Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Fearless


I can live fearless because of who my God is.






because my God can do anything....

....but do I really believe this? 


My God, who brought Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego out of the fiery furnace. 
My God, who taught me about Samson and where our strength actually comes from. 
My God, who parted the Red Sea. 
My God, who wiped the earth clean with a flood after finding only one man righteous.
My God, who protected Daniel and shut the mouths of lions.
My God, who parted the Red Sea.
My God, who fed the 5,000.
My God, who taught me about Elijah calling down fire from heaven.

The list could go on and on forever. 


But, do I really believe this?

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the 
valley of the shadow 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 cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.


Do I really believe this?

Am I living as if I believe this truth?
Have I worried about tomorrow more than I cared about what was happening today?
Do I try to think rationally about decisions I make rather than trusting and living by faith?
Am I afraid to walk through the valley?
Is there are constant worry in my heart about the unknown future?
Have I kept more for myself "in case of emergency" rather than giving to other's current emergencies?

....do I really believe this...


James 5:17 - "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours..."

Wait a minute....did I hear that right? WOW! His nature....just like you and me! Really? And God gave him the power to call fire down from heaven! That is amazing!!


So....do I really believe this?

God asked me this. I wanted to say, "Oh yeah! I believe that. How could I not?!"
He said back to me..."Oh really? I'm not so sure. Yes, you may believe it is true. But are you trusting in it? Are you resting in it? Are you living it? Do others see it in you?"


Crickets. 

Yep. Straight up conviction. Not only was I not completely trusting God with this adoption....it was all over my life. Marriage. Job. Finances. Time. Friends. Family. Tomorrow. Health. I had foolishly allowed myself to think that because I believed all of these things were true, nothing more was required of me. It isn't enough to just believe God and these things (stop your heart, amazing things) about him. No. I have to trust in them. I have to trust in my God. I have to rely on my God. I have to rest in my God. 

Why? Because my God is the source of it ALL. I can take credit for nothing.


So, what's a girl to do? 

Repent and live differently. Fearless.

Is this easy? No. Not by my own strength.

Believe Him. Trust in Him. Through His strength. Through His power. For His will. For His glory. By His grace.




**(It must be said that the Lord spoke to me through His Word and a powerful sermon which can be viewed here if interested.)**