Fear is not your friend!

Fear in my view is one of the greatest hindrances in anyone’s life. We are not discussing the natural response to a physical life threatening stimulus or emotional danger that one experiences which ends in fight or flight. Many scholars view fear as important, in that it provides awareness of the presence of legitimate danger that threatens our lives. But the fear we are focusing on are the ones that are not necessarily life threatening, but may arises out of  past personal experiences, experiences of others, current prevailing situations and other factors we deem as necessary. There are many external limitations that no one can prevent from happening, but when fear is the determining factor for accomplishing or not accomplishing something, that fear must be dealt with accordingly. Fear is crippling and its purpose is to hold us back from moving on or forward with our plans. My prayer today is that we do not allow fear to be the determining factor in our doing all that God has called us to undertake.

There are some important things you need to know about fear

1. Fear will often show up as your friend, not as your enemy.
2. Fear will support your weaknesses, accept your mediocre attitude and pat you on the back when you procrastinate. Simply because its sole purpose is to keep you so occupied and self-absorbed in your own little world, that you are afraid to step outside of yourself.
3. Fear will deceive you into thinking that anything beyond you will destroy you.
4. Fear will sell you, the old trick in the book -you do not have enough resources, you are not qualified, you do not have experience, that’s way above your head, no one has ever done that before.
5. Fear will always make you anxious about the things and events in the future that look threatening or unfavorable. Its main effort is to arouse feelings of inadequacy and hurriedness.
6. Fear will cause you to become busy with many things without focusing completely on each of item individually.
7. The opposite of fear is “God-Confidence”.
8. Fear amplifies the negatives and diminishes the positives.
9. God did not give you fear.

How to recognized fear?

What we do not realize is that many areas of regret and frustration may very well have their roots in fear. Fear produces insecurity, anxiety, worry, disillusionment, anger, dismay, disappointment and many more negative emotions. To recognize fear, you must examine your emotions, behaviors, and response to situations when they arise. There are always going to be a natural response to any negatives and positives in your life, but when there is a compulsive churning inside that creates feelings of discomfort and terror, you know fear is operating. When you recognize fear in its simplest form, don’t encourage it, resist it. God has not given us a spirit of fear. Declare the word of God and focus your attention on the positives.

What happens when fear dominates you?

Fear needs your permission to dominate you. Fear has no power or control over anyone unless it is willingly given. When we allow doubts and unbelief to fill our minds we have just created breeding grounds for fear to establish its foundation. When you question your ability and more importantly God’s ability to accomplish anything, fear steps in to create a comfort zone so you would not dare to venture out. Sometimes it presents a million and one reasons why, beware of the excuses of fear. The grip of fear can be subtle and should not be taken for granted.

In many instances I have had to break the domination of fear in my life. Many do not realize that fear controls every decision you make, it becomes your voice of reasoning, and in fact it takes over your sense of reasoning. Instead of being guided by the Holy Spirit and good judgment, you are now led by FEAR. Very soon your confidence is short lived, and your desires and excitement to do great things decreases. The stronghold of fear will create a false sense of security in what seems to be something of substance but amounts to be empty and futile. Fear is an un-welcomed guess that has warmed its way into your life and refuses to leave. But by your command the stronghold of fear can be broken.

 Fear will drive over you if you let it

In fighting any battle, it would be to our advantage if we are previewed to critical information, possess the best weapons and a well-trained team of fighters. Not only does this help us, but it also gives us the edge above our enemy. As believers we have all this combined, in fact our enemy has been whooped already, we have a preview of the future and our enemy is already defeated. What we are doing now is maintaining the victory that Jesus has already given to us. The victory over fear. If you let it, fear will run you over and take your over. We must know that, God has already made necessary provisions for us to overcome fear every time.

When God spoke to Jacob he said clearly, Fear not for I am with you be not dismayed for I am your God, I will strengthen you and uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isa 41:10). In verse 14, God said I myself will help you, do not fear. I have experienced the crippling feelings of fear when I am pursuing things pertaining to my dream. Sometimes, the fear is so loud in head, telling me to quit, you can’t do it, but I do not allow fear to be in control, I get up and move forward despite the challenges.

