Monthly Archives: November 2019

One key fact about fear

 Fight off the fretting, the worry, the woe!
Don’t give fear a foothold – not even a toe!

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Resist the devil at the outset. When I first awoke this morning, there was the fear–again!–but disguised this time as vague anxiety. Could I do what I needed to today and stay in the peace of God’s presence?

“Okay, Father. I am going to get up, have our devotions and then write while I wait on the car.” Ten minutes later, Barny’s fur warmed my thigh as he lay next to me in the big rocker while we had chamomile tea and honey. I scanned the yellow high-lighted portions in Psalms, testimony to countless times when I had searched the Word for promises about peace. As I dressed, I repeated my basic Scriptures over in my head. (More about this later.)

Soon, I was out the door and into the fresh, cool smell of the gray, 59 degree morning, driving to the family-owned car repair shop I trusted. I sat in the waiting room on the big black easy chair with its cracked leather back and ripped arm rest, and pulled out my clipboard, enjoying the steady hum of the heater. I began pondering what I had learned about mastering fear.

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How Jesus resisted the devil. In Mathew 4:1-11, Jesus demonstrates how to resist temptations. Three times the enemy talked to Jesus and each time Jesus answered with the Word. Jesus did not engage in discussion or arguing; He simply quoted the Word of God, and the devil finally left him. Jesus did not focus on what the enemy said. Rather, Jesus focused on the truth of God, and spoke those truths.

It took many painful lessons before I learned, for myself, that what you focus on grows. Rather than trying to fight the fear, I gradually learned to speak God’s Word when I felt fear and then keep my mind focused on His truth by pondering it over and over all day, as I endeavored to imprint it on my heart, to memorize it so that it would be ready on my lips the next time I felt shaky.

A father’s caring heart. As I sat in the repair shop, pondering how the Bible said to handle fear, I marveled that there was only a faint whiff of gasoline and rubber, unlike many car repair shops I had sat in over the years. It was clean and tidy, a well cared-for business. I felt a quiet camaraderie with the shop owner and his daughter as they sat just beyond the open door of the waiting room, he at his big desk behind a huge counter and she at a lower table next to his.

Fatherly Love

“Janie, do you want the rest of your milk?” said a low, resonant voice. “No, Daddy” came a soft murmur. “Well, we will put it in the fridge so you can finish it later.” This earthly father was taking care of his child’s needs.

A few minutes later: “Sweetie, you have to put this big puzzle piece in before the little ones.” This earthly father was keeping careful watch over what his child was doing.

A bit later: “We have to remember to take this sweater home with us tonight.” This earthly father was looking ahead to the tiny details of his child’s every need.

Meditate on our heavenly Father’s love. As I reflected on this father’s obvious love for his child, I realized that God’s fatherly love was the theme of four Scriptures I had learned to roll over and over in my mind whenever I felt afraid or worried. Four passages remind me that: God is good and He is near, so I can wait, and not fear.

[1] God is good. “The Lord is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him. So, it is good to wait quietly for the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25,26) (NLT)
[2] He is near. “And behold, I am with you and will keep [watch over you with care, take notice of] you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done all of which I have told you.” (Genesis 28:15, AMPC)
[3] I can wait. . . “Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14 AMPC)
[4] . . . and not fear. “Fear not, [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. (Isaiah 41:10, AMPC.

I can memorize – by grace and hard work! I wrote those verses on folded pieces of paper  and looked at those pages repeatedly– while I cooked, while I exercised, when I sat down to rest a minute on the couch, at stoplights,  and in grocery store lines. Like the velveteen rabbit, those pages are well loved.

After countless repetitions, I had the verses memorized and meditating on them worked every time I did my part and kept them foremost in my mind. But sometimes, I could only remember one of the verses or part of one. Like an actor who knows his lines but needs a little prompting, I needed a prompt for times when I could not whip out my trusty notes.
I learned that if I memorized the headings themselves (God is good, He is near, I can wait, and not fear) I could then repeat all four verses one after another, while I was driving, or going to sleep, or waiting in a doctor’s office. And those four phrases actually spell out another truth: That God is always good, that He is always near us, and that if we keep that in our minds, we can wait and not fear.

By God’s grace, I am learning to use His Word as soon as fear starts and to keep my mind focused on His truth by pondering Scripture over and over. It does take steady, consistent work but being desperate for His peace provides the motivation. Are you desperate for the peace of His presence? I pray God will help you “. . . take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17b, NIV).

