*NOTE: I found this article already written in my notes from several months earlier, but never published. As I made only made a few changes and additions today to prep for publishing on my blog, I have found it to be an encouragement, a challenge, and a motivator…I hope you will, too!
Today, this (fear) was basically an unexpected theme, not just during my devotion time, but throughout the day!! …
I don’t feel I have been afraid or fearful lately. Although, I guess, some thoughts have popped in my head, I have prayed and didn’t feel like I was living in fear. In that case, my wheels start turning as to why… “If I’ve been doing good, why (this theme)?” Is something going to happen that I would be afraid, but I need to trust; or, is it confirmation on how well I’d been doing?
Regardless, fear itself tried to make me afraid.
In the example of Elijah (1 Kings 18-19), he seemed on top of things, but yet fell immediately into fear. God brought victory using Elijah over Baal and the prophets. He then received great strength to run like lightening ahead of the chariot; but as soon as he heard of the threat on his life, he fell into great fear and fled. He hid himself in a cave; and during that time, God came in a whisper. (how comforting)
In the next example, David consulted God before moving forward (1 Samuel 23:1-5). When his men became afraid, he double-checked with God to be sure that was the direction. Sure enough, it was. David and the men moved forward in victory.
I would like to insert here, that during my devotion time this morning as I was reading about these situations [one came from a Twitter post (which was what caused me to read about Elijah), and the other from a totally separate devotion book that I bought last year that I still read randomly], I was debating replying/commenting on the Twitter post. I tried to make sure it was not just me ‘wanting’ to respond but that God was in it. You see, I feel He has confirmed my writing, but that doesn’t mean that I should write EVERYTHING I think— for sure!! At the same time, I don’t want fear to keep my ‘mouth shut’ either. I ended up replying/commenting, and had fairly immediate confirmation that set me to tears! For this I praise Him, but it didn’t stop there…
I then went on to read a third and separate devotion from a book I bought this year. (Now, I want to be clear that I don’t ALWAYS read this much every day!) And, throughout my day, more came…
KEY TAKE-AWAYS FROM TODAY’S THEME INSPIRED BY THE FOLLOWING SOURCES OR COMBINATION OF:
•Twitter Post / Beth Moore:
- No matter how far we progress, there is danger of going back, so stay surrendered daily, and don’t get too puffed up in your walk. Don’t fear it, but live humbly, knowing in ourselves, we cannot. *Example: Elijah – 1 kings 18-19
• Portraits of Devotion / Day 30 / Beth Moore (unrelated to above!):
- Seek God as David did (more than once if necessary) to be sure it’s God and not yourself motivating movement. We are human and can misinterpret; but don’t be afraid to move if you feel like that’s the lead you are getting. Step and trust. If your heart is pure, He will redirect if needed.
• The Heart-Shaped Life / May 12th / Karen Moore:
- Don’t be troubled or afraid…
- It IS a good idea (as I wrote on Twitter this morning) to take a break from social media occasionally. It can feed fear and frustration.
- Peace is a gift— treasure it.
- Don’t let the world enter into our minds so much that we embrace the fear— of anything and everything.
- Don’t be afraid to move forward— especially in places you know God has already led.
• Dove Chocolate Wrapper (see photo):
- Don’t be afraid to be who you are.
• Random “shuffle” of my songs on my phone began playing the song, “Stand in Your Love” by Bethel Music & Josh Baldwin:
- “My fear doesn’t stand a chance when I stand in Your Love.”
- Don’t let fear itself make you afraid.
- Don’t be afraid that God is preparing you for unknown terror…
- Maybe, He is validating how you’ve been walking, or using it to help someone else.
Personal Applications:
1. Don’t get puffed up and think I can’t fall back into fear because I’ve been there but never want to return.
2. Be thankful for where I am but stay surrendered and rest in His love.
3. Continue forward in being who I am— who He created me to be; and don’t be afraid to step out and/or put myself out there if need be.
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Fear can come in when nothing is going wrong at all. It can come when everything is going right due to thinking something MIGHT go wrong and mess it up.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
https://www.bible.com/116/2ti.1.7.nlt
~Simply trust (with The Father’s help)— and celebrate! (of course!)
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