God Can Calm Your Fears

June 14, 2017 When Fear Overcomes Me TESSA AFSHAR From: Crosswalk.com

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” Romans 8:35 (ESV)

The alarm clock glows green in the darkness. It seems stuck on 3 o’clock. Sleep eludes me, although I feel shattered with exhaustion.

I started a new project and it’s weighing heavy on me because I know I am fallible. I may leave gaps, forget important details, make mistakes and hurt others in the process. It’s quite possible that I will fall short of other people’s expectations. I may prove insufficient or just plain bad.

In an odd way, this scenario reminds me of soldiers of old.

Ancient Roman soldiers sometimes used a short sword they called the makhaira for eliminating their enemies. Because of its compact length, the soldier had to draw very near to his victim, almost like an intimate embrace, as he delivered the final strike. In that moment, all the victim could see was the face of his assassin. He forgot the world, he forgot hope and lost his fragile grasp on any remnant of a fight lingering in his heart. He saw only that hard, unflinching face bent on his destruction.

It is this particular word for “sword” that the apostle Paul uses when he asks the questions found in our key verse: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” The makhaira?

Clearly, I have never been a Roman soldier. But I think I know what it’s like to have a makhaira pointed at my jugular. Its name is Fear.

Like that short Roman sword, when fear comes, it is as if the world disappears so I can only taste and smell and see one thing: The ugly face of fear.

In my mind, Jesus fades, and fear becomes a giant.

Perhaps one of the greatest areas of fear is our work. The work of our hands has so many complex, emotional threads connected to it. We long to be useful. To make a difference. To meet expectations. Add to that the reality that in our world, one’s stability is often attached to work.

We can’t pay the rent unless we get paid. Whether you’re a mother, doctor, loan officer, teacher, receptionist or work in any other field, we all face a multitude of pressures regarding our work. There are layers of fear running through our jobs, layers that, to some degree, remain beyond our control.

The prophet Isaiah said, “You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear” (Isaiah 54:14b, ESV). In other words, fear causes oppression.

In all its iterations: anxiety, worry, agitation, trepidation, panic, fear of failure, of rejection, of letting people down, of abandonment, of not measuring up, of being sick, of ending up alone, of the calamity that might visit our loved ones, financial fears, fear of death — every manner of fear is a chain that binds. Oppresses. And one day, Isaiah says, that oppressive fear shall cease. It shall cease because the Messiah will overcome it.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall fear? Certainly not.

And yet there are days when I see the face of fear more clearly than I do the face of my precious Savior.

On those days, I try hard to hold on to Jesus’ words on the cross: “It is finished” (John 19:30b, ESV). He meant, of course, that His work was accomplished.

So therefore, all the work my soul needs — its redemption and restoration and forgiveness, its renewal and re-creation and salvation — all this is finished. The most important work in the world has been completed.

But I sometimes fancy that the completed work of the cross casts its shadow on other parts of my life, too. Because Christ has finished the most crucial work on earth, something of that completion covers all the unfinished parts of my life.

Even small tasks find their rest in Jesus. They shrink to the right size. The lips that ordained my work spoke the words, “It is finished.” My work will finish and be completed according to the will of the One who called me to do it. It will be fulfilled through His strength and counsel.

As I learn to hear God’s voice more clearly than the voice of fear, I become more like Him. Something in me shifts. Grows.

This is the irony of our present lives: In the process of the wounding, bloody battle with fear, we become more whole.

Because in that process, we learn to trust our God.

Dear Jesus, thank You that You have broken the oppression of fear over my life. Please remove from my heart the fear of failure, of rejection, of financial insufficiency, of being somehow not enough. Help me remember I can rest in Your finished work. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A Boost Of courage

[Written by Joe Stowell for Our Daily Bread.]

Jun

13

2017

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. —Hebrews 12:2

When my son Joe was a child, I took him to the local YMCA for swimming lessons. I could almost see an Olympic gold medal swinging around his neck.

To my chagrin, Joe didn’t “wow” the class. Instead, he took one look at the water, one look at the instructor, and started bawling.