The first emotion to arise after you are faced with something major is fear. Even if that major thing is something good. Every day we are awaken, we have a choice, to either step out in faith, or step out in fear. In fact, if we allow fear to intimidate us, we may never step out beyond ourselves. However, when faith governs our lives, launching out becomes an adventure with God. A very key fact to always consider is, fear does not come from God. It is not a part of God’s great package of salvation and spiritual gifts. Therefore, we need not encourage it in our lives. Claim what God has truly given to you- power, love and a sound mind. This is the disposition God wants you to possess today. The word is filled with faith, so as you feed yourself in the word daily, you starve your fears, cut its terrifying grip and stronghold over your life and establish total confidence in God.

 What does God’s word say about fear?

The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 to be anxious for nothing. Anxiety is seen by scholars as a natural reaction to stress and can be beneficial in some situations. However, anxiety comes to a point where it cannot be controlled, so for some people it becomes excessive and moves to disorder. Paul tells us what to do from the beginning, and that is by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. In other words cast the care unto the Lord. Instead of carrying the care and worrying about it, present it to God. Give it to God, who is well able to take care of it. Philippians 4:7, shows us the results of casting the care on the Lord; “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 7 strategies for dealing with fear and breaking its grip and domination over your life

1. Define your fear. Find out exactly what you are afraid of and how to face your fears and overcome it. Follow your fear through the stages to the end. Is it work related, children related, spouse related, health related? Is there insufficiency, lack of resources, fear of the future, past, present, a dream that’s bigger than me, fear of making a presentation, fear of failing or fear of death? Defining your fear gives you an understanding of your fear and makes it easier for you to deal with the root and not just the symptoms.
2. Vision is important when dealing with fear. Developing the end picture or the big picture bring things into perspective. The bible says where there is no vision the people perish. Every human being must have a vision. Whether you are a stay at home mom or an executive director, having a vision keeps you on course and on purpose.
3. Although, a vision is necessary don’t allow it to drive you crazy. Develop realistic goals that you can attain to. Set the bar a little high and after you have reached rise it higher. According to Stacia Pierce Make small changes that are congruent with your desires. Start heading in the right direction. You needn’t not get there overnight, just as long as you get there.
4. Be patient with the process you must take to achieve your life’s dream. Don’t always live in tomorrow, learn to live and enjoy today, while preparing for tomorrow. Don’t let fear make you feel like your plan is not working. Your dream may be big but start executing small. Enjoy the journey, you will build faith, resilience, and good character. Besides that you are perfecting your skills to be excellent at what you do. Be patient and work your plans faithfully, when you miss a day, take it up the next day and keep moving.
5. Fear has a voice- you might realize it by now, but so do you.  You do not have to believe the false things it presents to you. Do not allow fear to keep speaking, the negatives, while you remain silent. You will soon become its captive. Your words are more powerful than your thoughts, the word of God says casting down imaginations and every high thoughts that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor10: 5). Words interrupt thoughts.
6. Walk in love. For there is no fear in LOVE, perfect love casts out all fear, because fear has torment (1 John 4:18). Love is powerful, especially the love of God. Rest in the love God has for you. Learn to appreciate everything around you; your children, your spouse, your friends, your job and everything that pertains to you. God is love and as long as Christ dwells in you so does his love. love is powerful and when we know that God loves us and he has the best plans for us then, we live in that confidence.
7. God confidence is key– when we become very self-reliant instead of God-reliant we find ourselves in trouble. Paul stated clearly, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength ( Phil. 4:13)

There will always be opportunities to fear, simply don’t take any.

Trust the integrity of God’s word

According to wikipedia.org Integrity is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcomes.  While people are known for their integrity, they are not flawless and consistent in their character at the time. Jesus is all that and more, he is undeviating in all his ways. What trust worthy character he is!

The word integrity evolved from the Latin adjective integer, meaning whole or complete. In this context, integrity is the inner sense of “wholeness” deriving from qualities such as honesty and consistency of character. As such, one may judge that others “have integrity” to the extent that they act according to the values, beliefs and principles they claim to hold wikipedia.org.

