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What to do when you don’t know what to do

obedience, eternal gain, small steps

What to do? Most likely, it’s a question you ask often. I do.

I’m convinced when my mind understands the eternal calling here on earth, then my earthly calling will be fulfilled in eternal ways.

In other words, when you grasp that God put you here to experience mercy in the face of emotions, to extend grace when situations fall short of expectations, to flood the nations with Jesus’ love and compassion, then what you should ‘do’ is exactly this.

Our ‘calling’ can sound daunting when we hear “nations” but see only our neighborhoods.obedience, eternal gain, small steps

Start with your next step. Small steps in obedience to God’s desire for your life leads to an eternal gain.

Are you fighting selfishness? Pray for the welfare of others before you begin prayers for yourself. Are you consumed with concerns of a comfortable life; more money, more time? Then say ‘yes’ to the company of others and give away what you have all the more.

In whatever way you share Jesus with others, that is what God has called you to.

The skills, talents, and resources God has gifted you with to carry His compassion to even just one soul, that is your calling.

God’s will is that you do this with a thankful heart. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

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Prisoners of Hope

Zechariah, Zechariah 9:12, prisoner of hope

Zechariah, Zechariah 9:12, prisoner of hope

We are Prisoners of Hope!

We look at our circumstances and expect Jesus to enter in. We don’t panic in the storm because He gave us a promise. He is our Strong Tower, our stronghold in the storm.

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Our days are not dictated by the moods of other people. God is here in our midst and calms us with His love.

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Is Fear A Sin?

Just ask Jonah

fear, sin, jonah,

We don’t discipline our children for being afraid. When we flip back through the pages of scripture, we don’t see fear showing up as one of the Seven Deadly Sins. So is living afraid even bad? Is fear a sin?

“Do not fear” is one of God’s most frequently repeated instructions in the bible. Have you ever considered why?  

When fear takes the lead in our lives, it often causes us to disobey God’s Word.

If fear leads to disobedience, is fear a sin?

Jonah’s story is a testament to what fear will lead us to do. God told Jonah to go to Ninevah and tell the city that God is bringing His judgment on their wickedness. Jonah’s fear took control and he ran from God’s request. Jonah’s paralyzing fear led him away from his purpose, God’s calling on his life.

Our choices have significant consequences. The emotionally uncomfortable, conflicting feelings of fear can keep us from the high calling God has placed upon our lives. We might struggle with the fear of commitment, the risk of being hurt, and so we hold back emotionally and stay away from relationships. We might be afraid of the expectations of others so we refrain from speaking the truth.  

Fear disrupts faith and becomes our biggest obstacle to trusting and obeying God.

Moses let fear make a few decisions in his life. Being a slave to fear can keep us from an opportunity to discover that God can be trusted.

When we feel called by God to act, our fears can hold us back. Fear can keep us from acknowledging reality, from speaking the truth, from being authentic with others, from admitting struggles, sharing our pain, and standing up for what is right. When we focus on our fear, we end up elevating our feelings above God’s ability and ultimately, we forget all about God’s faithfulness.

Fear might be the number one reason we are tempted to run from what God has called us to do.

If fear leads to disobedience, is fear a sin? Trust and fear are constantly battling for our decisions.

If you live in fear, you will never experience the potential that God has placed in you.

When you choose fear, you lose the opportunity to discover that God can be trusted. Any kind of growth inside you is going to involve risk, and risk always involves fear. You will have to face your fear, act even when you are afraid if you intend to do what God has created you to do.

We will all have moments when we must choose between trust and fear. Where is Jesus asking you to step out, step up, step into the face of fear? What is holding you back? There are good fears that keep us from reckless choices, but your ‘no’ because of fear shouldn’t keep you from saying ‘yes’ to faith.

Use your fear and fight back in faith. Click here for a tool I created to help your faith grow the next time a fear presents itself. 

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The single worst day in history and God said it was good

death, sting, King, Jesus, His death brought goodGod wrote “good” on the single worst day in history. There is not one day, or week, or month, or year of suffering… not one trauma, loss, or pain with which God cannot write “good” over you in Christ Jesus too. All it takes is the belief that His blood covers all of you; in the past, the present, and what is to come.

In God’s presence, pain has no place, sickness has no place, weariness has no place, depression has no place.

At the cross, we find all our answers.

In what Jesus lived for, in what Jesus died for, that is the meaning to life.

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Use F.E.A.R. To Fight Back

F.E.A.R., use fear to fight back

Taking on challenges builds the core of who you are, even if it’s not done perfectly. Your greatest fears can be a threshold to God’s greatest transitions in life. The next time life throws a scary situation your way, use F.E.A.R. to fight back.

We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 2 Corinthians 10:4 NLTF.E.A.R., use fear to fight back

F

Filter your fear through God’s truth to equip your mind with a bold spirit and to expose the enemy’s lies. Feed your spirit daily with God’s encouraging Truth. Surround yourself with uplifting music and positive people. This will push your fears out of mind and replace your thoughts with His thoughts. You are more than your feelings. You are a powerful, wise, beloved child of God, and you can do whatever you need to do in life through Christ, who is your strength.

