Daily Wisdom

 Psa 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Our greatest fear as believers and as a church should not be failure in our efforts of faith; the Father knows our failure thus offers us repentance and His mercy to move forward. Through that process of working out our faith we grow and mature in the Lords’ strength. But our fear should be succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter, it offers a false hope and a measure of worth that can blind us to our need for Jesus. It’s a good thing to meet opposition and struggles in our faith; We should fear when we don’t, because we’re probably not living in our faith.

The moment one realizes this world cannot sustain them, they are left with two conclusions concerning hope; life is simply cruel or Jesus is greatly real… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 “God... calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Rom 4:17b

In (Rom17) we see Paul’s discourse concerning Abraham’s faith. The one who doubted he could have a child is the one God said he would the father of many nations. Such is the faith Paul is referencing, and Abraham struggled with. Faith is asserting what God says over your thoughts; “faith steps on seeming void, and finds the rock beneath.” As the baby bird must face the day of launching itself out of the safety of the nest and into the appearance of nothing; so must one's faith knowing the air is there to lift them from the fall, if they flap their wings of faith against their fear.

Remarkable thing, when you fear God, you fear nothing else; when you don’t fear God you fear everything else... HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Isa 28:12  “To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.”

Why do we worry ourselves? What use does fretting bring us? We’re aboard a vessel which we could not steer even if the Lord put us at the helm. We have no knowledge of the reefs that destroy, or where they are before us. Be still, the LORD is on the throne. And though the enemy may come in waves crashing over us, the Lord calms the seas (Mk 4:35-41), and if need be, affords us to walk on top of the waves (Mt 14:29). Don’t give way to despondency, it’s only a ploy of satan that withers the heart, making it unfit to receive the Father’s abundant grace!

Keep your eyes on the Lord and you don’t have to fear what’s before you… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

 Zec 2:5 ‘For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.’

Zechariah was told by the Lord to assure Israel that a line would be stretched forth around Jerusalem of which man could not cross. Man goes to great lengths to build and hide behind what makes them feel safe. David was told in (Psa 75:10 “All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.’). If you keep your eyes stayed on the Lord, and He’ll likewise keep His eye on you,    (vs 8 ‘… for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.’), being the apple of His eye is your greatest protection you must stand behind.

Keep your faith focus on the Lord and fears become faint… HSAY

Daily WIsdom

 ‘Let us go across to the other side. Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?’ Mk 4:35; 40

Our greatest journey or walk of faith will be crossing from where we are to where the Father wants us to be. For the disciple’s, part of their walk was literally across the Sea of Galilee. The sea was 680 ft. below sea level and surrounded by high hills which created strong winds and violent storms. But the disciple’s were seasoned fisherman and have spent their life on the sea. Yet, in this storm they panicked. 

A point to consider, it was the same day that Jesus had preached out of  the ship (vs 1-2). Jesus had been laboring all day preaching and healing, but when evening/night came He wanted to travel elsewhere. Instead of reposing Himself, He exposed Himself to more in need. The end of a long toil may perhaps be but the beginning of a toss/storm to come. But notice, the ship that Christ made his pulpit is taken under his special protection, and, though in danger, cannot sink. What is used for Christ, He will take particular care of especially His children.

But fear still followed and settled on them. Why are ye so fearful? Though there may be cause for some fear, yet not for fear to such a degree as this. The disciples believed that Jesus is the Son of God; but at this time their fears prevailed so that they seemed to have no faith at all. Don’t fear being where the Father calls you to or the storm surrounding it.  The greater fear is not being where He calls you, because no matter how clear the skies appear, the greatest storms reside.

Peace doesn’t come from finding a lake without a storm, but from having Jesus in the boat… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Psa 11:4 “The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.”

David was forced to flee for safety several times. Being God's anointed king didn’t make him immune to injustice and hatred from others. David was faced with a decision to fight in his faith or flee in his fear with both Saul and Absalom his son. In both instances, David fled, but not as if all was lost. He knew God was in control. While David wisely avoided trouble, he did not fearfully run away from his troubles. Here David’s speaking to those who are advising him to run from his enemies, but his faith contrasts dramatically with the fear of the advisers who tell him to flee. It’s our faith in God’s love that keeps us from losing hope and helps us resist fear. While David’s advisers saw frightening situations, David was comforted and faithful because he knew God was greater than his enemies plot against him (Psa 7:10). Our greatest opponent is ourselves and the battle between Faith vs Fear when facing life’s enemies.

God’s perfect love cast out fear (1 Jn 4:18), don’t let your lack of faith search after it… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

Pro 29:25 “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” 

Fear, doubt and discouragement is often rooted in a wrong focus. 1 Jn 4:18 tells us, “Perfect love casteth out fear. He who fears has not been made perfect in love.” This does not apply to our love, but God’s love for us (Rom 8:38-39).  Meaning, nothing can separate us from the love of God through Jesus Christ. Paul exclaims that it is impossible to be separated from Jesus. His death for us is proof of his unconquerable love. Nothing can separate us from Christ's presence. But remember we were given His Word (promise), before His presence!  Don’t fear what you can’t see in the unknown because God can, and He’s already promised us provision and protection. Our faith calls us to focus on the promise not the problem, doing so fear will fade.