The only way we can trust the integrity of God’s word is to find out what it says. There are specific promises and directives in the WORD concerning our lives. The Lord has been dealing with me strongly about praying with the knowledge of the word. He has made me aware of the many people who just rehearse words as prayer without any conviction or persuasion that God will answer their prayers because he loves them and because their faith is in him. I have seen over and over the importance of knowing what the word says about a situation, before proceeding to pray about it.

Faith is truly stronger when we are knowledgeable about the position of the word on our particular issue. When we have consulted the word, then we can approach God with confidence, because we already know and believe the truth that is written.

I admonish you to take the word for what it is

Psalm 119:89. Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.

Psalm 119:160. All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

When we trust the integrity of God’s word, we are coming into divine agreement with what has been settled in heaven. Therefore, the results are beyond this world.

As you pray this week, exercise confidence in God and build up your God-confidence in the integrity of His WORD. It is the only document that cannot be altered or amended in any way. Therefore, you can totally rest in the integrity of His WORD.

Advancing the Kingdom of God in the earth!

Developing your confidence in God’s love for you

Confidence in love is first knowing that God is the source of love and he loves you no matter what. Confidence is knowing, feeling and believing that you can rely on someone or something. It is having a firm trust, assurance, faith, credence and conviction in what you believe. What better way to express such confidence, than in God, who is totally trust worthy. Therefore, why not have confidence in the love God has for you and in the fulfillment of his promises toward you. The assurance that we need comes from the word of God, written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who revealed to men the very heart of God for humanity. The WORD is God’s intentions and LOVE letter to everyone. Especially everyone who chooses to believe it.

 Where does your confidence lie today? What struggles are you facing that seems too great or complicated for you to handle? That’s alright because Jesus has given you the ultimate strategy – the all-powerful, unchangeable Name that is above every name. God loves us and has already given us all we need to handle every situation. Our job is to rely on his promises-they are YEA and AMEN and claim them for our lives. We must understand that a loving God has provided all that we need to live the good life. He has not left us without answers that his word does not provide. Now take a hold of the finished works of Christ and run with it every day. One important thing that I have been doing literally, is reminding myself consciously of God’s WORD and love for me in everything I face. You see, God’s love for us does not exempt us from the negatives happening, but our understanding and reliance on his perfect love, will dismiss fear and empower us to believe his promises. It is absolutely necessary to use the word to combat the negative thoughts that the enemy uses to flood our minds.

 As you know, your mind is the battle field. If you can win the battle in your mind then most of the work is done. Your first step is to believe that NOTHING, absolutely, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. You cannot be moved by what you see or by confronts you. Take heed to the words of Jesus in Mark 10:27; “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man THIS is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Your THIS, may be an incurable disease, financial distress, tragedy, pain and situations beyond your control. Your great assurance and confidence lies in the fact that Jesus Christ has covered all your THIS. Jesus covered all your challenges big or small, he covered it all. For those who need healing Jesus bore your sickness in his body, for those who need peace from torment, past mistakes, bad decisions or lack of judgment, he was chastised for your peace (Isaiah 53:5). If Jesus bore it, why should you continue to bear it in your body or mind? He took sin, shame, poverty, everything negative upon himself, so we can now give it all over to him. Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”  2 Corinth. 5:21 says; He became sin, that we might be the righteousness of God. (God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.)

 All that Jesus wants from us is for us to believe him. He wants us to know this great love and embrace it. He does not heal us because we fasted ten days without cheating, or we led five people Christ. He does it because he loves us. He delivers us because he loves us. When we realize that Jesus is truly all that we need and believe it wholehearted, we will take his word seriously. What he does for us cannot be earned, it should be received by faith. Jesus told his disciples to have faith in God. Whether we want to or not we will trust something, or someone; either our jobs as the source, our education for advancement, our doctors and specialists for healing, our lawyers for an excellent defense or anything we feel is competent to meet our needs. However, while these things are good, each of them may fail or fall short, but God stands firm. “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you (Hebrews 10:35)!” You are loved by God and his love is everlasting, intentional and unending. So rest in his love and promises for you.

GOD LOVES ME! With an encompassing, unconditional love

John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

You can pray with confidence knowing that you are loved by God unconditionally. How many times have we questioned God’s love for us based on our circumstances and life experiences?
God’s love cannot be defined by how much humans feel loved and accepted by God. God’s love cannot be comprehended by a single or as a sum total of all human experiences. His love is not dispensed by reason of good deeds and sinless actions. The truth of God’s love is the fact that God is love! He chooses to dispense his love upon all, so much so, that he gave his only son.

