My mind is still reeling from all that I heard this morning.
I am leading Beth Moore's Esther study at our church, and while every week is great, this one has really led me to conviction and I believe has the power to be life altering. Pretty big words for a chicken like me!
The whole lesson was on fear. And courage. Can you imagine a life without fear? I know I can't, its totally incomprehensible to me. And yet, that is the command given to us the most out of any other command in the Bible "Do not be afraid" "fear not" "take courage" are all repeated more than any other command.
Esther 4:16 says "...if I perish, then I perish." In our work books the sentence structure looked like this: "what if ___________ then_______." We were to think of our worst fear. Honestly, I left it blank... only one?! As a parent, the thought of a child dying, as a wife, the fear of losing my husband.What if we are never chosen as a forever family. What if my children end up in prison. and so on and so on. Yes, fear has a grip on me. But the point, what if "it" happens. Will I be devastated? Yes. Will I be angry? Pretty good chance. Then what? Then, God, my Father, will pick me up and He. Will. Still. Be. He will hold me, He will lead me through it. Our faith isn't enough if all we can say is "well, I believe God will take care of me, therefore the worst I can imagine will never come to be" We hear it over and over again, that if He leads us to it, He will lead us through it. Its true. God doesn't promise that we won't hurt, and that all will be easy. He does promise that He will take care of us. To fill in the blank we need to say "What if "it" then GOD."
I could go on and on and on. But I won't (deep sigh of relief from all 3 people reading this) There is more to the lesson. But this is the most important. And as someone who often lets the devil get a hold on me because he thinks I would be devastated and never pick up the pieces if the unimaginable happened, I need to get a grip on reality. And give up Satan's stronghold.
Even if, then God.
God is Good, All the Time!
5 comments:
As I respond with tear-filled eyes, I hug you thru the space that makes up the internet. My whole life is spent in anticipation of the "shoe dropping"...the phone call that devestates my world...the hurt inflicted that breaks me to my core. I can make myself cry just by thinking about certain things...and I realize, as I read your words, how fear-filled those places are in my mind.
As God leads me down the path of forgiveness, I find myself face to face with fear as I stand and say "You might hit me again...but it is ok because God is stronger than your punch." I don't mean that humorously but rather fully honest in how my heart is yearning to stand and feel...
I love you...I really do.
Me
Wow! Sounds like an amazing study! I think all of us mom deal with fear of our children getting hurt but it would be nice to let that fear go. Great post!
You need not fear the enemy, because as a child of God, you are seated with Christ in the heavenlies, far above the power of the enemy. Anything that comes into your life is filtered through God's fingers of love. He uses it all for good. Satan cannot snatch us out of His hand, and remember the story of Job that illustrates to us that demons feel compelled to present themselves to God, AND ask Him for permission! They are totally opposite powers, but completely unequal in power. Satan, and all of his harrassments are limited by the God we serve. We fear only God, and use His armor to combat the lies of the accuser. God's word is truth, and there is no darkness in Him. Fear of the "what if's" of life do not come from God. They come from the accuser, and we have the power in Christ to not only take every thought captive, but to demand that Satan get behind us. AND God's word tells us that in the authority of the blood of the Lamb, the devil will not only leave us, but FLEE!!!! Praise the LORD!!! Have a blessed Thanksgiving! Glad to have found your blog. Enjoy the rest of your Esther study! It's a great one!
Joyfully,
Wylie
I'm in this Bible study too. Love this.
well its only taking me... mmm forever and two months to get over here and read this post you sent me via email... be it your words or the words of Beth Moore... excellent things to think about...
In my present situation I do believe God has lead me to it, now I must have faith He will lead me through it! I know He has not plans to harm me and only has good plans for me...
Excellent post and thanks for sharing...I hope your doing well..
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