Hope-Filled Sunday!
Happy Sunday! Here’s some encouragement for your week.
For the past decade, I’ve been choosing a word of phrase for the year. I do still make a few resolutions, but those are no longer my main focus. Along with my word or phrase, I also choose a Bible verse.
In December 2021, I was debating on a couple options (a word and a phrase). My final decision was made early in the morning on January 1, 2022. I didn’t realize that I’d also need to put it into action a few short hours later, due to circumstances beyond my control. I’ll admit that, after the initial shock, it made me chuckle to see that my calendar for the year was even encouraging me!
I’ve struggled with anxiety and fear for years, and turning those worries into prayers is still a work in progress. Thankfully, the Lord is patient with me … and He will be with you if this is an area you’re working on, too. Not only is He patient with us, but He won’t leave us to go at it alone. If Jesus is able to raise the dead, heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and feed multitudes, surely He can help us battle any lies (which is what those fears and anxieties are!) the enemy throws at us. And the strength we receive from Him is enough!
Sadly, going to the Lord isn’t always the first thing I do. But I’ve found that when I do seek His counsel, I receive a sense of peace I didn’t have before. It may not instantaneously erase the fear and anxiety, but it makes it easier for me to shift my focus a bit, push the lies aside, and focus on God’s truths.
The Lord will strengthen us. He will never let us down, so we have nothing to fear.
Lord, I know I have let fear replace my faith for far too long. Thank You for the reminder that I don’t need to fear because You’re with me, and You are bigger than anything I’ll encounter. Replace my fears with Your courage and peace. Amen.
Have a blessed day. Gentle hugs to all of you. ?