Silencing Your Fears

"The disciples went and woke Him, saying, 'Master, Master, we're going to drown!' He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 'Where is your faith?' He asked His disciples." Luke 8:24-25b

So often when storms and trials arise, and the least bit of fear sets in, we forget Whose we are, and Who is in control. He has always been faithful, but how quickly we forget. Most often the anxiety that results when the winds and waves pick up is rooted in fear. Fear of death, fear of disease, fear of the unknown, fear of ________________.

We must remember that Christ has power over all things, even the wind and the waves. And all things serve His purposes. Satan raises the storm, but Jesus lays it down. He can bring calm, even in the midst of it. That calm comes from trust rightly placed in Him as we cast our fears and anxiety on Him, and results in the peace that passes all human understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). It is a choice to live by faith and not by fear.

"The way to have our fears silenced is to bring them to Christ, and lay them before Him." (Henry) The Freedom in Christ ministry offers an incredibly effective prayer that helps recognize and silence the fears in our lives:

Dear Lord, 

I confess and repent of the fear of _______________. I have believed (state the lie you've been believing related to this fear) _______________. I renounce that lie, and I choose to believe the truth (state a truth from God's Word that opposes such a lie) ________________. I also confess any and all ways this fear has resulted in living irresponsibly, or compromising my witness for Christ (be specific, listing ways you've lived according to the lie vs. how you should live believing the truth) ________________.  I now choose to live by faith in You, Lord, believing Your promise that You will protect me and meet all my needs as I live by faith in You. 

                                                                                                  In Jesus' trustworthy name, 
                                                                                                  Amen

Once we give our fears a voice by openly admitting them to the Father, choosing to lay them down and replace them with the truth of God's Word (2 Corinthians 10:5), He sends the calm. He may not take the storm away, but He will give the peace needed to endure it as long as we are trusting in Him, with our minds fixed on what He says is true. How thankful I am to have an option! I'd rather live according to God's Word, in peace...

*** Freedom in Christ is a ministry of Bell Shoals Baptist Church. Prayer excepted from Ministering the Steps to Freedom in Christ by Neil T. Anderson. For more information on this 7-step discipleship process, please feel free to message me.

Muzzle My Mouth, Lord!

"I said, 'I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.' But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased." Psalm 39:1-2

The tongue is a powerful persuader. It can cut to the core or build up with encouragement. Most importantly, it can point people to Christ. What comes from my mouth is an indicator of what is in my heart. "For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34b) If I want to live a life that is pleasing to God, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin." Like David, I resolve to be ever mindful of what I do and say - to walk circumspectly - that my life would line up with God's Word. 

     circumspect -adjective

          1. watchful and discreet; cautious; prudent: circumspect behavior. 

          2. well-considered: circumspect ambition. 

          Synonyms: considerate, guarded, safe, vigilant, deliberate

David remembers his covenant "against tongue sins - that he would not sin with his tongue, that he would not speak amiss, either to offend God or offend the generation of the righteous (Psalm 73:15). It is not so easy as we could wish not to sin in thought; but if an evil thought should arise in his mind, he would lay his hand upon his mouth, and suppress it, that it should go no further." (Henry)  He "muzzled" his own mouth to prevent his tongue from committing sin; to prevent sinful thoughts from coming out of his mouth. When I find the need to muzzle my own mouth, I must take this as an indicator that I have a heart issue to deal with. I should evaluate and repent of any sin in my heart that is muddying up my mind.

David was particularly diligent in watching his tongue in the presence of the wicked. As he pondered their pride and prosperity, he was more apt to speak amiss, therefore he had to be doubly resolved to take care with what he said. "If good men fall into bad company, they must heed what they say" so as to not cause the hearts of the wicked to harden all the more toward God or give them occasion to blaspheme. (Henry)

In bridling my tongue, I must be cautious however, not to run to the other extreme: not saying anything good. In David's mind it may have been "an easy, safe and effectual way of avoiding sin, if it did not involve a neglect of duty which he owed to God to speak well of His name. ...A sound course of action [can] be pushed to extreme and become a fault." (Spurgeon)  While being resolved to be watchful with my words even in the midst of wickedness, I must not grow silent. God's Word instructs in Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." My words are meant to edify, to build others up, and to glorify the Lord. Resentment harbored will turn to bitterness and burn within. I should always take such feelings to the Lord. As I consider speaking up, I should pray for God's grace with my words. I am not to speak about indignation as though I am above such things, as I too have been in need of much grace, but speak in a way that points to the Grace Giver, who is also our Righteous Judge. 

