2 Timothy 1:7

 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind." NKJV

Some versions of this scripture change the word "fear" to "timidity" or "cowardice".  Some change the words "sound mind" to "discipline" or "self-control".

Fear to step out in faith is not from the Lord because He does not give us fear to walk in His will.  Yes, be aware.  Yes, pray for discernment and understanding.  God has clearly promised those things if we only ask for them.

Allowing fear (not healthy boundaries and spiritual discernment) to dictate what we do or do not do can be very detrimental to our ability to walk in God's leading in our lives.

Losing Hope

When hope seems lost, we can step forward to serve and encourage:

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore, comfort each other and edify one another...

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..., but exhorting one another...  (exhort = encourage)

Find Hope in the promises of God's Word.

Pray for the day to come. (Psalm 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.)  

When you don't know what to pray, ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you.

    Romans 8:26 Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.  For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Don't give up, don't bail out on the Lord.  Surrender to Him.

Take care of yourself practically, spiritually.  Strengthen yourself with food, rest, worship, and praise.

Give thanks in the midst of the storm.  Philippians 4.

Lighten your load.  Ease the burden so that you can rest, be comforted, heal, and stay afloat.

When you don't understand, fall back on what you do understand.

Instead of focusing on why God has allowed something hard in your life, ask Him: what He wants you to learn from this and how He wants you to react.

1 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

Walking In His Will

 Working outside of God's Will:

1. Impatience - straining and striving to make it happen, don't do anything in haste. 

    Instead, go to Him, wait on the Lord, seek Him first, you will hear a voice behind you saying, "this is the way, walk in it." (Isaiah 30:21)

2. Testing the Wind - letting situations guide you when you ought to be guided by the Word of God.

    Instead, let God guide you with a strong, inner conviction of His will. (see above)

3. Seeking Ease - the convenience and comfortable places of life.

    Instead, obey God, being faithful to Him.  He is there, even in the storm.

4. Following the Majority - letting the world sway you (John 12:43)

    Instead, obey the Lord and His direction, regardless of anyone else's opinion, understanding that godly council with prayer can be helpful.

Stand for the Word of God and for Righteousness, even if you stand alone.

Surrender, Obedience

 Acts 26:14, Jesus is saying, "Stop fighting against me, and surrender."

For such a time as this: God has a purpose for you.  Don't miss this opportunity.

Delayed obedience is still disobedience.

God measures success by obedience, not results.

Be open to God's leading, to interruptions in your life, be flexible for those divine appointments.

Your testimony is for His glory.  Tell your story for His glory.

I forgive you.

I forgive you.

I pray for you.

I ask the LORD's will be done.

I ask for Him to be glorified through it all.

His timing is perfect.

He is at work in even this.

Seek Him Above All Else.

My conversations with God have been comforting as of late.  He seems to be reiterating the necessity of putting Him first in everything and trusting Him with the rest.

He continues to remind me that seeking Him first, looking to Him first, and obeying Him first are my priorities.  He will handle the remainder.

Ecclesiastes 1:18 "...to increase knowledge only increases sorrow."

    In this day and age, knowledge and information are increasing exponentially, and one can get lost in it all.  He tells me to keep my focus on Him over all else.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 "God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please Him..."

    I see worldly knowledge vs. godly knowledge as two very different things in these two verses.

Ecclesiastes 3: 11-14 "...God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. ...And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.  And I know that whatever God does is final.  Nothing can be added to it or taken from it.  God's purpose is that people should fear Him." 

    His plan.  His works.  Final. Trust in Him.  Relinquish it all to Him.

Philippians 4:4-7 (NKJV)

Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentleness be known to all men.  The Lord is at hand.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.