Matthew 14:25, 28-30 "During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake... 'Lord, if it's you,' Peter replied, 'tell me to come to you on the water.' 'Come,' He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!'" (NIV)
Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water, but then Peter made a mistake. He was hearing, believing, and acting right, but then "he saw the wind boisterous." He took his eyes off Jesus and started watching the strong wind blowing on the stormy sea.
At that moment, fear entered in, faith stopped, and Peter started to sink. Maybe he was thinking, "I can't walk on water when the wind is blowing, especially when the waves are big!" He must have forgotten who had made it possible for him to walk on the water when it had been smooth.
When we believe God, we need to hear God's Word, believe God's Word, say God's Word, and act on God's Word. We also need to keep our eyes off the problem and on Jesus. No matter what stormy circumstances we face, Jesus is the answer to our every need.
What this has to do with weight loss: The scale is not moving, and it is so frustrating. It is a mistake to focus on the scale, weighing every day, determining whether it's a "good" day or a "bad" day according to the number on a scale. Whatever you focus on gets bigger. May it be Jesus, not the scale or current problem.
Confession:
I keep my eyes on Jesus, not looking at the circumstances or impossibilities that surround me. I choose to believe His Word, and my faith holds me up.
Showing posts with label fear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fear. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #87 [God's Armor--Helmet of Salvation, Part V]
Last time, we looked at how the Accuser of the Brethren throws darts of doubt, in an attempt to cause the believer to question his/her salvation. The Helmet of Salvation is meant to remind the believer that he/she has access to grace and mercy.
The Helmet of Salvation is also meant to remind the believer that he/she can claim "deliverance from evil or danger" (2nd definition of "salvation" in Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary), but the believer must know and speak the promises of safety found in the Word of God. That is why Ephesians 6:17 directs us to "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" [emphasis mine]. It is the Word of God, our Sword of the Spirit, which will deal the death blow to our enemy who attempts to engage us in fights of fright.
Yes, fear is Satan's number one weapon. If he can get you to feel concerned, anxious, worried, or afraid, he knows he is getting the upper hand in the battle, and he will double his efforts to defeat you. Look at the area of life that gives you pause, recognize the one behind your fear (whether that fear seems benign or malignant), and lift up the Sword of the Spirit, which is "sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12), to destroy the two-edged broad sword of doubt and fear wielded by Satan.
Next time, we will look at areas of fear and focus on specific promises you can use to combat the fear that the enemy would seek to use to bury you. Until then, ask yourself this question: What do I fear the most? Make a list, if you need to. You'll know the thing you fear the most by the feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach.
II Kings 6:16 [NIV]
"'Don't be afraid,' the prophet [Elisha] answered [his servant]. 'Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.'" [Note: Information added in brackets by author, to clarify meaning.]
What this has to do with weight loss: For most of us, it seems as if we're in one battle after another, either to lose weight or to keep it off. Whether it's battling insurance to obtain weight-loss surgery or the temptation to revert to old, unhealthy eating behaviors (which comes from a fear of failure or even from a fear of success), be assured that, just like Elisha knew, "those [heavenly helpers] who are with [you] are more than those [evil imps] who are with [the enemy]" (II Kings 6:16, author's paraphrase). Recognize and utilize the host of heavenly help at your disposal, and you will win the war.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, help me to take a fearless look at that fear which I've given in to much too often. Help me to uncover every concern, analyze every anxious thought, wear down every worry, and fight every fear, and may I seek out Your Word for the power to do so. I pray in the Name of the One who, during the fiercest storm, is present and says, 'Take courage. It is I. Be not afraid' (Matthew 14:27). Amen."
Go forth today, and courageously name your fear.
The Helmet of Salvation is also meant to remind the believer that he/she can claim "deliverance from evil or danger" (2nd definition of "salvation" in Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary), but the believer must know and speak the promises of safety found in the Word of God. That is why Ephesians 6:17 directs us to "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" [emphasis mine]. It is the Word of God, our Sword of the Spirit, which will deal the death blow to our enemy who attempts to engage us in fights of fright.