Why not pray today- basking in the glory of his love for you, instead of condemnation and self-doubt. So many believers of Christ, only know by rehearsal of God’s love for them, but they are not fully convinced that, God loves me! It is difficult for them to rest in His unconditional, incomparable love. Unconditional love has absolutely no conditions attached to it. When the enemy tries to tell you, you must perform for God’s love, you must know with confidence that God simply loves me because I am his child. He loves me because it is his nature to love. His incomparable love is one that cannot be compared with finite, failing human love. Human minds need to be formed, regulated and renewed in what the scriptures says about God’s love.

Please join me in praying not only for our needs and interests but also pray for a dying world to truly experience the love of God. Let’s pray for nations, governments and people for whom Christ’s blood was shed to purchase them for God. God has already bestowed his love on us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are, now it’s time for us to pray earnestly for the world to experience God’s amazing love for them (1 John 3:1). If the world knows Him they will act differently, but they don’t. I believe the greatest harvest is yet to be ushered in, if we the children of God would become actively involved as laborers in this end time harvest, spreading the love of God that we have personally encountered.

God loves you and you are precious to him. Do not second guess His amazing love for you!
My prayer is that you are convinced of and believe that God loves you unconditionally. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (1 John 4:16).

Advancing the kingdom of God in the earth!

You are my witnesses

God in times passed has given Israel many indications that He is there only savior as a way of letting them know, they should trust no other god but Him, their true God. I want to draw your attention to a word mentioned three times in Isa 43:9-12, “WITNESSES”.

Isa 43:9 All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Which of them foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.” Here the Lord challenges the nations to present their witnesses, people who will testify of their gods, who foretold or proclaim prior things. A witness is a person, who has first hand experience and clear sight of an event or happenings.

God boldly claims his people as his own and demonstrates his power and glory in their lives. While the nations who serve other gods cannot present witnesses to attest of their god’s ability to perform, Israel certainly can. The Lord says to Israel (Isa 43:10) “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. The God of Israel denies that there has never been any other deity before or after him. I call this the weakness of the writer; there is no beginning or ending with God, there is no before or after with God. He is God before the beginning of time and he continues to be God after time. Apart from God there is no savor.

Be a key witness

Isaiah 43:12-13  “…You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”
God speaks confidently to Israel, that they are his witnesses. They were witnesses of the miraculous and incredible display of his majesty. Being a witness of something puts you in a different category from those who speculate. Key witnesses are very valuable to a case, their input makes a difference because they take the guessing work out of the process and may confirm forensic findings. As a key witness of the gospel, you have pertinent information, that could change the course of many lives forever .

Can God say to you, you are my witness? Have you given him a chance to be God in your life? And you will in turn be His witness to testify of his goodness and grace. God performed his work in behalf of Israel, saving them from destruction, directing their path and supernaturally providing for them. This work is proof of God’s saving power. We have the same access and privilege through the finished works of Jesus. We are witnesses of his redemption power, his saving grace, his deliverance and healing, so that we may share this with the world. What has God done for you, that you can testify? Are we not living witnesses of his faithfulness. I believe just as God wanted Israel to know Him intimately, he wants the same for us today. He never desires to be second place, or to be an after thought, he wants to be the center of all things in our lives. He wants our lives to speak volume of him, drawing others into his kingdom. He wants to be our God and make us his master piece in the earth. How will God display his glory in earth, unless he has recipients to benefit from it? He wants the world to know Him through your life and mine.

Can you hear the Holy Spirit saying to you, “You are my witnesses”?  I want to use you to touch the world. Absolutely! Your world and your sphere of influence may be small right now, but never limit God. Be ready to impact lives for the kingdom of God, where ever you are.

Advancing the kingdom of God in the earth!

Haggai 2:4-5

Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? And how do ye see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

 Never shrink back in fear!

This is not the time to shrink back in fear even when it looks like things are becoming more and more difficult. Or when your enemies are surrounding you expecting your work to fail. Many people are facing tremendous situations of all sorts, but rest assured that God will not let you fail. He sees where you are and has already designed a plan to move you forward. The enemy’s plan is to hinder or stop the work of God in progress. He will do anything to frustrate and discourage you from moving on with the plan of God.