A promise is only as powerful as the One who gave it, so fear not! … HSAY

Daily Wisdom

2Ti 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Paul encourages Timothy concerning his personal ministry not to succumb to fear and the anxiety associated. It was fear that the servant buried his talent (Mt 25), illustrating the poor stewardship, in fear, of the gifts God’s given us in order to minister to others. God counters our fears through the power of His Spirit, the promise of His Love and a sound/peaceful mind. Like the promise of His “power” which comes from the Greek word (dynamis) from which we get the word dynamite; God has given us an explosive spirit in which to overcome our fleshly fears.  

Fear arises when we imagine that everything depends on us… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

“Sanctify the Lord… let him be your fear, let him be your dread (awe).” Isa 8:13

For Judah, fear of invasion was a constant threat. Yet, Isaiah said “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies” … is the One you should fear. Fear causes our faith to falter and is a great deterrent to our peace, joy & strength. Fear originates when we imagine that hope depends on us. In the presence of fear, RUN; just make sure you’re running towards the Lord. Then you’re freed up to serve, love and give thanks without guilt, worry or fear. Run anywhere else you’ll probably find you just took a short cut to meet your enemy, fear, again!

Outside the will of God, I want not; inside the will of God, I fear not… HSAY

Daily Wisdom

“I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die…” Isa 51:12

The Israelite’s feared the power of Babylon greater than the promise of God.

In 1933 Roosevelt, amidst the U.S. depression, stated: “we have nothing to fear but fear itself!”

Fear traumatizes and paralyzes creating a desire to avoid or escape a present situation.

Fear is an ever-present emotion; real or imagined. It’s unrealistic to think we can live without fear.

Psa 56:3-4 says, “When I am afraid, I trust in God…” (it doesn’t say “if”, but “When”)

It arises when we feel helpless in a given situation.

As God’s children we must learn to walk from fear to faith, and the loving arms of our Father!

David faced such a fear in (Psa 27), having enemies desiring to devour his flesh (vs 2).

But David’s words in (vs 3) changed the direction of his circumstances from fear to faith.

“Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” (Psa 27:3)

David understood the promises of his heavenly Father and found comfort in his fear.

We often feed our fear with false assumptions, thus starving our faith in the same manner.

Courage is not a man who doesn’t feel afraid, but he who feels assured in God’s promised comfort.

Faith or Fear, one brings comfort and the other concern… but the one that flourishes depends on which one you feed! 

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.” Phil 1:28

Never measure God’s unlimited power by your manufactured fears.  Your mind is susceptible to believe everything you feed it.  Feed it faith, truth, love and then you don't have to worry about what it listens to. Know that fear festers in proportion to our lack of faith in truth and ignorance towards our adversary.  Let not the power, the rage, the cunning, or the violence of one or another, move, discourage, or affright you from a close attachment to the love of Christ, the truths of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. When you’re reproached, ridiculed, threatened and persecuted the world sees it as failure or some type of just punishment (perdition), but remember man/world persecutes God perseveres.  The power of God’s promise are not limited by your fears, but are limited by your faith, don’t get caught focusing on your fear and lose sight of God. Never fear your challenges, rather challenge your fears by living in your promised salvation.

The weak men obey in fear, the strong in faith.

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”  Acts 9:31

There is a place for strategic church planning and vision (Pro 29:18), and they are wise stewardship.  But they cannot equal or generate the astonishing outcome illustrated by the church in Acts.  You’ll never find within the scriptures man-made strategic planning for church growth. But, you’ll find the answer to their growth that brought a multiplier greater than any modern church has ever seen. The “fear of the Lord” and the “Holy Spirit.”  In the fear of the Lord, they were teachable, humble, grateful and eternally focused. They were void of self-assurance, pride, arrogance and worldliness. They were willing to submit to the Lord’s wisdom and will. In the Holy Spirit, they were gladdened, felt forgiven, strengthened and found reconciliation with both God and others. They saw with clarity Jesus being greater than their sins and failures, and knew they were loved. The had openness in a know-it-all world, peace amongst an angry world and hope against hopelessness. In such assurances and strength the godless world had no answer for their peculiar (1 Pt 2:9) hope. No, they may not have had implemented strategic goals, but they did implement and share the “fear” and “power” of God before the people and it turned the world upside down. Church growth takes planning, but church multiplication takes a miracle, and that’s God area of expertise. Remember peace and joy are not a place, but a direction.  Interesting when the whole world is running towards the cliff, the one running the other direction appears foolish.

Don’t fear being outnumbered. Eagles fly alone, turkeys flock together. (Pro 3:6)

HSAY… Todd

“TGC”