I thought, Oh, no, I’ve fathered a coward! To make matters worse, the instructor motioned for me to take Joe back to the locker room. In the midst of his sobs and pleas to go home, I gave him a little pep talk: “You can do it, Joe! I’ll come to all your lessons, and we’ll have a signal. When you get scared you can look up at me, and when I hold my thumb up you’ll know it’s going to be okay because I’m here cheering you on.” Joe finally agreed, and today he can swim circles around me.

How often we too face situations that seem overwhelming and impossible. It’s in those times that we need to find our confidence in Jesus. Our first instinct may be to back away in fear. But that’s exactly when we need to look to Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2), who will raise His nail-scarred hand and say, “Stay with it. Run the race. I’ve run it before you, and in My power you can win. You can do it!”

Hold fast to Christ and He will give
The will to see you through;
And if you keep on keeping on,
Your strength He will renew. —D. De Haan

Christ’s victory in the past gives courage for the present and hope for the future.

Chains: Real and Imaginary

June 12, 2017 When Your Circumstances Feel Like Chains KATY MCCOWNFrom: Crosswalk.com

“But Naomi said, ‘Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?’ … Then they lifted up their voices and wept again.” Ruth 1:11, 14a (ESV)

I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. The nurse’s words rang in my ears, “The doctor wants you in the bed.”

My doctor ordered me to park myself in bed for the sake of my unborn child. His life and mine depended on it. But as I gazed at the four smiling little faces in the chairs next to me I panicked, Who will take care of them, God?

In an out-of-body type moment, I looked at the nurse and declared, “God will provide,” although I’m not positive I believed it.

We pulled into the driveway, and I settled my energetic bunch for a moment before I crawled into bed and broke down. I argued with God: How can this possibly honor You more, God? How can I possibly serve You better from this bed than on my feet?

I felt chained to that bed, unable to participate in God’s plans and purposes. But it was from that bed that God showed me, sometimes what we call imprisoned, God calls positioned.

In today’s key verse we meet three widows on a road lined with the chains of death and poverty. After several years in a foreign land, Naomi embarks for her home in Israel and pleads with her two daughters-in-law to stay. Orpah and Ruth, both Moabites, had married Naomi’s sons yet were widows, just as Naomi was. “But Naomi said, ‘Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?’ … Then they lifted up their voices and wept again” (Ruth 1:11, 14a).

Naomi knew she could not provide husbands for Orpah and Ruth, and she knew the reality of a widow with no sons. Her future looked bleak, so she begged her daughters-in-law not to come with her.

Orpah listened and eventually yielded to Naomi’s push. Ruth, however, did not. “But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God’” (Ruth 1:16, ESV).

No matter how hopeless the situation seemed, Ruth made a decision to trust God on that road … and she didn’t stop there. Chapters 2 and 3 in the book of Ruth detail her determination to be faithful with each day.

We see her set out to glean in the fields behind the harvesters — a provision God made in the Law to care for the poor people of Israel. We read of how Ruth cared for Naomi and supported her, not thinking of herself or her own needs.

And as we watch her story of faithfulness unfold, we see God do something only God Himself could orchestrate, “So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife” (Ruth 4:13a, ESV).

In her faithfulness to serve God and others, Ruth landed in a field belonging to Boaz. And Boaz happened to be legally able to marry her, which he did. Ruth gave birth to a son they named Obed — a man God included in the lineage of His own Son — Jesus.

When we dance to the rhythm of daily faithfulness, God can turn our situational prisons into supernatural positions.

After much resistance, God convinced me His plan for me included bed rest. Friends and family moved through like a revolving door to assist with my daily duties. My kids spent time every day playing in our room, and we even held a weekly women’s Bible study in the living room once my doctor cleared me to rest on the couch.

During those days, I learned a lot about myself, my shortcomings and God’s fullness.

After five months of bed rest, God resolved my condition and the pregnancy went on like normal. In the spring, I birthed our feisty fifth child — who still holds the title as our biggest baby at birth. And today, his smile reminds me God never wastes a challenge.

