Find the Courage to Move Forward

I love this verse.  The amplified version explains the do not be afraid command as, [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14:27 AMP

It’s true that we will face situations and people that make us feel afraid. But we choose our actions. We can either run from our fear,  or refuse to be intimidated. We can choose to move forward despite being afraid.

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Bible Insight – Confused?

A darkness of the mind or when the mind is unclear about a decision or its state best describe being in a state of confusion. I’ve spent most of my life being confused. I was confused about my identity, my purpose, and path in life.  I’d listened to my parents and other authorities, trying to fit one mold or another and finding that people couldn’t clear my confusion about life. They were confused themselves. How could the blind lead the blind?

In believing in Jesus, I found who I was created to be. Then he clued me in on what my purpose was in life, which is to glorify his name with my gifts and talents. Now he lights the path before me that I may never walk in darkness again. Identity, purpose, path.

God made it clear many times in the bible. There is an answer to the many unanswered questions, for the unmet need within each of us, and a clear path for each of us. We no longer need to be confused. Or beating ourselves up over not having our lives figured out. Jesus is the answer. Jesus is the way  the truth, and the life. As the verse above says, if we trust in Him. To trust in something means you believe in it. Believe in Jesus and choose to live in the light, and he’ll bring clarity to your mind and every area of your life.

Bible Insight – Peace

 

 

A promise I hold on to…

It reminds me not to let myself get overwhelmed. There are so many things to worry about if we choose to, whether bills, or sickness, or family troubles. But moments of peace and happiness are fleeting. We must pursue peace. We must set our minds to be happy. Trouble is always around. But if you search for the good in life, you will find it. Even in the little things. Cast your cares on the Lord in prayer and let yourself enjoy the life He’s given you and the abundant peace and security He’s promised. And the (Lord’s) peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ.

Bible Insight – Why are you afraid?

Matthew 5:17, Romans 8:14-15, 2 Timothy 1:7

1 John 4:16-18 (NLT)

16We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. 18Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

I often see it quoted that the Bible says, ‘Fear Not,’ 366 times throughout the book, as a reminder for every single day of the year including a leap year. It’s a great way to think about the God-given command. But it more speaks to the human experience of fear as an almost daily occurrence in some way or another. Fear takes many forms, whether outright terror, doubt or insecurity.

Bible Insight – Hold on to God

Genesis 32:24-28 (NIV)

24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”

“Jacob,” he answered.

28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

-Many times in the past my mind would wonder about the story of Jacob wrestling with the strong man throughout the night. Jacob refused to let him go until the man blessed him. We later find out that the unnamed strong man is God.

As I prayed, I asked for the same fervor and determination as Jacob to hold on through the struggle until I witnessed God’s blessing. God pointed out that what Jacob did was hold on to God. It didn’t matter that the night got dark and the fight got rough. Jacob held on (as I must hold on to my faith in God, in all things for surely I am & will be tested, but let that faith be unshakeable).

I had to think of who Jacob was, with his past of repeated lies and mess ups. Then he repented as he ran from the anger of his brother Esau and from that point on devoted himself to doing what was right and submitting to God’s guidance in his life. Jacob had to look past all of his former wrongs that would disqualify him from being worthy of a blessing and instead dug in his heels in determination. His actions in a way said, there’s nothing left in this world for me but You God. If I let go, I’d be lost. I am not letting go. Take me as I am, and make me what I ought to be.

And God did. He renamed Jacob (the name which meant deceiver) and called him Israel (meaning one who struggles with God). After the struggle, Jacob received the blessing. And so it goes in life. It may not be easy, for we all must go through difficulties in life. But it will be worth it because after we’ve endured in faith we receive the blessing.

Bible Insight – Repentance

Psalm 51:17 (AMP) My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.

-Repentance equates to a changed mind. One that is not only sorry for the sin committed, but so heartsick about it that the way he views the sin is changed which enables him to change his behavior. He has gained the God perspective of it and therefore must change as God cleanses all unrighteousness.

It is this point of brokenness that God causes us to realize the errors in our ways and the true consequences of our actions. Ask Him for that perspective and for help by the leading of the Holy Spirit to be able to change the sinful behavior.

Change your mind, change your actions.

Insight

  

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“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.”Galatians 1:10 NLT
-For many years I’d struggled with being indecisive. I’d get so overwhelmed sometimes I’d even let other people make the choice for me. This sometimes led me down paths I did not intend to go when I really thought about. 

I was out of balance. But following Christ showed me that not only was I conflicted in my decisions because my motives for doing things were often based on if my decision made someone else happy. I’d put myself in the backseat of my own life. But also showed me that when I didn’t know where to go or what to do, He knew the way. He had good plans for me and I could trust Him. 

When my decisions were based on people pleasing I was often stressed because I constantly dealt with the reality that I cannot make everyone happy. Then God showed me that each person can choose to be happy or not and that it wasn’t my job to keep anyone else happy but myself. 

Day by day it gets easier to know and go where God is leading me even if others disagree. I’ve chosen the good portion in life, which settles, comforts, and sustains my soul. 

Insight

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”Romans 15:13 NKJV
-Why have I been so shaken lately? A day hasn’t gone by without an unsettling feeling, which I’d quickly brush off and remind myself that everything is fine. This is the start of anxiety. This means I’m worrying about something(s). 
But thank God for the Holy Spirit. Over the past few days I would hear the reminder of that still, small voice within saying, “God is still in control.” And I would be comforted for a moment. See the thing was that though I agreed that I knew God was still in control even in the midst of this crazy situation before me, I was not staying in faith. I needed that constant reminder to be at peace. 
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. As I read the verse above, I was reminded that the joy and peace of the Lord only stays with me when I am (believing) standing in faith. To stand in Faith means that I believe God’s word and I trust Him. 
Father, I pray for all of us who are struggling to stay in Faith. Please help our unbelief and remove any doubts from our minds. Let us be filled with joy and peace that we may endure all things, and overflow with anticipation as if already touching our great hope. You are the father of our hope, which is in Christ. Thank you for salvation. And for the blessed assurance that in all things you have our good in mind. Amen. 

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 Daily Bible Insight

– Level ground…that is the here this verse speaks of. Here, in Christ, we are all one. We form one body, the church, under Christ who is the head and leader of it all. 

This is where it is laid out plainly that God is no respecter of persons. He does not value people the way the world does, which is based on superficial or transient things. We are not important to him because we are wealthy, or have/don’t have political or social status. We aren’t important because of a rank or job title. No race or ethnicity more valuable than another. Every life is valued, approved of, and loved by the Creator.