by K.A. Wypych

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10 NIV).

The pastor mentioned this verse in church a few weeks ago, and the words resonated when he said them as they did when I first heard them.

“Do not fear.”

God frequently admonishes His children not to fear throughout His Word, but how often do the words take hold? Do we push away fear in social situations? When we’re waiting for a call about something? During the newscast?

The Bible never says, “Fear just a little bit, some worry is okay.” Or “Some of you shouldn’t fear.”

Nope. Do not fear. I love how the Bible deals in absolutes which seem impossible in real life. Do not fear. All of you. At all times. 

Do not fear.

Easier said than done, or is it?

Why should we be without fear? Because we’re capable? Have good jobs? Are married? Live in America?

We should not fear because He is our God. I feel as Christians we often gloss over the meaning of Bible verses in favor of simply seeing the words. So, let’s focus.

He is our God. He spoke the universe into existence. He created light. Not turned on the light, but created it out of nothing. He created the essence of light and the idea of it.

He has all abundance; everything is at His disposal. He is all-knowing; God knows the inner most parts of every human ever created. All of them.

He’s a big God.

And what does He do? Protect us? Keep us safe? Yes, He does. But here, His promise goes even beyond that. He promises to strengthen us: to give us strength. The Being who created life itself promises to provide strength to us, a supernatural, nature-defying strength.

And, He says He will uphold us. Have you ever thought about what this really means? Sometimes the words create a vision of being lifted up high. But other times, the verse generates a picture of being picked up after collapsing, an image of a hand holding up a beaten-down body because they can’t lift themselves.

Church, in these times maybe more than any other, the enemy uses fear to be divisive, to isolate, and to crack the security we feel in life. The world pummels us with stories of disease and political rhetoric and killings and disaster.

Disaster is all around us.

But, God…

God is a God who makes promises to His people. He deliberately holds out his hand as an anchor to us through His Word. He knows the disaster is there, and He says, “Do not fear. I am here. I’m the God of the universe, the One true God. I created this world out of love, and that love still rules. I still rule. Do not fear. Do not be overwhelmed by what is swirling around you. I see it, I know all about it, and I’m telling you, ‘Do not fear.’ When the darkness seems to swallow you, I am here. When you are overcome with anxiety, I will give you strength. I am standing right beside you in every moment, even right now. Do not fear. When you cannot hold yourself up, I will be here. I will lift your soul out of the muck and provide you with the best tools to prevail. Do not fear. I love you. I gave my son for you. I have not left you in this dire time; I’m still right here. Turn to me. Let me help you. Do not fear.”

God doesn’t change with the times. His promises stand forever. Whatever is on your heart today, whatever causes your breath to catch in your throat, do not fear. God stands above all and with you. Let Him in. Do not fear.

Dear Lord, I come to you now and ask you to help me be brave enough to surrender my fears to You. Sometimes I feel life is overwhelming, and I cannot get out from under the thumb of anxiety and depression. In these moments, in all moments help me to stand firm, to remember, and to recite the promises You have made to me. Help me to remember that the game is already won, and love is victorious for all time. Stand close to me, dear Lord, and give me strength to carry on in my darkest times. Lift me up, Lord, out of the fear and worry and insecurity and help me to trust that You are near and will not forsake me. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

by Wayne Robust

KEY VERSE:

Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him.  Don’t be fooled by what they say.  For the day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed-the one who brings destruction.  He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship.  He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.

2 Thessalonians 2:1, 3-4 NLT      

Devotional Thoughts:

My fascination with wristwatches began when I was a child.  This fascination continued through adulthood as I collected and learned more about watches.  Rolex watches are very good watches but they are expensive.  Therefore there are many knock off counterfeit Rolex watches available.  How do you spot the fakes?

If someone on the street stops you and says, “ I have a genuine Rolex for $20.00”, odds are it is not a real Rolex.  But suppose you are in a jewelry store and they offer you a $15,000 Rolex for $10,000, that could be a great deal or a really good counterfeit.  Could you tell the difference?  There are websites, articles in magazines, and books written telling you how to identify a counterfeit Rolex?  Does the second hand tick?  Do the numbers match the style of hands on the face?  People have their money taken because they lack knowledge in this area.

