Fear vs. Faith & Courage

In His perfect wisdom, God knows fear to be a constant foe to His children.  

He offers each of us the opportunity to break the bondage of fear.  

His Word instructs us:   “do not be afraid;” “be strong & courageous”

God urges us to be strong and courageous.  His Word encourages us not to be overcome by fear.

Fear threatens to stifle our God-given mission.  Faith in Him grows the courage He planted in our heart.

Remember the courage of the men and women who obeyed Him?     

                                                        

How did they defeat their fear to step out in faith?  

Noah, Abram, Moses, Joseph, Joshua, Deborah, His prophets, Ruth & Naomi, Hannah, Nehemiah, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, David, Job, Abigail, Esther, Joseph & Mary, His apostles, Paul, the widow who gave all, unnamed New Testament Christians who died cruel deaths for their belief. How many other examples do you recall?

Countless others before us and among us fearlessly obey.

And Jesus- His inspiring courage and enduring strength

What does God ask of you-of me?                                                                                                                                 

• Say “Yes, Lord, I will”
• Say “no” when sin entices
• Be a temple
• Face a giant
• Step out of the boat
• Trust during the storm
• Fight the good fight

Each require that fear be laid aside and courage replace it.  God has promised to be with us, wherever we go. Through Him, we can be strong; we can be courageous.  He is our strength, our refuge and our Rock.  

Why do I often hesitate or shudder with fear?

May His Word and His faithfulness dissolve our fear and solidify our courage:

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  –John 14:27

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.   Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." – Joshua 1:9

           

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  – Psalm 56:3               

                         

So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen   just as he told me.  – Acts 27:5

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.  – 1 Corinthians 16:13

                  

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.  – Philippians 1:20

Almighty God, Faithful Father,

May your Name be exalted and praised.  You have provided everything we need.  Help us lay aside fear.  Strengthen our hearts with courage.  Thank You for Jesus-for His faith in You, His courage to obey and His sacrifice for our redemption.

Through Jesus, Amen.

Mischelle Oliver

Stephenville, Texas

Worry

The news is so discouraging, isn’t it? Every day, a new threat…a new disease…a new worry. Our borders are open…our enemies are stronger…our dollars are falling…the weather is threatening…prices are rising…taxes are up…our savings are shrinking…our rights are eroding…asteroids  come close and now the danger of solar flares.

How do you prepare for every possible danger? The plan for a flood is different from a fire. Bullets won’t stop a pandemic. If the dollar dies, what good is saving? How can I possibly know the future? How can I plan for every possibility? How can I be everywhere? How can I have the power to meet any obstacle? I can’t! That’s the bad news. The good news is there is someone who can!

In the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 6, Jesus said, “Do not be anxious” (verse 25). He says it is a waste of effort (verse 27). He says God takes care of plants and birds and He will take care of you (verse 28-30). He says pagans worry about that stuff (verse32). He says your Father knows what you need (verse 32). He says we have plenty of troubles in the present. Do not borrow from the future (verse 34).

Trusting God is not easy but it is possible. Hard, but possible. Trying to get a handle on the future is impossible.

Dear Heavenly Father, before time began, You were there. You created all things and made provisions of every circumstances. You are never surprised or bewildered. You are everywhere…know everything…and have all power. You are God!  Why don’t I trust You? Why do I keep trying to run my life? I am such a sinner! I need Your forgiveness and fellowship. I need Your protection.  I believe You, help my unbelief. Thank You for forgiveness. Thank You for Jesus. Please give me the peace that passes understanding. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Paul Shero

What Do You See...Really?

I was born in Alabama and became aware at a young age of a famous person born nearby in 1880.  She is probably another reason History became a major interest for me.  Helen Keller was a typical infant until, at 18 months, she was struck with an illness that erased not only her vision and hearing but also, as a result, her ability for articulate speech.  Helen's story is wonderfully told in a 1962 movie "The Miracle Worker" referring to Anne Sullivan, Helen's teacher.  Helen Keller went on to graduate college, write books, and be the guest of every president from Grover Cleveland to John F. Kennedy.  I continue to be amazed by her life, insight and ability to communicate and wanted to share an excerpt from an article written by Helen Keller in 1932.

"I have often thought it would be a blessing if each human being were stricken blind and deaf for a few days during his adult life.  Darkness would make him more appreciative of sight; silence would teach him the joys of sound.  Now and then I have tested my seeing friends to discover what they see.  Recently I asked a friend, who had just returned from a long walk in the woods, what she had observed.  "Nothing in particular," she replied.  How was it possible to walk for an hour through the woods and see nothing worthy of note?  I, who cannot see, find hundreds of things to interest me through mere touch.  I feel the delicate symmetry of a leaf.  I pass my hands lovingly about the smooth skin of a silver birch, or the rough, shaggy bark of a pine.  At times my heart cries out with longing to see all these things.  If I can get so much pleasure from mere touch, how much more beauty must be revealed by sight.  And I have imagined what I should most like to see if I were given the use of my eyes, say, for just three days.  I should want to see the people whose kindness and companionship have made my life worth living.  I do not know what it is to see into the heart of a friend through that 'window of the soul,' the eye.  I can only 'see'  through my fingertips the outline of a face.  I can detect laughter, sorrow, and many other obvious emotions.  I know my friends from the feel of their faces.  How much easier, how much more satisfying it is for you who can see to grasp quickly the essential qualities of another person by watching the subtleties of expression.  But does it ever occur to you to use your sight to see into the inner nature of a friend?  Oh, if I had the power of sight for just three days!  I should call to me all my dear friends and look long into their faces, imprinting upon my mind the outward evidences of the beauty that is within them.  I should let my eyes rest, too, on the face of a baby.  I should like to see the books which have been read to me, and which have revealed to me the deepest channels of human life.  And I should like to look into the loyal, trusting eyes of my dogs.  In the afternoon I should take a long walk in the woods and intoxicate my eyes on the beauties of the world of nature.  And I should pray for the glory of a colorful sunset.  That night, I think, I should not be able to sleep.  The next day I should arise with the dawn and see the thrilling miracle by which night is transformed into day.  I should behold with awe the magnificent panorama of light with which the sun awakens the sleeping earth.  I would make a tour of the city - to the slums, to factories, to parks where children play.  Always my eyes are open to all the sights of both happiness and misery so that I may probe deep and add to my understanding of how people work and live.”

I am sure that if you knew that you were about to be stricken blind you would use your eyes as never before.  Your eyes would embrace every object that came within your range of vision.  Then, at last, you would really see, and a new world of beauty would open itself before you.  I who am blind can give one hint to those who see; use your eyes as if tomorrow you would be stricken blind.  And the same method can be applied to the other senses.  Hear the music of voices, the song of a bird, the mighty strains of an orchestra, as if you would be deaf tomorrow.  Smell the perfume of flowers, taste with relish each morsel, as if tomorrow you could never smell and taste again.  Make the most of every sense; glory in all the facets of pleasure and beauty which the world reveals to you through the several means of contact which nature provides.  But of all the senses, I am sure that sight must be the most delightful."

This article reminds me of Jesus quoting Isaiah, "You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing but will not perceive; For the heart of this people has become dull, with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts and return, and I would heal them.  Matthew 13:14-15.

Doug Burns

Stephenville, Texas