 It was important for the prophet Haggai to deliver the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, to Joshua the High Priest and to the remnant of people returning after the exile. Some of the people knew about the former glory of the temple of God. Upon their return, they first re-established the religious observances of the nation as God had ordained. Then their next move was to rebuild the temple of the Lord and this was no easy job. Zerubbabel was stirred by the Spirit of the Lord to rebuild Solomon’s temple, this was an assignment that Zerubbabel decided to carry out regardless. It was difficult but he knew God told him to do it. You know, sometimes, God places things on your heart to do and in many cases it seems extremely difficult. How many times have we aborted the plan of God because it appears to be impossible or too difficult, so we shrink back in fear because we feel we cannot accomplish the task ahead? This is exactly the enemy’s plan. He will use fear to intimidate us. His plan to magnify the problem and diminish the solutions.

 Rely God’s history- He never fails

Whatever God did before, he can do it again and even greater. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says “What has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Zerubbabel had history to rely on. There was a great testimony of a magnificent temple, Built by King Solomon. This amazing work was deemed glorious; it was a splendid temple established to house the Glory of God.

David told Solomon his son, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord (1Chronicles 28:20).” If David’s encouragement was so important to Solomon, how much more did Zerubbabel needed encouragement?  Zerubabbel knew that the same God who empowered Solomon to start and finish all the work of the temple, will also empower him to finish this great work. God who started the work in Zerubbabel was well able to complete it. God spoke through several prophets concerning the rebuilding of the temple, which would be undertaken by Zerubbabel and others, assuring him that the work he would now start, would be completed (Zech.4:9).

 We also have the word of God to totally trust and rely on. God’s track records follow his name throughout the Bible and in real life. Why not trust God to accomplish his word in your life today. The same God who began the work in you is also faithful to bring it to completion.

“BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM (Heb.10:38 NASB).”

Advancing the kingdom of God in the earth!

Your mountain shall become a plain!

Zechariah 4:6-10 (KJV)
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, this is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

The prayer of Jabez – A call to bold prayers

Day 1 – Jabez’s attitude and disposition

 1 Chronicles 4:10

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain,” And God granted his request.

What made Jabez different from you and me?

Jabez was a man with like passions and faced situations like any human would. As we consider who Jabez is, there is no mention of him anywhere else in the scriptures. However; as 1Chronicles 4 records the genealogy of Judah, the chapter was interrupted to mention some minute details about Jabez and his prayer. His mother named him Jabez meaning “sorrowful” because she bore him in pain. Although he was considered more honorable than his brothers, his name meant pain. His name was a constant reminder of sorrow and perhaps a reality of what was going on in his life. As we take a closer look at Jabez, we notice he would not allow his human limitations to control him and become his lot in life. If everything was working perfectly for Jabez, we would not have his prayer.  Jabez’s prayer was a short, but powerful prayer, filled with absolute confidence in God. Jabez knew that only God could change the meaning and course of his life forever.

Jabez displayed attitudes of boldness and resilience

His earnest prayer not only captured the heart of God, but continues to capture and intrigue millions of people around the world, for many generations. Jabez knew who to direct his prayer to, so he petitioned God, to bless him, enlarge his borders, keep his hand of protection, guidance, preservation, and deliverance on him and keep him from evil so I would not experience the pain. Jabez,  the man of sorrow and pain cried out to God to keep him from that sorrow. His prayer was not answered because he was more honorable than his brothers, it was answered because, he recognized where his help comes from and his boldness to request that help.

Would you dare to pray bold prayers like Jabez?

I believe that God wants us to take the limits off Him and pray bold prayers. Pray with God-confidence and pray knowing that God is faithful to honor his word. “Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not (Jere. 33:3).” God has given us the release to call upon him and to approach the throne of grace with confidence. Adopt the attitude like Jabez, pray bold prayers and wholeheartedly trust God, who is well able to undertake anything you throw at him.

Follow along as we continue to explore the prayer of Jabez and what it means to us.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)

Let us therefore come boldly to the t of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

These are valuable materials that will inspire and empower your life to pray bold prayers.