Living in Fear

 

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”

Psalm 46:1-2 (NIV)

 

An unwelcome guest moved into my home immediately after my husband passed away. No matter where I turned, he was there. And he never slept. I would wake up and he would begin to whisper and taunt me repeatedly. With every attack my heart would race in my chest as if I had just run a marathon.

           

“Who’s going to be next?” he would taunt. “Someone else is going to die; who do you think it is?” he would challenge and then fade into the background, leaving me with a choking panic in my throat. One morning my daily phone call to a close friend was not answered. From out of nowhere a voice spoke a thought to my heart. “She’s dead. She was the next one,” he lied. And for an instant, I almost believed him.

 

In my defense, within about a 5 month time period, I had lost my brother-in-law, who was more like a brother; my sister who was my best friend and two weeks after that, my husband. I cannot begin to describe the deep heartache and grief that surrounded me.

I held on to the Lord with every ounce of strength I had but there were many days when simply breathing became an accomplishment.

 

Satan, my unwelcome guest, did every thing he could to move into my home – and my heart – with his baggage of lies and deceit. His purpose was to drain my joy and my hope and to shake my very foundation and belief in Jesus.

 

The entire book of Psalms became my place of refuge – my hiding place. I literally ran to my Bible and held it closely as I read one Scripture after another in which David held on to God with everything he had. Because even David had days when he was lonely and defeated and heartbroken and beaten up spiritually. And yes, when he was afraid. David – the warrior – was afraid.

 

The Scripture found in Psalm 46:1-2 became a minute by minute encouragement to me. David writes “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” That was exactly how I felt: everything beneath my feet had suddenly shattered and I was in freefall with no rope for security.

 

If you have not experienced the suddenness of loss, either of a loved one or a job or something secure in your life, you will. Jesus tells us that we will have problems in this world (John 16:33) but the great news is that He has already overcome every single heartache that we will face.

 

Because Jesus held on to me and spoke truth, my unwelcome guest was kicked from my home and my heart and replaced with the power of the Holy Spirit. Oh, Satan still tries to sneak back in every so often. But I no longer live in fear. I live in faith.

 

 

Father, thank you for being my strength when I have none and for always being by my side. I choose to listen to your voice. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

 

Reflect

• Can you think of an experience when fear took over every part of your life and you found yourself struggling?

 

Apply

• There are 150 chapters in the book of Psalms. Read 5 per day for one month. Underline or highlight those parts that specifically speak to your heart.

 

• Memorize Psalm 46:1-2 and praise the Lord for His presence by your side, no matter what you face in life. He is faithful.

 

Power

• Psalm 46:1-2 (NIV) “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”

 

• Psalm 27:1 (NIV) “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?”

 

• Psalm 16:8 (NIV) “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

  

The Fragrance called “Some Day”

 

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of him.”

II Corinthians 2:14 (NIV)

 

The perfume had a fragrance unlike any other. One spray and I was immediately in a luxurious world of perfect hair and skin, toned thighs and straight, super-white teeth. The only catch was the cost: it was extremely expensive. As I debated about whether or not to buy a bottle – a small bottle – I began to justify the expense in my mind. I wouldn’t use it every day but would save it for special occasions.

 

And then when I DID use it, I would limit myself to one quick spray only. That way, I thought, it would last longer. I bought a small bottle and put it on the top shelf in the bathroom. I periodically took it down to admire the beautiful bottle but I didn’t use it.

 

My husband kept asking “When are you going to use that expensive perfume that you just had to have?” and I would reply “Some day, for a special occasion.” What a big mistake that was!

 

Three months after my pricey purchase, I saw the bottle on the top shelf and decided the time had come to use the perfume. I carefully pulled out the gorgeous bottle. Off came the lid and I excitedly sprayed my neck with the amazing fragrance. But instead of a beautiful scent I immediately began coughing.

 

The fragrance was rancid and smelled like the bottle had been filled with vinegar, toilet bowl cleaner and motor oil and shaken up. I quickly grabbed a towel and started wiping off my neck. My plan to keep the perfume for a special occasion had kept me from using it altogether and it had become stale and quite frankly, disgusting!

 

That is exactly what happens to the fragrance Christ wants me to be by sharing His love and mercy but I decide to wait for the perfect opportunity  . . . someday.  There are needs all around me; people are hurting every minute of every day. And yet, forgive me, but I have said to myself “Some day, I’ll write that note or visit that widow or call the lady who has been gone from church for weeks.”

 

And I justify my decision by thinking “Someday, when I have more time or when I’m less busy or when the kids are older or when I am retired, THEN I will have time to be the hands and feet of Jesus.” And what happens? The “someday” never comes . . . and the fragrance of compassion becomes the stench of procrastination.

 

Please, hear this cry from my heart: if you put off sharing the fragrance of Jesus with someone who is hurting until the perfect day, the opportunity to share with that person may never come again. Don’t put off sharing the fragrance of Christ for someday. Do it today!

 

Father, I want to be the fragrance of you and not put off being your reflection to the hurting because I am waiting for the right moment. That moment is now. And I am ready to serve you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Have you ever opened an old bottle of perfume and noticed the stale odor?

 

• How do you think the Lord feels when we choose to be a stale odor instead of a beautiful fragrance of Jesus to people around us?

 

Apply

• Place a bottle of perfume in the sock drawer of your dresser along with a note card with II Corinthians 2:14 on it.

 

• Every time you open the drawer, ask the Lord to show you how you can be a fragrant example of Christ to someone around you who is hurting.

 

Power

• II Corinthians 2:14 (NIV) “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of him.”

 

• II Corinthians 2:15 (NIV) “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”

 

• Matthew 25:40 (NIV) “…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

What's Your Giant's Name?

