Freedom from Fear- Abounding Hope: Week 11

 

 

God did not give us a spirit of fear!!

 

A simple, quick search on BibleGateway.com of the word "fear" yields 336 results. Why so much attention to fear? If repetition is any indication, it can be said that the Lord did not want his children to be hindered by fear.

 

"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

 

The Word instructs us not to fear, "don't be afraid", to be free of fear. But how does one operate free of fear? How can you stare down the circumstances and situations that fallen many before you?

 

"Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious hand. See, all of your angry enemies lie there, confused and humiliated. Anyone who opposes you will die and come to nothing" Isaiah 41:10-11(NLT)

 

Hold onto God! Hold tight to his Word, trust and believe in the might of God.  Seems simple in theory, but in practice…recognize what makes us fearful.  Recognize the conditions and settings that make us fearful, those moments that would seem hopeless, for it is in these moments we must hold tightest.

 

God wants us to hold to Him so that we can be courageous, secure, hopeful!  God does not want us to be apprehensive, full of dread or terror. We must keep in mind that there is no room for hope if we choose to hold onto fear.

 

"And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in the world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear…." 1 John 4:17-18

 

 #######################################################################################

 

 

 

Abounding Hope: Week 8--A Vessel of Hope

When we meet Joseph the stage is immediately set.

 "…Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age.  And he made him a robe of many colors" – Genesis 37:3

What could have become a story of hate and revenge instead became one of restoration and hope.  

Joseph was not the first to suffer at the hands of his brother, but in this case we see God's continued favor upon his life. From the sparing of Joseph's life forward, God continued to bless him, and even at times using people to position Joseph.  Starting with Reuben,  God provides vessels to be used in providing for Joseph.  Even in the most dreadful of circumstances, regardless of the person's motivations, God can use someone to make a way.

I'm asking myself what kind of vessel am I. Am I a vessel of hope and encouragement? Or do I allow bitterness and anger to fester and sour hope? 

 "..there are not only vessels of gold and  of silver, but also wood  and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared to every good work…follow righteousness, faith, clarity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart…" –2 Timothy 2:20-22

 Are you willing to let God use you? I think most of us want to be helpful, maybe even hopeful.  But are we willing to do what is required of us to be used by God? 

Yes God can use anyone, any circumstance.  But to be an honorable vessel means "you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work" (NLT).

 Thankfully perfection is not a requirement! Even with my flaws God can still fashion a useful vessel. Even if I am still trying to read through the Bible for the 1^st time, even if I haven't memorized every Psalm or perfected Family Devotions, God can still use me and you!

 Lord, I pray you shape us into the vessels you call for us to be. By your design may we find purpose and hope.  Amen.

Written by Michelle Walker-Alexander

Abounding Hope: Week 5--Got Hope?

June 19, 2013 by Michelle Walker-Alexander

Got Hope?

Even without the black backdrop most will immediately recognize the popular tag line that has been used to promote everything from milk to vacations. I would guess that many have seen the shirts asking if you "got Jesus?". Sure its a clever line but what's your answer? Do you have hope even when everything that can go wrong has? Or when you can't see how you can possibly face tomorrow?....

got hope? This is a question with only one right answer. Thank Heaven YES!

"My help comes from The Lord, who made heaven and earth"   Psalm 121:2

In the span of a few days Job faced loss after loss and yet he continued to stand firm in his knowledge of The Lord. In the face of a relentless wind and a driving rain Job stood his ground. He didn't cower or hide, he didn't plea or beg. Instead Job lives the word, " ...seek God, and to God I would commit my cause.." Job 5:8

How could Job possibly know and believe in the face of such despair? Job knew because he truly knew of God's awesome power! Even as his friend, Elihu spoke of God's majesty, I see Job violently agreeing.

The continual challenge for us is to stand firm. To believe even when we want to cry out in defeat. To trust even when we want to run and hide. Know what we know even when what we see is dark and discouraging.

Let our hearts mediate on this song-

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from The Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore.

Would you share how has hope arisen in your heart recently?

Written by Michelle Walker Alexander
WCW Social Media Community Group Co-Leader

Abounding Hope: Week 2--A Portrait of Hope

May 29, 2013 by Michelle Walker-Alexander

Job is a man "...that was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned from evil" (Job 1:1 ESV). So a question for many might be, why Job? What can Job teach us about hope?

I think the beauty of God's Word is that He provides us all with lessons or instructions on how to live our lives. In His infinite wisdom, The Lord as provided us with a history of relationship. This week as we meet Job, we are immediately told that he is a righteous, obedient man who loses much of what he values in just a few moments.  In the midst of his storm Job "....fell to the ground and worshipped".

This week's study has revealed two critical truths:

1. Job could praise God through any circumstance because he praised God in every circumstance. Job was able to praise in the face of his profound loss, because he was a man that lived in a committed relationship with God. As a result of his relationship with God, Job was practiced, ready and able to communicate with the Father.
2. Living a hope filled life will not always be a pretty life. Living hope is so much more than being hopeful.  I can be hopeful for a nice sunny day when I'm planning a day beach but I reach for a different place, a deeper faith when the heavy rains are unleashed and turbulent winds toss me to and fro. To truly walk in hope and trust in God is to be in relationship with Him though every circumstance, every situation at every opportunity. 

May we follow the example of Job,  by always cultivating our relationship with God so that we may live a life of abounding hope.

Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.  

Psalm 33:22

Written by Michelle Walker-Alexander
WCW Social Media Community Group Co-Leader