Do Not Be Afraid

We live in troubling times. The recent bomb attacks in Boston remind us we are under the constant threat of terror in our world. We're faced with many other personal challenges in life, from sickness to financial hardships, but a personal relationship with Jesus and opening our hearts to the Holy Spirit enables us to live fearlessly in these challenging times.

Believers don't have to be afraid. In Psalm 56:4, it says, “In God, I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust. I will not fear what flesh can do to me.”

Evil is all around us in the world today as we have seen in the Boston marathon bombings. But if you have put your trust in God, you have nothing to fear. Hebrews 13:5-6 tells us the Lord is our helper, and we shall not fear what man may do to us. Paul says in Romans 8:30-32 that if God is for us who can be against us.

God is a rock and a fortress in times of trouble. In Psalm 31:1-5, David reminds us to put our trust in the Lord. We are told in Psalm 73:24-28 that God is our guide and shelter. David also tells us in Psalm 48:14 that God watches over us through our entire lives. He will protect us from danger.

We don't have to be afraid because God knows our needs before we even ask. In Luke, Jesus tells us not to worry over the basics because our Father in heaven knows our needs. God loves us with a love that surpasses all understanding. He loves us so much that he gave his only son for us.

The words "fear not" or "do not be afraid" are in the Bible over 300 times. That's a comfort to me, and I hope it will be a comfort to you today, too. Even in these evil times, we have the assurance that God is with us! Fear not. God is still in control.

Endure Until The End

We have a great promise in the Word of God. The Bible says if we endure and remain faithful to the end, we will reign with Christ! The key is to endure and never give up in our walk of faith. If we want to conquer sin in our lives and achieve the ultimate victory of heaven some day, we must be tenacious.

 

The Bible gives us many examples of how we should endure. In 2 Timothy 2:3, Paul writes, "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." Like soldiers, believers will face hardships and battles, and we must wage a spiritual warfare. We will win the fight if we continue in wholehearted devotion to God.

Paul also compares Christian life to the rigorous training of an athlete. In 2 Timothy 2:5, it says, "Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules." So, like an athlete, believers must live lives of strict discipline. We must endure hard training and sacrifice if we want to win our contest.

Finally, the Christian is compared to a farmer in 2 Timothy 2:6. Farmers work hard and long hours, but if they remain diligent to their work, they will reap a crop. If we are diligent and don't give up, we, too, will reap the reward.

Throughout the Bible, we are urged to persevere in our Christian walk. In Jude, it says, "keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."

So don't give up! Be tenacious. If we endure and remain steadfast in the faith to the end, we will rule and reign with Christ himself. 

Pray Your Worries Away

It's hard not to worry sometimes. With all of the pressures and problems we face from day to day, worry is the natural response. But there is a solution. The best cure for worry is prayer!

Philippians 4:6 tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the God of peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

When we come up against hard times, such as an illness or financial situation, we may not know where to turn. The situation may seem hopeless, but we have a God who cares for us and can handle any problem we have. Instead of worrying, the best thing is to take it to God in prayer.

Through prayer, we renew our trust in God's faithfulness. If you have served the Lord for any length of time, I'm sure you've seen Him come through for you time after time. He'll come through for you again! God is faithful. He's not caught off guard by our problems. He wants us to come to Him and cast all our cares on Him.

When we pray, God's peace comes to guard our hearts and minds, and we receive grace and help in our time of trouble. We are assured that in all things God is working for our good.

When we give our worries to God in prayer, His peace will flood our troubled minds. It is the assurance that Jesus is near and God's power is at work in our lives. This peace will comfort us, preventing the cares and heartaches of this world from dominating our lives and undermining our faith in God.

If fear and worry continue, prayer will once again place us under the peace of God that guards our hearts. Once more, we will be at peace knowing God has everything under control. So cast your cares on Him today because He cares for you!