 

“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the

armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

I Samuel 17:45 (NIV)

 

As I stood in the store by the life size cardboard cutout of the famous basketball player Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal, I was totally in awe – and a little unnerved. He was 7’1” tall and weighed 325 pounds. I was 5’8” and weighed in at about 115 pounds. I tried to imagine what it would be like to have him as a bodyguard and decided instantly that he would without a doubt intimidate even the strongest and bravest of men.

 

I could not help but compare Shaq with another man who, believe it or not, was much bigger. His name was Goliath. It is estimated from Scripture that Goliath was over 9’ tall and weighed a minimum of 650 pounds. Mercy. If you compare that with the average height for men during that time period of just a bit over 5 feet tall, you can appreciate how frightened they would be at just the appearance of Goliath.

 

In I Samuel we read that Goliath, a Philistine, had been intimidating the Israelite army day after day in an attempt to fill them with fear. And it was working. The army listened to his daily taunts as they focused on his size until they were all too frightened to challenge the mighty giant. Fear gripped the hearts and minds of the bravest of the brave in the Israelite army to a man, and Scripture tells us they were terrified.  

 

Except for a boy – a boy named David. A belief and trust in God’s power, a sling and a stone later, the giant came down and the rest is history. David’s focus was not on the giant or his taunts; instead he was focused on the One he knew had power over fear, doubt and a situation that appeared hopeless to an entire army.

 

So let me ask you something: what is your giant? What fear keeps you awake at night? What scares you until you can hardly breathe and steals peace from your heart day after day? Is it wars being fought all over the world or the threat of a devastating disease or illness? Could it be that a close friend or family member does not know the Lord and doesn’t seem to care or maybe it’s the fear that someone you love no longer loves you? Or have you lost someone special to you and you fear being alone?

 

Whatever you are facing, I encourage you to switch your focus from Goliath to God. Bring your fear before the God of the Universe. There is no giant He cannot conquer when you trust Him to defeat every fear and doubt and bring your giant to its knees.

 

Father, thank you for battling my giants as I switch my focus to you and your power. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Have you ever felt like situations in your life were so big that even God could not handle them?

 

• Were you focusing on the giants or on God?

 

Apply

• Write down the giants in your life right now that you are struggling with on separate pieces of paper.

 

• Then, one at a time, wad up each paper and throw it away, switching your focus from the giant to God. Thank Him for what He is going to do to handle that giant for you.

 

Power

• I Samuel 17:45 (NIV) “David said to the Philistine, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

 

• I John 4:4 (NIV) “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

 

• Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

Out of the Mouth of . . . a Donkey?

 

“The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey,

which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I

been in the habit of doing this to you?”

Numbers 22:30 (NIV)

 

A talking horse . . . who would have thought it! But “Mister Ed,” a popular television show when I was a little girl, used that concept to capture the hearts of thousands of children. The horse – Mister Ed – spoke only to his owner, Wilbur Post.

 

 Throughout the series, there was no explanation offered for Mister Ed being able to speak to Wilbur. In fact, in the very first episode, when Wilbur stated aloud that he was unable to understand how his horse could talk, Mister Ed offered this bit of wisdom: “Don’t try. It’s bigger than both of us.”

 

The Scripture in Numbers 22:30 also involves a conversation with an animal: a donkey. Let me explain. It seems that Balaam, at one time a man of God, was contacted by King Balak of Moab who asked him to curse Israel. The king was afraid of the Israelites because of their large numbers and because he saw what they had done to the Amorites when they came up against them.

 

The king’s plan was this: find a prophet who would get God to curse the Israelites so that he and his kingdom would be safe from harm. Enter Balaam. King Balak sent princes to Balaam to persuade him to curse the Israelites. Balaam asked them to wait overnight while he got an answer from God.

 

The next day he gave them God’s answer: “You must not put a curse on these people, because they are blessed.” (verse 12) They left, only to be replaced with other, more distinguished princes who returned with an offer of a substantial reward if he would carry out their request. And what did Balaam do? He went to God again, trying to persuade Him to change His mind.

 

One would suspect the offer of a reward was surely a big factor in Balaam’s decision. This time the Lord, though angry with Balaam, gave permission for him to go with the men back to King Balak but told him to only  do what He, God, told   him to do. That’s where the talking donkey comes in.

 

As Balaam is riding along the road on his donkey, God placed an angel in his path. Balaam could not see it but the donkey could. Three times the donkey tried to turn from the path and each time Balaam beat her with his staff.

 

Finally the donkey turned to look at Balaam and spoke. “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” The Lord then allowed Balaam to see the angel in front of him, sword in hand. Had he gone on, Balaam would have been killed.  

We have been given the Holy Spirit in our lives to direct our paths. But sometimes we want something so badly that we do not listen as He speaks to our hearts to take a different path. We need to remember that there are times that God places roadblocks in the path that we are choosing. Perhaps, like Balaam, He is trying to protect us. Or it could be that the timing is not yet right for us to go in that direction.

  

I encourage you to listen to the gift of the Holy Spirit that we have been given as we face decisions in our lives. He will direct our pathways every single day.  

 

 

Father, thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit to guide my decisions each day. Help me to open the ears of my heart to your will for my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Have you ever wanted something so badly that you ignored the “warning signs” of the Holy Spirit that perhaps your choice was not a wise one?

 

• If you ignored the warnings and went ahead with your plans, what was the outcome? Everything you thought it would be or disappointment?

 

Apply

• Journal decisions that need to be made in your life and the possible answers to those decisions.

 

• During prayer time, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart and guide you toward the answers that He has for you. Listen for His guidance through the Word.

 

Power

• Numbers 22:30 (NIV) “The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”

 

• John 8:47 (NIV) “He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

 

• Ezekiel 3:10 (NIV) “And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you.”