Dear God, sometimes I wish life weren’t so full of trials. But I know it’s the trials that draw me nearer to You. Help me be faithful today, no matter what I face. And as I live in the rhythm of daily faithfulness, do for me what only You can do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God Sees The Heart's Beauty

June 9, 2017 Lasting Beauty ARLENE PELLICANE From: Crosswalk.com

“Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics.” Esther 2:12 (NIV)

I looked in the mirror with concern and disappointment. My left eye had turned very red. I had conjunctivitis — often known as “pink eye.”

I began using eye drops to treat my eye. To stop the spread of the infection, you aren’t supposed to wear any makeup or use contact lenses. Well, I use both to improve my appearance!

I thought about where I would be seen in public over the next few days, and must confess I considered staying home from church Wednesday night because I didn’t want to go without makeup and wearing glasses. Thankfully, I didn’t skip church, but I did feel embarrassed about my appearance.

Our culture places great emphasis on looks, but this isn’t anything new. When King Xerxes was looking for a new wife in ancient Persia, outward beauty was the first requirement. Before being considered by the king, a young woman completed “Beauty Camp” — a yearlong period of beauty treatments with oil, myrrh, perfumes and cosmetics. Young Esther’s outward beauty helped her gain the favor of the king, but I think Esther had a lot more going for her than smooth skin and sweetly scented hair.

The Bible says during the yearlong preparation, Esther gained favor from Hegai, the custodian of all the candidates for queen. Hegai gave Esther extra beauty preparations in comparison to the others, provided seven choice maidservants from the king’s palace and moved her to the nicest part of the house (Esther 2:9). I imagine all the women chosen for this royal harem were attractive. What made Esther stand out?

We know she was respectful because she honored her cousin Mordecai’s charge to keep her Jewish identity a secret. She shows her respect for authority and also reveals a humble spirit.

After being treated lavishly during the year of preparation, it was finally her turn to appear before the king. Each young woman could bring whatever she desired to take with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace. (Picture giddy young women packing several bags of the finest silks, spices, cosmetics and jewelry.)

But Esther didn’t do that. When it was her turn, she requested nothing except what Hegai, her custodian, advised. She could have asked for anything she wanted in the Royal Harem. She didn’t insist on more makeup, jeweled necklaces or fancy fabrics. Instead, she respected Hegai’s authority and advice. As a result of this humble attitude, which perhaps stood in contrast to the other candidates, Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her, including the king.

Esther was not a likely choice for a queen — far from it! She was an orphan and a Jewish exile, being raised by her cousin Mordecai.

But she was exalted to unusual authority in a kingdom which valued neither women nor Jews. She didn’t become prideful with her new power. She continued to be faithful to God and honor the advice of Mordecai. The spotlight and focus on her outward beauty did not change who she was inside, and eventually, she became the next queen.

Esther was a living example of the words the Apostle Peter wrote centuries later: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:3-4, NIV).

This doesn’t mean we have to sell our jewelry and hair accessories next week. It simply means we no longer think of outward appearances as our main source of beauty.

I suppose there’s an upside to getting pink eye and not wearing makeup. It’s been a visual reminder to me that lasting beauty is found in character, words and actions — not a makeup bag.

Lord, may I clothe myself with humility and gentleness today, like Esther did. Thank You that You continually make beautiful things out of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Jesus Will Return

From: Get More Strength

Jun

10

2017

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

If I were God—and I know a lot of people including my wife who are deeply grateful that I’m not—I might very well have planned a stealth arrival to our planet to keep people guessing about who I really was.

Think of how cool it would have been for God to be here and for no one to know it was actually Him. With the old sunglasses, fake nose, and moustache trick, He could sneak into a lot of places without being noticed. The advantage of being able to check up on religious folk to see what they were really like when they thought He wasn’t looking is almost too tantalizing of an option to refuse! He could do the Santa routine: making a list and checking it twice. And to most people that would make a lot of sense since masses of us assume that God considers it great sport to spend his time finding out who’s naughty and nice. Then, after getting the scoop, He could quietly disappear and plan His sting operation against our wayward ways.