Yes, fear is Satan's number one weapon. If he can get you to feel concerned, anxious, worried, or afraid, he knows he is getting the upper hand in the battle, and he will double his efforts to defeat you. Look at the area of life that gives you pause, recognize the one behind your fear (whether that fear seems benign or malignant), and lift up the Sword of the Spirit, which is "sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12), to destroy the two-edged broad sword of doubt and fear wielded by Satan.
Next time, we will look at areas of fear and focus on specific promises you can use to combat the fear that the enemy would seek to use to bury you. Until then, ask yourself this question: What do I fear the most? Make a list, if you need to. You'll know the thing you fear the most by the feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach.
II Kings 6:16 [NIV]
"'Don't be afraid,' the prophet [Elisha] answered [his servant]. 'Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.'" [Note: Information added in brackets by author, to clarify meaning.]
What this has to do with weight loss: For most of us, it seems as if we're in one battle after another, either to lose weight or to keep it off. Whether it's battling insurance to obtain weight-loss surgery or the temptation to revert to old, unhealthy eating behaviors (which comes from a fear of failure or even from a fear of success), be assured that, just like Elisha knew, "those [heavenly helpers] who are with [you] are more than those [evil imps] who are with [the enemy]" (II Kings 6:16, author's paraphrase). Recognize and utilize the host of heavenly help at your disposal, and you will win the war.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, help me to take a fearless look at that fear which I've given in to much too often. Help me to uncover every concern, analyze every anxious thought, wear down every worry, and fight every fear, and may I seek out Your Word for the power to do so. I pray in the Name of the One who, during the fiercest storm, is present and says, 'Take courage. It is I. Be not afraid' (Matthew 14:27). Amen."
Go forth today, and courageously name your fear.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #54 [Spring Cleaning, Worry, Day 2]
Along with cleaning out strife, negative talk, and gossip, we're seeking to rid our heart and home of worry and any fear attached to that worry. There is only one sure way to do that, and it's found in I Peter 5:7, "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully" [Amplified].
That's what the Lord wants you to do--cast/throw everything that's bothering you to Him. If you have trouble doing that, or you're like the fisherman who casts his line but then reels it back in, it may be because you do not yet have the realization of how much God cares for you, how much He loves you, and how concerned He is about every aspect of your life. If that's true of you, ask Him to show you how much He cares for you. You just may get a vision of Calvary.
Psalm 55:22 [Amplified]
"Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail)."
What this has to do with weight loss: You were created to live in a garden, not walk through life weighted down with the cares of this world and pounds of pain. You don't have to worry and fret about releasing the excess weight that's been weighing you down for so long. You don't have to fear slipping into old eating habits, falling off the diet wagon, or failing to keep off that which you've already lost. Give all of those fears and worries to the Lord, knowing that He wants you to do that, and He is able to sustain you and cause you to be successful on your weight-loss journey.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, I thank You that You created me to live in a garden, not walk through life weighted down with care. I desire to be free, today, of all the fears and worries that have caused me to forget how much You care for me. I realize that You've been waiting for me to give all my burdens over to You, so that You can take care of them. I don't know why I've tried to carry them myself, tried to take care of them on my own. I haven't done a good job, because they're still here. Now I know that You are the only One who can take them away, like yesterday's trash. I give every concern, anxiety, and worry to You, Father, for I see that just as Jesus bore all our sins on the cross, He bore my sins of fear and worry. I will bear them no more. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen."
Go forth today, free of the weight of fear and worry.
Education is one way to combat fear and worry. Educate yourself and your sister/daughter/neice/granddaughter/friend about how to stay safe in a world of psychos, players, punks, and pervs, by reading The Guy Detector, available at http://www.cdeanhall.com/products.html. Sample pages available for viewing there, also (see bottom of web site page).
That's what the Lord wants you to do--cast/throw everything that's bothering you to Him. If you have trouble doing that, or you're like the fisherman who casts his line but then reels it back in, it may be because you do not yet have the realization of how much God cares for you, how much He loves you, and how concerned He is about every aspect of your life. If that's true of you, ask Him to show you how much He cares for you. You just may get a vision of Calvary.
Psalm 55:22 [Amplified]
"Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail)."