Father God, You are the Grace Giver. Thank You for the undeserved grace You have shown me. Help me Lord to be a minister of grace to those I interact with. Prompt me to muzzle my mouth, I pray, before thoughts not of You pass over my lips. Help me to keep my heart in check so that out of the overflow of it, I speak words that give life vs. words of destruction. I ask this in Jesus' name, amen.

Under God's Blessing

"And Abraham said to God, 'If only Ishmael might live under Your blessing!'"

Genesis 17:18

Abraham has just received the news from God that his wife Sarai's name is to be changed to "Sarah" which means princess. He is reminded of God's promise that she will bear him a son, and he is to be called "Isaac" meaning laughter. At this, Abraham fell facedown and laughed because Sarah was 90 years old. While he believed God he didn't want Ishmael, his son by Hagaii, to be overlooked. So while he had the Lord's undivided attention, he asked that Ishmael might live under His blessing too. And the Lord agreed.

As a parent, it is my God-given duty to pray for my children just Abraham did for his. To pray they too would live under God's blessing...

     - walking in grace before Him with an upright heart

     - keeping His commands

     - spiritually blessed

Father God, I'm not always as faithful to pray as I'd like to be for such things. I often feel I pray the same things over and over for my family. I ask You to give me wisdom, insight and understanding so that I can pray more specifically for what's going on in my children's hearts. I pray my children would love You like crazy and serve You with their lives. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

From the Head to the Heart

"He [Jesus] replied, 'My mother and brothers are those who hear God's Word 

and put it into practice.'" Luke 8:21

So often the tendency is to read or hear the truths of God's Word, think it sounds like a good idea, but walk away and fail to apply it. God doesn't want us to take in His Word to store up as head knowledge. Even the enemy knows scripture. No, God's deep desire is that we apply it to our lives.

     apply uh-plahy -verb

     1. To make use of as relevant; suitable or pertinent.

     2. To put to use, especially for a particular purpose.

     3. To bring into action; use; employ.

     4. To devote or employ diligently or with close attention.

     5. To place in contact with; lay or spread on.

     6. To attach to, to devote oneself to.

Those that the Lord considers close, like family, are those that understand His Word is something to devote themselves to. They spread it over areas of their lives that didn't previously line up with God's Word. They are said to put it into practice. Faithful followers of Christ are not just hearers of the Word, but doers of the work. Knowledge gained makes it from the head to the heart.

I must regularly examine my life, especially as I read God's Word. When read His directives in the scriptures it should prompt me to consider my ways and ask, "Does my life line up with the Word?" If it doesn't, I should immediately repent, be intentional about turning myself in a new direction, and put God's Word into practice. Anything less would be sin on my part because the Bible says to be doers of the Word, not hearers only. In so doing, one's life - if not lined up with scripture - should radically change and look more and more like Christ sooner, rather than later. 

Father God, I pray You would continue to show me Your ways through Your Word, and give me a willing spirit as I apply Your truths to my life. Bring about radical change in any areas where I am "off" I pray. I want to walk close to You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Too Heavy to Bear

"My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear."

Psalm 38:4

Sin is a burden, plain and simple. It equals weight in our lives. It keeps the believer from pressing forward or soaring upward until his or her heart has been pricked by the Father for it, and it's brought into the light and properly dealt with. 

The heavy load of sin takes a toll on the body...

sapping it of strength;

"my bones have no soundness because of my sin" (v. 3)

the stress of it can lead to depression;

"I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning" (v. 6)

it can produce unexplained aches and pains, even disease;

"my back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body" (v. 7)

it might bring on anxiety;

"my heart pounds, my strength fails me" (v. 10)

sin can cause the light in our eyes to grow dim;

"...even the light has gone from my eyes" (v. 10)

it can lead to loss of friendships.

"My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds." (Psalm 38:11)

Sin can also lead to denial, rebellion and anger that gradually seeps into all areas of life. So what is the cure? It's repentance that leads to forgiveness that leads to a change of heart and direction. In genuine repentance, no excuse is made for sin because it is "the goodness of God" that leads each one of us to repentance. (Romans 2:4)  We must have a heart willing to turn from those things that abhor the One that loves us so; turning away from anything that grieves Him in any way. Children used to sing an old hymn that said,

     "Repentance is to leave

          the sins we loved before,

       And show that we in earnest grieve,

          by doing so no more."