Fear says ‘what if… what if… what if…’ Faith says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” Psalm 23:6 NIV

E

Expect God to work for your good and ultimately, His glory. Expect Him to show up, to step in, and to act with justice and mercy. Increase your determination and be willing to fail, then use failure as a teacher. When we live expecting God to intervene, we must be careful not to limit our confidence by our own agenda or understanding.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to the king’s image. These three Hebrew boys expected their God to come through. And He did, in the furnace.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames shall not set you ablaze… Do not be afraid for I will be with you. Isaiah 43:2-3, 5 NIV

A

Act with courage. Live willing and available to move, to reach out, to speak up. For someone who wrestles with worry and doubt and yet still obeys, trembling but trusting- that is true courage.

C.S. Lewis reminded us that courage is not the absence of fear but acting in spite of it. Everyday ordinary people take steps to accomplish extraordinary things while they still feel the fear.

Sometimes we see heroes of faith and think they have it all figured out. Brave people don’t stop hearing the whispers of fear. They hear the whispers and take action anyway. God asks us to do things afraid so that we will lean into Him with faith.

R

Remember God’s faithfulness. Recount the stories in scripture and in your own life where God has come through before. This is what David did when faced with the giant, Goliath. In 1 Samuel 17, David remembers God‘s faithfulness when the enemy looked like a lion and a bear. David concludes if God rescued him before, He will surely do it again.

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 ESV

Be assured that the same God, the same power available to you is the same one that raised Christ from the dead.

He will never leave you nor forsake you.

LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 NIV

The only way to live a fearless life is to live looking to God.

The next time you are taunted with the flames of fear, use F.E.A.R. to refocus. When you filter fear through God’s Truth, expect Him to work for your good, act with courage, and remember God’s faithfulness, you will have the confidence to stand strong. Be willing to feel the fear and do what you need to do anyway because facing fear will help your faith grow.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

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The bottom offers a new beginning with God

God will let you get to the bottom, maybe lose something important, or even become desperate just so you and I can experience Him all the more. The Almighty waits for our hands to surrender so we can see His sufficiency is all we ever need.

Our Creator God cares about having a relationship with His children. He holds the keys to life and is championing every effort to discover Him more.

Instead of complaining or stressing out about a situation, this is the time to say, God, you have created an opportunity for me to see your power, to experience your hand, to go deeper in my relationship with You by seeing You like I have never witnessed your grace, your favor, or your strength before.temporary losses, short-term loss, eternal gain, perspective shift, change your perspective, perspective

“Only God.” This is the beginning of every God-glorifying story.

Any temporary loss has an eternal gain if you can change your perspective on the problem. Our promise-keeping God never asks us to give up anything without offering something far greater in its place.

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Faith is more than a feeling

You can’t get confused if you refuse to get into reasoning. Faith trusts God and doesn’t need to know why. Our faith thrives when we don’t have the answers.

The Bible reminds us that we don’t lean on our own understanding but live our lives guided by God’s instructions.

God never intended us to know why things happen the way they do. Be careful that you don’t allow your desire for answers keep you straining and struggling in a sea of confusion. He created us to be devoted to Him. Faith is standing firm with a focus on His Word. Faith is persevering in praise to Him when adversity strikes. When the voice of the enemy comes to fight, faith rests in the all-sufficiency of Christ.

It takes greater faith to be denied what you want and love the Author, our Creator, just as much. thoughts on life, thought life, which direction are you heading

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How To Have Faith When Prayers Are Not Answered

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. Psalm 143:4 KJV

When it seems life is falling apart, we might throw a hail mary prayer request in hopes God will fix the situation. But what happens when our prayers go unanswered or things don’t turn out the way we had hoped? We might get angry, have doubts about God’s motives, or take matters into our own hands.

It’s always a mistake to wrap our faith and confidence in God around the fulfillment of our dreams or the answers to our prayer.

The foundation of our faith is not answered prayer. The foundation of faith is not everything going our way or happily ever after endings either.

We live from a place of peace and rest that God has got this. Whether or not it looks the way you wanted, you can still trust has your best in mind.

Dreams that don’t come true and prayers that don’t get answered say nothing about the presence, the goodness, or the faithfulness of God.

Through the highs and lows, and all the ups and downs, God is still with you. – Andy Stanley

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What would your second chance look like?

second chance, change, jonah

Today is a second chance.

While you can’t change the past, you can change the present.

The crushing convictions you may have experienced in the aftermath of your past are not lost. That burden of conviction on your heart is a guilt between you and God, and He is a God of second chances; it’s called today.

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. – Jonah 3:1-3 ESV

second chance, change, jonahToday is your second chance.

You can change how you respond to frustration. You can set new boundaries and protect what you have left. You can get help. You can walk away from that addiction. You can honor your loved ones by putting new priorities in place.

There’s still time to pick up the phone, text, reach out, show up. Perhaps for you it’s not picking up more but putting down what you already have; the pain, the blame, the worry.

Conviction is between you and God, the Author and Creator of your soul. He uses this kind of remorse and guilt on your conscious to change the course of your days ahead. He’s guiding you with a hand on your heart to steer your steps into more blessings, more favor, higher places with more responsibility.

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. – Luke 16:10 NLT

Your Father will not give you more work or more burden than you can bear. He gives you and I a choice every day as He waits for change to reveal your growth, your strength, your resilience.

There is no shame changing who you used to be into the person you want to be, the person you know you can be.

Here is an opportunity to respect failed attempts yesterday by taking the second chance to change today.

If you don’t know how to begin again, a good place to start is with “I’m sorry.”

The past carries casualties of our ignored convictions. May your present be the change God is calling you to be.