The Apostle Paul had a similar situation only it dealt with spiritual beliefs.  Some people in the church at Thessalonica had questions about the coming of the Day of The Lord.  There had been false teachings on the topic and some people believed this counterfeit gospel.  Because of this Paul sent a letter to the church addressing the problem.  He laid out specific things that needed to occur before the Lord would come.  He told them true facts.  The Lord would not come until there was a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed.  He will stand against all that people call God and every object of worship.  He will even claim to be God.  This clarified for the church the truth about the Lord’s coming.

Things have not changed since then.  The devil is still preaching a counterfeit gospel and people are still being taken in by it.  What should we do?

If you want clear facts about a real Rolex there are books to read.  If you are confused about the plan God has for you and your life, there are many books written about the topic.  Fortunately, the top sixty-six  books on the list have been conveniently placed in one volume, the Bible – read it for clarification.

by Roberta Cooper

In 2021 I learned to step out on faith and to let go of shame. I was in a prison of shame, embarrassment and insecurity for decades. I had believed the lie that it was my fault I had gone through these traumatic experiences. In 2021 I finally came to an understanding of God's grace, his mercy, his sovereignty and what that meant for me. When you experience difficult circumstances it is natural to want to blame God. Because He could have done something, but He allowed it. Our humanity doesn't comprehend God's all-knowing mind.

by Wes Shaffer

by Mary R.

Morning! My favorite time of the day! As soon as my eyes open the choices begin. I try to keep it simple because only God knows what the rest of the day will bring!

Many years ago as a young Christian a pastor taught us a wise way to “bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ”. “Your mind is always active, always full of thoughts” he said, “so why not turn those thoughts to conversation with the Lord?!” I thought then and still do that it is a grand idea, though not always easy to follow through on. So to reign in the thoughts at the very start of the day I have developed two choices that have become friendly habits.

If not fully awake and ready to focus, I reach for my tablet and open a worship session or teaching online. Many times the Lord has used this to renew my mind and refresh my soul in His presence, bringing me into meaningful conversation with Him.

On the mornings that find me alert and grateful for the day ahead I simply converse with my Heavenly Father before even getting out of bed, thanking Him for this new day and His fresh and new mercies. I love to proceed through the prayer Jesus gave to His disciples in Matthew 6:9-13. Though it has been many years this never grows old or stale as each encounter with our multifaceted Creator is unique.

As I lean into His heart for “today” I may find fresh revelation as we explore His Fatherhood. At times I may find myself in intercession for many to come to know Him as our Heavenly Father in this day of family dysfunction and gender confusion. I come into agreement with His ultimate Plan of plans declaring His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as in heaven. I marvel at the provision of our daily bread and get lost in the revelation of His name – Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Nissi, Adonai El Roi . . . Many times I am swept to deep conviction and gratitude as we talk about the subject of repentance and forgiveness. I commit the works of this day into His capable hands; trusting, asking, seeking and knocking while putting on the whole armor piece by piece. I acknowledge the need of His ability to deliver me from fleshly temptation and every force and form of darkness and evil. I am in awe of this One whose Kingdom and power and glory will never end and my eternal participation in these wonders!

What a glorious God! What a wonderful forever Family! What a high privilege! What a good start to a good day in Him!

by Mary R.

. . .Christ also loved the church

and gave Himself for her

that He might sanctify and cleanse her

with the washing of water by the word

that He might present her to Himself

a glorious church

not having spot or wrinkle

or any such thing

but that she should be

holy and without blemish

Ephesians 5:25-27

This portion of scripture so excites my soul and spirit!

Rich in comfort and encouragement these words, tucked neatly in the context of marital relationship, spill out in deep revelation of the greatest love story ever – the love of Christ for His bride.

Christ loved His church and He still does! His is an everlasting love, not fickle and fading like mere man, but eternal burning desire from Genesis to Revelation and beyond. Jesus Christ, the only 100% God/100% man, completely accomplished the Father’s eternal purpose. As His church we have open invitation to participate in making that known by our bold access and confident faith in Him (Ephesians 3:9-12).

Christ gave Himself, not just a token of kindness, but His full self to purchase us. Not only from eternal separation from God but unto eternal union and communion with God. Wow! He sanctifies us, setting us apart from our self, from this world and from every force and form of darkness – unto God. Jesus, the Word of God, washes us clean by that Word. Spot and wrinkle free we become holy to God in Christ.

The scripture goes on in verse 29 to declare that Jesus nourishes and cherishes us. He doesn’t just save us and leave us to find our way to heaven but He feeds and provides for and tenderly leads us. He actually enjoys the process of our fellowship and maturing in Him. Weak and broken as we are, in Him we are flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone. So close, so united, a great mystery indeed!

