Posts with the tag “fear”

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." - Proverbs 9:10We end this month where we began: with the recognition that true wisdom starts with a proper relationship with God. The fear of the Lord is not just the beginning of our journey toward wisdom; it remains the foundation throughout our lives. Every step of growth, every new insight, ever...  Read More

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." - Proverbs 1:7As August unfolds and many prepare for a new school year, we're reminded that true learning begins not in a classroom, but in our relationship with God. The Hebrew word for "fear" here doesn't mean terror, but rather a deep reverence and awe for who God is. This reverence becomes the foundatio...  Read More

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment." - 2 Timothy 1:7 Fear is one of the most primal emotions we experience. It tells us we are unsafe, incapable, or alone. But for the believer, fear is often a sign of misplaced identity. When we forget who we are—and more importantly, whose we are—fear moves into the driver's seat. Your identity in Christ is the...  Read More

"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" - Romans 8:15 Yesterday we celebrated the perfect love of our Heavenly Father. Today we explore what it means to live as His adopted children with the security that comes from belonging to Him. You don't have ...  Read More

"So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir." - Galatians 4:7 What if someone told you that you'd been living as a servant in a house where you were actually the heir? That's exactly what Paul is telling us in this verse. Many of us live like spiritual slaves when we're actually spiritual royalty.Paul uses the metaphor of slavery and a...  Read More

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” - Isaiah 60:1 There is a vulnerability in blooming. A bud is tight, protected, and safe. But to become a flower, it must open itself up. It must expose its fragile petals to the wind, the rain, and the insects. It risks being crushed or plucked. Yet, a bud that never opens is a tragedy. It never fulfills its created...  Read More

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7Fear stalks us—in news headlines, new challenges, and old hurts. Left unchecked, it keeps us isolated or silent. Resurrection power is God’s gift of steady courage—the sound mind and love that let us step beyond fear’s grip.Paul encourages Timothy to turn away from timidity because God’s Spiri...  Read More

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” - Romans 8:15Childhood can be a game of belonging. On playgrounds or at dinner tables, we ache to know whether we are wanted, loved, and truly "home." So much of life, even in adulthood, is colored by the fear...  Read More

"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!'" - John 20:19Fear locks doors—sometimes literally, but more often in the heart. Even after hearing of resurrection, Jesus’s closest friends found themselves huddled together, afraid of what might happen...  Read More

But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” – Luke 23:40-41The second criminal responded very differently from the first criminal, as we discussed yesterday. Instead of mocking Jesus, he rebuked the other m...  Read More

According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. – Hebrews 9:22The entire Passover story hinges on one critical detail: the blood of the lamb. In Exodus 12, God instructed each Jewish family to sacrifice a lamb and smear its blood on the doorposts of their home. When the angel of death passed through Egypt, if he saw the bloo...  Read More

Deeply distressed, each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?” – Matthew 26:22When the Titanic set sail in 1912, it was called the unsinkable ship. It was the largest, most luxurious vessel ever built. Passengers boarded with excitement, confident in its safety. One crew member even claimed that not even God Himself could sink it. Four days later, it lay at the bottom of the ocean.The disc...  Read More

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.” – John 14:27 Life has a way of reminding us that peace is fragile. One moment things seem steady, and the next, everything changes. The phone call you never expected. The bill you didn’t see coming. The diagnosis that shakes your confidence. It doesn’t take much f...  Read More

“But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed… The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction.” – Romans 3:21-22 The Pharisees had rules for everything. And I mean everything. They were so committed to avoiding any chance of offending God that they wouldn’t even say His name out loud. When they wrote it, they r...  Read More

"Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes." - Nehemiah 4:14 When Nehemiah gathered the people to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, it looked like a construction project on the surface. But if you really look at what was happening, you’ll see this was never just about a wall. This was a...  Read More

“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.” - Nehemiah 4:14 There are moments when following God’s vision will wear you out. The work gets heavy. The critics get loud. And before long, even the strongest believers begin to question if the vision is worth it. That’s exactly what happened in Nehem...  Read More

"Our God will fight for us" - Nehemiah 4:20 There will always be risk when you follow God. That’s the part no one talks about. We love the idea of blessing and favor and open doors, but we often forget that the path to purpose usually walks straight through danger and opposition. Nehemiah knew that firsthand. As he stepped into the vision God gave him, he also stepped into a fight. The moment he b...  Read More

"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment." – Hebrews 9:27 We all have moments on the calendar that we wish we could skip. Maybe it is a tough conversation you are dreading or a doctor’s appointment you would rather avoid. Maybe it is a deadline you have been procrastinating on or an exam you wish would just disappear. I once talked with a high school student ...  Read More

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." - Revelation 21:4 Can you picture a world where all the pain and brokenness we see today is gone? A world without crime or violence, without fear or loss. It is hard to imagine because everything around us now seems to ca...  Read More

"Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant." - 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is not about control, but many people treat it that way. They believe that if someone loves them, they should belong to them. They should answer every call, respond to every text, and prioritize them above everything else. Love becomes less about care and more about possession. That min...  Read More

"So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free." - John 8:36 No one wants to be a slave. If you asked people whether they would rather live in freedom or captivity, the answer would be obvious. Yet so many live in bondage without realizing they are the ones holding the chains in place. Jesus spoke about this when He told the people that the truth would set them free. But instead of celebrat...  Read More