Love and blessings,

Freda

Hark! The herald angels sing . . .

 

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(To the tune of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, by Charles Wesley, music by Felix Mendelssohn)

Look! The Lord my God is near. He will keep me safe from fear.
Though the enemy roar, God is king forevermore.
I submit to God’s great hand. He will lift me up to stand.
Casting all my care on Him, on His love I can depend.
Look! The Lord my God is near. He will keep me safe from fear.

I can keep my self controlled. God Himself indwells my soul.
I’m alert, and I watch out for the devil prowls about.
I resist him, I stand strong though the trial might feel long,
In my weakness, He gives grace, so I rise and run my race!
I can keep my self controlled. God Himself indwells my soul!

My God covers me with peace, all my fears and worries cease!
He will keep me in His rest as I think on what is best.
In my weakness, He is strong. He will keep me from all wrong.
I will walk with Him in love. I will keep my mind above.
My God covers me with peace. All my fears and worries cease!

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God Himself has full control. He who rules earth rules my soul!
He will give me grace to fight. We will win o’er darkest night!
Nothing that attacks me stands, for He holds me in His hand
God is faithful. He will save! This the banner that I wave!
God Himself has full control. He who rules earth rules my soul!

Charles Wesley wrote more than 6,700 hymns. In his book “Amazing Grace, 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions”, Kenneth Osbeck comments that many of Charles Wesley’s hymns “clearly present biblical doctrine in poetic language.” (p. 374)

I have earnestly prayed that the words I have written to this beloved Christmas carol accurately reflect biblical doctrine. I also pray that the living Word of God will speak to you and have His way with your soul, for we know that His Word is “. . . alive and full of power—making it active, operative, energizing and effective” (Hebrews 4:12, AMPC) May God’s miracle of music help imprint these truths deeply in your heart.

Love and prayers,
Freda

Jesus laughs, ho ho all the way!

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(To the tune of “Jingle Bells”)

Living daily life, in this crazy world,

sometimes is so hard, that my heart grows weak!

but Jesus lives in me, and in His joy I’m strong,

so I say to you, my friend, come laugh and sing alo-ong!

Chorus: Jesus laughs, Jesus laughs, ho ho all the way!

Jesus loves to laugh and play, every single day!

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 When the day starts out dark (A little pun there!) When I woke up this morning, the last thing I felt like doing was laughing. As I thought of the day ahead, and my life ahead, everything felt dim and discouraging. But, as I lay in bed, I repeated several basic passages about trusting God that I have memorized, by virtue of desperately reading them to my anxious heart over and over and over again.  Once out of bed, I sat in the rocker, stroked my cat, and read Psalm 71.

 

“I am feeling a little better,” I thought grudgingly. “Thank You, Lord. Please help me get my attitude right!”

I began texting a dear friend. I stated briefly that I felt discouraged and I intended to indulge my feelings by texting her about my troubles. But, lo and behold!!! I found myself texting that I was going to trust in God and thank Him for this day, keep my mind on Him rather than my problems, and look for ways to bless everyone He put into my path this day. I then texted another friend, who is walking a hard path right now, and that time I managed to only be encouraging and uplifting.

I listened to the bird perched in the tree by the window as the deep blue-black of night began fading to a softer blue. And I just sat and waited on Him, looking out the window at the miracle of a new day.

The Word changes our minds. “Wow, Lord! Thank You!”, I prayed. “All this time of pondering the comforting truths of Your Word really have renewed my mind. It really worked! You have done a deep work inside my heart, I know, because even though I feel discouraged on the surface, You are keeping my thoughts focused on the truth of Your Word and I am not sinking down into despair, like I used to do. You are guarding my heart and keeping me in constant peace as I keep my mind fixed on You! (Isaiah 26:3)

You have lifted me out of the pit, I have your reassurances that You are always with me and will never fail me, and somehow, You are teaching me to truly enjoy each day and to laugh with You, even when things are difficult.

Ho ho all the way! Then I was out and about, taking care of the business of my day, with my mind set to enjoy this day that the Lord had made and prepared especially for me. As I drove through morning traffic, I heard a good teaching on Psalm 71, the same psalm I had been reading earlier. Coincidence? No way! I know Jesus loves to reassure us that He is with us every moment, no matter what we feel like and no matter if we feel we have failed Him, I know He has a sense of humor, and I know He laughs with us –ho ho all the way!

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