Whenever discouragement tries to settle over my heart due to the state of affairs, either personal or corporate, this is my go-to passage. This is the cry that rises from parched and fainting lips in intercession, reminding my Savior and myself of this glorious promise. I am comforted that this is His plan and desire and I can fully trust in His wisdom, worthiness, and ability to fulfill this miracle of transformation.

My heart yearns to see the church, the Body of Christ, arise, leaning into Him. According to His word I believe she will be a glorious church, awake and alert and prepared to move as He moves, think as He thinks, speak as He speaks and touch as He touches, ruling and reigning with Him in this life and throughout eternity (Romans 5:17).

As we used to sing:

“Let us rejoice and be glad

Giving the glory to God

For the marriage of the Lamb has come

And His Bride has made herself ready”

(Revelation 19:7)

by Roberta Cooper

One small thing I do daily to connect with God is to talk to him. I talk to God everyday, usually in a very informal manner. I talked to him about everything I'm feeling. I asked him what I should do about what's going on that day. I ask for direction or I just share my frustration. Daily I communicate with him. The biblical term would be to commune with him.

You only can build a relationship with someone you spend time with. The quality of time matters more than the quantity of time. I think that every single detail you are dealing with matters to God and you should share it with him. I think that he cares about what you care about. 

We must be available to hear from him in order for our relationship to grow. As much as I love to talk to God, I also have to take time to be quiet and listen. Sometimes that listening is difficult for me because I have to quiet my mind, my will and my emotions. I also have to cut out the external noise always going on around me.

Listening doesn't always produce the immediate fruit that I feel like it should produce. But I know that if I don't take time to be quiet I won't build that relationship with the Father that I want.

What do you do everyday to spend time connecting with God? Or what can you start doing to connect with God? 

Here are a few suggestions

1. Read the Bible. I love Psalms.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

Psalms 40:1-3 NLT

2. Listen to Christian music. I like to sing along too. A few of my favorite songs right now are:

Love is a Miracle by Tribl

I am Loved by Tribl

Rattle by Elevation worship

3. Meditate on the word of God. I speak the word and think about it during the day.

O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple.

Psalms 48:9 NLT

Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.

Psalms 119:27 NLT

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Joshua 1:8 NLT

I hope you are inspired to spend time with God today if you haven't already. 

by Wayne Robust

KEY VERSE:

He had healed many people that day, so all the sick people eagerly pushed forward to touch him.  Mark 3:10 NLT

Devotional Thoughts:

Jesus does heal and like the people in the verse who pushed in to touch Him, we need to do the same.  Sometimes we must push forward in our prayers exercising our faith and thereby growing stronger in our faith as we reach out to touch him.

I was being rolled into the operating room to remove the third type of cancer I had faced.  This one was a very deadly type, renal cell carcinoma.  The procedure went well however, the recovery period was vey “stormy.”  After surgery I started to bleed internally and three attempts to stop the bleeding proved unsuccessful.  So much internal bleeding had occurred that the pressure building up in my abdomen caused by liver to rupture.  With this my condition rapidly deteriorated.  I was so ill that I would not survive any more surgery.  My wife was told that I was dying and I probably would pass away in the next few days.  She put me on the do not resuscitate list.

My nurses would call in on their days off to see if I was “still there.”  My pastor drove back home across country to be with us.  Once I do remember coming around seeing four doctors at my bedside discussing my case and looking very grim because they could do nothing.

Prayers had been lifted up all along but now everyone began praying as in the scripture.  They were pushing in to touch the Lord for my healing.  My church began to pray; people we knew all over the country started to pray.  My congregation in total flooded the altar one Sunday to intercede for my healing.

I miraculously made it through those next few days.  Finally after some time which included nearly 60 blood transfusions, a fourth attempt at stopping the bleeding succeeded.  I would like to say I picked up my bed and walked away but my healing did not occur that way.  I could not even stand on my own.  The last procedure left me in total renal failure and on renal dialysis.  Doctors said I needed a kidney transplant or continue dialysis.  God knew that at some point in my life that I would need a kidney transplant.  So the wife he gave me came with the perfect kidney match I needed.  It was her donation that completed God’s perfect plan for my healing.  Jesus heals.  When you face a sudden health issue who comes to mind first Jesus or your physician?  Do you, as the people in the bible verse did, eagerly push to get to Jesus when you pray?  We all believe Jesus saves Can you believe as strongly that Jesus heals.

by Jackie Perry

(Here Jackie encourages us to pray through Matthew 16:18-24)

Matthew 16:18-24. ”and I tell you, Peter, and on this rock, I will build My  church and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.”