But you’ve got to give God a lot of credit. He resisted the temptation and arrived on our planet in the person of an unshrouded and wide-open Jesus. And most surprisingly, He didn’t come to find out who is naughty and nice. He already knows that. Instead, He came to shock us about God. To prove once and for all that God was not a stingy-hand-wringing-grimacing-out-of-touch-with-reality God who can’t wait to pull the trigger. But rather a God who generously disperses the rare items of grace and mercy to all who have at one time or another slipped up. And that’s all of us! A God whose love was not the mushy kind but tough enough to risk a life-threatening rescue mission so that all of us might recover and experience the ultimate satisfaction that He promises—guaranteed!

And, it must be admitted, masses in our day have found the real Jesus to be anything but elusive. In fact, they have found Him to be compellingly available. And, for the suspicious among us, it is not just the feeble and weak who flee to Him for rest and comfort (though He gladly grants rest and comfort to those who find themselves shoved to the bottom of the heap). Many highly placed, intelligent, prosperous, and privileged people have found—in the midst of their abundance and instant access to thrills and stuff—that they are still hanging out the vacancy sign on the door of their hearts. It is these people who are finding that Jesus does exactly what He says He will: cancel the smoke-and-mirrors show and fill the hollow recesses of life with hope, purpose, and the pursuit of all that is truly significant!

So, here’s the good news. If you embrace the real Jesus, you will find Him to be deeply rewarding and wonderfully different. Wonderfully different from anyone you have ever known. Wonderfully full of grace and truth!

There's Singing In Heaven

From: Our Daily Bread

Read: 2 Chronicles 20:14–22 | Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 32–33; John 18:19–40

Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. Psalm 47:6

Singing changes the brain! Some studies show that when we sing, our bodies release hormones that relieve anxiety and stress. Other research indicates that when a group of people sings together, their heartbeats actually synchronize with each other.

The apostle Paul’s writing encourages the church to speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19). And the Bible repeats, “Sing praise” more than fifty times.

Praising God has power to change our thoughts, our hearts, and our lives.

In 2 Chronicles 20, we read a story of God’s people demonstrating their trust in God by singing as they marched into battle. Enemies were heading toward the people of Judah. Alarmed, King Jehoshaphat called everyone together. He led the community in intense prayer. They didn’t eat or drink, but only prayed, “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (v. 12). The next day, they set out. They weren’t led by their fiercest warriors, but by their choir. They believed God’s promise that they would be delivered without having to fight at all (v. 17).

While they sang and walked toward the conflict, their enemies fought each other! By the time God’s people reached the battlefield, the fighting had ended. God saved His people as they marched by faith toward the unknown, singing His praises.

God encourages us to praise Him for good reasons. Whether or not we are marching into battle, praising God has power to change our thoughts, our hearts, and our lives.

God, we praise Your everlasting love and faithfulness! You protect and guide us, and we trust You with our lives.

Hearts in tune with God sing His praises.

Trust In The Lord

From: Our Daily Journey

Read:

1 Samuel 1:1-28 
I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request (1 Samuel 1:27).

Soon after I came to the US as an international student, I realized that I couldn’t get along in the country without a car. So I relied on the generosity of friends to give me rides. In time I began praying to God, expressing my belief that He would provide when He knew I most needed a vehicle. Amazingly, on my birthday before my senior year of college, a family I knew gave me their used car as a gift!

Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel brings inspiration for us to be persistent in our prayer life. Such practice doesn’t guarantee God will give us what we want, but we can be sure He’s there and that He cares. The journey Hannah went through before she received what she asked for was perhaps more important than her request.

Hannah had a painful problem. She couldn’t have children, which in that culture was considered a divine curse (1 Samuel 1:5-6). And if that wasn’t enough, she was being mocked for it as well (1 Samuel 1:6). But in spite of her challenges, year after year she joined her family to worship God at the tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:7). She didn’t give up on God.

On one occasion when she went to worship, Hannah was in such distress that she poured out her heart “in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord ” (1 Samuel 1:10). She could have cursed Him, could have become angry and bitter, or could have stopped praying. Yet she continued to trust in God’s goodness. And in His perfect timing He answered her plea (1 Samuel 1:20).

God is actively engaged in our lives today, and “he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him” (1 John 5:14). May we trust in His goodness even when the answers don’t come or aren’t what we desire