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." – Joshua 1:9 Following God is not for the faint of heart. It takes courage to stand firm in faith when the world pushes back. It takes boldness to walk in obedience when the path is unclear. It takes strength to trust God when fear tries to hold you...  Read More

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." – Matthew 12:30 There will come a day when people willingly take the mark of the beast. Some will be convinced—believing that one leader, one government, and one system is the best path forward. Some will be careless—not thinking twice about what it means, just wanting to keep their lives comfortable. And some wi...  Read More

"Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." - Matthew 24:44 As we discussed yesterday, we love the idea of status. Whether it’s in life, in church, or even in something as simple as airline boarding, people like knowing where they rank. But when it comes to eternity, there is no ranking system. There’s no first class or economy, no front row or ba...  Read More

"I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades." - Revelation 1:18 There’s a powerful truth that often gets overlooked: Satan isn’t in charge of Hell. In fact, he doesn’t even have the keys. Jesus makes it clear in Revelation 1:18 that He holds the keys of death and Hades. If Satan doesn’t have a key, then he doesn’t have authority. The one who holds the keys ho...  Read More

"Take the helmet of salvation." - Ephesians 6:17 In the midst of spiritual warfare, one of the most critical pieces of armor God provides is the helmet of salvation. Just as a physical helmet protects the head from fatal blows, the helmet of salvation guards your mind—the battlefield where so many spiritual attacks take place. Satan knows that if he can plant seeds of doubt, fear, or confusion in ...  Read More

"Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Ephesians 6:17 In the battle against spiritual forces, God equips you with powerful weapons, but there’s one that stands out for its unique purpose: the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. It’s not just a defensive tool, it’s an offensive weapon designed to strike back against the lies and schemes o...  Read More

"The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night." - Revelation 8:12 Darkness has a way of grabbing your attention. When the fourth trumpet sounds, a third of the sun, moon, and stars are stru...  Read More

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. But he laid his right hand on me and said, ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.’” - Revelation 1:17-18  In Revelation 1, John has an incredible vision of Jesus. He sees Jesus in His full glory, far beyond the image we often have of Him. John describes Jesus with hair ...  Read More

“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place.” - Revelation 1:1  If you're a servant of God, then the book of Revelation was given to you. It’s not just for the theologians or scholars, and it's not just for people who have a deep understanding of Scripture. It’s for you. The Revelation of Jesus Christ was delivered with you in mi...  Read More

“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” - John 10:9 Not too long ago, I had the privilege of sharing the gospel at the Bradley County Jail, and one of the most vivid memories I have is of speaking to men who were surrounded by fear and hopelessness. These men were confined by bars, but there was something far greater keeping them in bondag...  Read More

"And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.'" - Luke 2:10   Joy, real lasting joy, isn’t something you can chase or achieve through perfect circumstances. You might find fun and happiness in hobbies, family gatherings, or favorite activities, but joy is different. It was designed to come from only one source: Jesus.  When ...  Read More

“Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to rescue you.”- Jeremiah 1:8    As followers of Christ, you face a critical decision: who will you fear more, God or people? This choice may seem straightforward, yet many of us find ourselves wrestling with the fear of others, often placing them on a pedestal above God. If you’re honest, you might recognize moments when the opinions and judgmen...  Read More

“When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house and prayed.” - Daniel 6:10   Living a life of faith often calls for radical obedience, and that kind of obedience can be daunting. In Daniel's story, we see this vividly illustrated during his time under King Darius. Despite serving in a new administration that could have easily led to his dismissal, Daniel remained steadfas...  Read More

“The fear of mankind lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.” - Proverbs 29:25   Fear can be a powerful force. It often holds us back from stepping into our true calling. When faced with intimidating situations, like the ones Daniel encountered, it’s easy to let the fear of people overshadow our faith in God.  In both Daniel chapters 2 and 5, he found himself in precarious positions,...  Read More

“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank.”- Daniel 1:8    When we think about courage, one of the most striking examples comes from the life of Daniel. His journey begins with an unsettling change when the chief eunuch renames him, calling him Belteshazzar instead of Daniel, which means "God is my judge."  This name change wasn't ju...  Read More

“Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last.” - Revelation 1:17   In Revelation 1:17, Jesus repeats a crucial command: “Don’t be afraid.” He reassures us, saying, “I am the First and the Last.” For the early Christians facing intense persecution, these words were a powerful reminder of His eternal nature and His presence with them through every trial. When we love Jesus, follow Him, and trust Hi...  Read More

“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer.” - Revelation 2:10)   Jesus never promised that following Him would make life easier. In fact, He explicitly warned of the opposite. In John 16:33, He said, “You will have suffering in this world.” This is a reality that the early Christians in Smyrna knew all too well. They were persecuted, beaten, and under immense pressure. Jesus acknowledged th...  Read More

"He said, 'Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.'" - Genesis 22:12   As we dive deeper into the story of Abraham and Isaac, let's consider a crucial question: What are we withholding from God? Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac reveals a profound truth about surrender and...  Read More

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." - Matthew 10:28   As followers of Christ, we face a fundamental choice: whom will we fear more—God or other people? It's a decision that shapes our actions, our attitudes, and ultimately, our lives. And sooner or later, we'll all have to confront this cho...  Read More