God tells us  He will build His church with people like Peter, we are all rocks part of the building or church of God. How does He  use us to impact the world around us in this walk with God?

Verse 19”I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth must be what is loosed in heaven.” God has given us the keys to the kingdom- which are to bind on earth, but the key is - it  must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven. Which means we must seek the face of God, we must read His word, we must inquire of the Holy Spirit, we must be students of Jesus to know what has been bound, or tied, or defeated in heaven and what has been set free, loosed, lawful in heaven. 

Holy Spirit, open my eyes and hearts to know Your will, to know the Word of God, to have eyes to see as God sees. Father forgive me for any sins, transgressions or iniquities in my life and heart that hinder me from full relationship with You. I ask that You would reveal Your will, Your heart on this matter, may I clearly see how to pray. 

Then Jesus gives us an example: in verse 21” Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things”…verse 22 “Peter rebukes Jesus saying this must never happen to You”! 

Peter already forgot the principle. Peter was responding with fleshly or his natural mind. Pray: forgive me for relying on my flesh and the things I know in the physical. Father help me not to rely on what I see with my natural eyes, or mind but help me look to You in every situation, help me pray and seek Your will, help me understand Your word so that I may be effective in my prayer life. 

Verse 24 if anyone desires to be my disciple, let him deny himself( disregard, lose sight of, forget himself and his own interests) and take up his cross and follow Me.

Holy Spirit Your word says that You are my helper and that You will reveal all truth to me, I ask that you guide in being a disciple of Jesus, I ask that You would reveal truth to me, help me forget my interests, my plans and show me what the Father is doing and what He wants me to do in building Your kingdom

by Jackie Perry

Psalm 23 Prayer

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not lack”. Lord You are my leader, my guide, my provider. That is Your job, I relinquish that job that I have tried to take over. Forgive me for trying to do what You have already promised to do for me. Thank you for the promise- that I will NOT lack. Such a simple promise but oh so powerful. Thank You for Your provision, thank You that in You there is no lack. Sometimes I don’t agree with Your timing but Your provision has never let me down. 

My God will provide, I will not lack what I need. I declare in the name of Jesus that all that is promised to me will be provided and no weapon formed against me will prosper. 

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still and restful waters. He refreshes  and restores my life; He leads me in the paths of righteousness with Him- not for my earning it but for His name’s sake”. 

Picture this… we run and strive and work ourselves into the ground on a daily basis. But here God promises to give us rest, refreshment, hydrate us, put us in a place where we can hear His still small voice. I have seen God give me this daily when I take time to read His word, meditate on His word and pray. Some may say this is still work- but think of it as a time when you feed your physical body to replenish- this is a time to replenish our spirits. I have also seen God do this on a prolonged basis like when on vacation or if He has to He will utilize a time when you are sick or injured( maybe because you have been running too hard, its the only way He can slow you down enough to give you the rest you need). 

Prayer: God lead me in times of refreshing, help me to lie down in Your presence and heal me, speak to me, guide me, calm my heart and mind. Lead me in Your ways, Your righteous, right standing with You. Father I can not do it in my own strength, but I surrender to Your sacrifice that you made for me on the cross, by taking my sin away and giving me a clean slate— so You may be glorified, so Your name can be made great, so people will see Your love and faithfulness. 

“Yea though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my runs over.” 

God I thank you that you are with me in ALL circumstances, I have no reason to fear, worry or back down. God I acknowledge that You are in control and that You care about me and my life and the things that bother me. Father I thank you for Your rod which protects me and Your staff which guides me. Your protection and guidance bring me comfort, bring me relief and takes away from anxiety.

God you are even so bold as to allow me to rest enough that I can sit down and have a meal even while my enemies are all around and yet You provide such a peace that passes all understanding! Jesus anoint me so much it it runs over and blesses others, that there would be so much of You that I could share with others, and others would be attracted to You. The anointing You give will provide necessary tools for me to walk among my enemies and not be taken down. 

“Surely only goodness, mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life and though the length of my days the house of the Lord shall be my dwelling place.” 

Thank you Lord that in You there is goodness, love and mercy with no limit or end and this is my portion. There is no other place I would rather dwell in Your presence! Your presence has everything I need and want