, and meditate on that.

by Jon Walker
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•   Fear, Faith and Migraines – Renewing your mind can help renew your body
•   Christmas Section
•  Salvation Explained

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The post Do Not be Afraid can be found at Thoughts about God.

“But where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Genesis 22:7

If I was Isaac, I would have been freaked out right about the time that his father Abraham tied him up and laid him on wood on the altar. I think I would have been yelling, “I’m too young to die!”

Yet Isaac was a strong young man and his father was old, over a hundred, so he could have most likely overpowered him and gotten away. But Isaac didn’t. He trusted his father.

Abraham’s great faith to sacrifice is only son is often mentioned, but what about Isaac? Isaac had great faith in his father Abraham. Abraham had said to him that God himself will provide the lamb.

We learn later in Genesis 22 that God was testing Abraham and stopped him from sacrificing Isaac. Not a whole lot is said about Isaac. What about Isaac having seen the knife raised above him? Isaac willingly sacrificed himself that day.

Sometimes I feel freaked out at the circumstances in my own life.

I wonder where is the cure for my husband’s cancer? How will we make it through the next six months of therapy? Genesis 22:14 reminds me that “The Lord Will Provide.” Just as Isaac trusted his father, I desire to trust God.

Lord, I want to trust you when things in life seem impossible, don’t make sense and even seem scary. Thank you for the reminder that you are one who provides. You, God, are the one who is in control. Amen.

By Jan Stewart
Used by Permission

Request: Will you pray for healing for Jan’s husband, and for others facing seemingly impossible situations?

FURTHER READING

•  Struggling with Depression – Merri Ellen Giesbrecht tells her depression story and her story of hope
•  Dealing with Despair

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

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The post Wrestling can be found at Thoughts about God.

“He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; he does not shy away from the sword.” Job 39:22

It seems that a man was driving his pick-up along the highway and not being mindful of the speed limit was substantially exceeding it, when deputy sheriff was parked in the bushes stealthy observing the meter on his radar gun. Clocking the speed of the pick-up, he turned on his lights and siren in hot pursuit.

He asked the driver for the usual documents and the driver, apologizing for not watching his speed, handed the deputy what he wanted along with his concealed weapons permit. Seeing that, the deputy asked if the man was carrying a gun.

“Why yes,” was the response. “I have a 9mm semi-automatic in my ankle holster, a .40 cal one on my belt holster and a .45 cal loaded with copper jacketed hollow points in the glove box and I have a twelve gauge shotgun and a 30.06 rifle behind the seat, and under the front seat is an ammo box with enough re-loads for all.”

The trooper responded by asking, “What in the world are you afraid of,” to which the man answered, “Absolutely nothing.”

He had taken the necessary training to be licensed to carry and use those weapons and was equipped to face any unfriendly situation.

Humorous as it sounds, there is a ring of truth to this story. The man was physically and mentally prepared to meet the dangers of life. But, how many of us are spiritually armed in the same manner?

Think of it. How many people are trained to use the power of the Bible as we slay the dragons of the world?

Hebrews tells us “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12).

God has given us an amazing weapon to use against the enemy. It’s our responsibility to make sure we are using it. When you pick up a Bible what you’re holding in your hand is a weapon. And many of us don’t even know how to use it properly. The most effective way Satan has found to derail a believer is to get him or her to believe that God didn’t really say what He really said.

How do we combat against this deception? By allowing the living, active Word of God pierce through the lies. Jesus did it and calls on us to do it. So pack your spiritual weapon, know how and don’t be afraid to use it in the dangerous situations of life. No matter how you might otherwise be armed, the Bible is always your strongest weapon against the forces of evil.

by John Grant
Used by Permission
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

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Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

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The post What are You Afraid Of? can be found at Thoughts about God.