What this has to do with weight loss: You were created to live in a garden, not walk through life weighted down with the cares of this world and pounds of pain. You don't have to worry and fret about releasing the excess weight that's been weighing you down for so long. You don't have to fear slipping into old eating habits, falling off the diet wagon, or failing to keep off that which you've already lost. Give all of those fears and worries to the Lord, knowing that He wants you to do that, and He is able to sustain you and cause you to be successful on your weight-loss journey.
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, I thank You that You created me to live in a garden, not walk through life weighted down with care. I desire to be free, today, of all the fears and worries that have caused me to forget how much You care for me. I realize that You've been waiting for me to give all my burdens over to You, so that You can take care of them. I don't know why I've tried to carry them myself, tried to take care of them on my own. I haven't done a good job, because they're still here. Now I know that You are the only One who can take them away, like yesterday's trash. I give every concern, anxiety, and worry to You, Father, for I see that just as Jesus bore all our sins on the cross, He bore my sins of fear and worry. I will bear them no more. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen."
Go forth today, free of the weight of fear and worry.
Education is one way to combat fear and worry. Educate yourself and your sister/daughter/neice/granddaughter/friend about how to stay safe in a world of psychos, players, punks, and pervs, by reading The Guy Detector, available at http://www.cdeanhall.com/products.html. Sample pages available for viewing there, also (see bottom of web site page).
Friday, June 19, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #1 [Be Fearless]
Through research, I've found 533 documented phobias. A phobia is defined as "a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a compelling desire to avoid it." If you think about it, almost any noun (person, place, thing, or idea) can be connected to a phobia.
The majority of us do not have to deal with a phobia. However, most of us deal with fear, in some form. How would you respond if I asked you, "What are you afraid of?" That fear can be a positive impetus, causing you to seek God's strength and power, or it can be a negative impetus, keeping you from trying new things, including that which would help you fulfill God's plan for your life.
God tells us not to be afraid ("Fear not," "Do not be afraid," "Have courage," etc.) 365 times, in the Bible. That's one God-Encouraging word for every day of the year! God knows that fear is the strongest weapon of the Enemy (Satan). Determine to uncover and root out every fear in your life. God will help you be able to do that.
Joshua 1:9 [NLT]
"'This is My command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.'"
What this has to do with weight loss: Perhaps you have done hard work to remove fear, only to discover that you have one more--the fear that, even with weight-loss surgery, you won't be able to lose your excess weight, or you fear that the pounds will return. You may have so much weight to lose that it seems impossible, but "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, I know You want me to 'be strong and courageous.' You have told me to 'not be afraid or discouraged' and that You are 'with [me] wherever [I] go.' Today, I pray that I will learn to trust You more and more. Help me to track my progress toward freedom from fear, so that I can always remember how far You've brought me. I thank You, in advance, for delivering me from all my fears. I pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen."
Go forth today, and be fearless!
The majority of us do not have to deal with a phobia. However, most of us deal with fear, in some form. How would you respond if I asked you, "What are you afraid of?" That fear can be a positive impetus, causing you to seek God's strength and power, or it can be a negative impetus, keeping you from trying new things, including that which would help you fulfill God's plan for your life.
God tells us not to be afraid ("Fear not," "Do not be afraid," "Have courage," etc.) 365 times, in the Bible. That's one God-Encouraging word for every day of the year! God knows that fear is the strongest weapon of the Enemy (Satan). Determine to uncover and root out every fear in your life. God will help you be able to do that.
Joshua 1:9 [NLT]
"'This is My command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.'"
What this has to do with weight loss: Perhaps you have done hard work to remove fear, only to discover that you have one more--the fear that, even with weight-loss surgery, you won't be able to lose your excess weight, or you fear that the pounds will return. You may have so much weight to lose that it seems impossible, but "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, I know You want me to 'be strong and courageous.' You have told me to 'not be afraid or discouraged' and that You are 'with [me] wherever [I] go.' Today, I pray that I will learn to trust You more and more. Help me to track my progress toward freedom from fear, so that I can always remember how far You've brought me. I thank You, in advance, for delivering me from all my fears. I pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen."
Go forth today, and be fearless!
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