Charles Spurgeon speaks to it this way, "Repentance is a discovery of the evil of sin, a mourning that we have committed it, a resolution to forsake it. It is, in fact, a change of mind of a very deep and practical character, which makes the man love what he once hated, and hat what he once loved." 

So when God pricks our hearts to turn from our sin, we lay it down by seeking forgiveness. We ask for our Father's forgiveness, and then we forgive ourselves. Forgiveness that gets to the emotional core I have found to be the most complete. If it doesn't strike us at the core of who we are, we may not truly be grieved enough to turn away...permanently. Turning away in obedience to God stems from a heart change. "Regeneration is the implanting of a new nature..." (Spurgeon)

Father God, I thank You for this reminder of the burden of sin and the freedom found in repentance and forgiveness. Help me Jesus as I strive to live my life with clean hands and a pure heart toward You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Nothing to Hide

"For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open." Luke 8:17

This is the parable of the lighted lamp. God's Word says that no one lights a lamp only to cover it up. No, they light it and put it on a stand so those that come in can see the light. It is meant to pierce the darkness. Nothing is hidden when the light shines forth.

So it is with believers. We are meant to be the light in a dark world. Matthew Henry says, "Ministers that have the dispensing of the gospel committed to them, people that have profited by the Word and are thereby qualified to profit others, must look upon themselves as lighted candles...for a candle must not be covered with a vessel nor put under a bed (v. 16)." If we as believers daily spend time in the Word, and we apply it to our present lives, we are then "qualified to profit others". As I take in nuggets of truth for myself, I then have truth to draw upon to encourage others as well. I'm able to build others up, not with shallow words or worldly wisdom, but with truth.

Because the light pierces the darkness and God's Word says "there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed," I must be careful to consistently apply His Word to my life. My light is meant to shine before man, therefore I am called to not only be good, but to do good. Our sins will find us out. In fact this is a prayer I often pray over my own family, that our sins would find us out; that we might walk blameless before God. Better to live honest and open. It is best to live with nothing to hide!

The same holds true for gifts and talents, according to this parable. God did not bless us with abilities to have them hidden, but to manifest them in us and have them made known. They are to be made use of for the glory of God, or they may be taken away. Verse 18 says whoever has "gifts, and does good with them, shall have more; but he that buries his talent shall lose it." (Henry) The NIV says it "will be taken from him." (Maybe that's where the "use it or lose it" catch phrase came from.) I want to use my gifts for God's glory, to the best of my ability.

Thank You Father, that You are the Light of the world, and Your light is in me. Help me Lord to shine before man and share the truths that You teach me in such a way as to profit others. Help me to use my gifts and talents for Your glory. I love You Lord, and want my life to be fragrant with You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Watching My Step

"If the LORD delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm;

though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with His hand." 
Psalm 37:23-24

God orders the steps of a good man both by His Word, and in the whispers of his conscience; that still, small voice that says, "This is the way, walk in it." In those moments, when I turn away from the desires of my flesh and go where He leads me, it brings my LORD delight, and He responds by making my steps firm, as on level ground. He is pleased when I heed His guidance.

If a good man is overtaken by fault, the grace of God is able to rescue and restore him through the process of repentance. Though he may feel shame or embarrassment, and his spirit may be downcast for a time, the LORD upholds him with His righteous right hand. He is able to bring him back to the joy of his salvation. He will not be destroyed.

The watchful eye of the LORD is upon me, watching my every step. He sees me when I choose the path of life, and smiles. He sees me when I falter. The New King James Version words verse 23 this way, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way." It is most pleasing to God when I consult Him on each decision I make. Quite frankly, I find that easier to do on the big decisions. It's the seemingly small ones where I falter. Like today's dilemma... whether I should spend money on a new top to wear for an event next week, or put that few dollars toward an unpaid medical bill. I try to justify what my flesh wants, but deep down I know the honorable thing to do, as much as I don't prefer it. It is in these little everyday decisions that I must really examine my choices. Proverbs 4:26 instructs, "Ponder the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure." (Sounds like a verse I need to post on my bathroom mirror!) When I yield my decisions big and small to the Lord, He directs my steps in the way that brings Him the most honor and glory. Today for me that means, put money towards the bill and forego the shopping trip...

Father God, Your ways are perfect. If I want to walk blameless, I must strive to yield every area of my life to You, and bring every decision to be made under the umbrella of Your will. You have always been an "if/then" God. If I will commit my ways to You, then You promise to make my steps firm. Today I choose to steer clear of the clothing store and rest in You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.