Be Still and Know--Day 106 Through the Bible

                              It's a blessing to live in the Appalachian mountains where trees are everywhere.
                                                    Jesus likened the Kingdom of God to a tiny seed that is sown and
                                                        yet produces a large tree where birds can nest in its branches.  

God has a beautiful purpose and plan underway.  Jesus likened the kingdom of God to "a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches" (Luke 13).  How this world needs a nesting place!  We all need the security of God's tremendous love although our personal circumstances differ. 

Each daily scripture reading is filled with much food for meditation; hopefully, we come away with at least one verse or passage that has special meaning--a special connection for us.  In the past week, my life has taken on the form of a trial.  Last night, I could not sleep and wrestled with an "alligator" of fear that tried to overpower me and roll me to the depths of despair.  The Holy Spirit urged me to get out of bed and into the Word, which I finally did.  I read the scriptures for today.

God gave me exactly what I needed to hear and I realized I am not to struggle in fear, but to rest in Him.  God is there to carry our burdens, however, I can already see that my human nature is going to resist giving them over. I found comfort in the verses that said God gave them rest all around, not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken.  I know this is true for me also.  One of the passages that was especially meaningful is Dr. Stanley's reference to Isaiah 30:15: "in rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength".  He stops there, but the next verse really got my attention--"But you would not, And you said, 'No, for we will flee on horses".  I wanted to flee last night, to break free of this trial and just run.  Yet that is not what God says to do.  The verse that gave me God's direction and set me on the path of peace was Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God".

I returned to bed and immediately fell asleep.  I'm so thankful for God's word, for His Holy Spirit, and for the fact that His Word is truth.  Another passage came to mind as I drifted off to sleep, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For You are with me" (Psalm 23).  I haven't been given a poor prognosis--I'm waiting to see a specialist, yet my human nature is pushing the bleakest scenario imaginable.  But God is already leading me--He led me to His Word. He led me to "be still" and rest in Him.  I'm glad I'm involved in this structured Bible Study. I don't have to debate what to read today--it's laid out for me and I already have a good foundation to continue to build on.

I love the analogy of the flourishing tree and the kingdom of God!  Regardless of what happens to us in this life, God has this beautiful purpose and plan going so that we can have eternal life and dwell with Him for eternity.  Pray that you and I, as well as others we know in the midst of a trial will be able to "Be still, and know that (He) is God"!

Replacing Fear with Truth--Day 57 Through the Bible

                         Wiseman's View in nearby Avery County overlooks Linville Gorge and its rugged terrain. 

                                                                           The views are spectacular any time of year, 

                                                   however, the rock formations are more visible when the leaves are off.

February 26

Dr. Stanley makes a statement in today’s study that, to me, is a matter of life or death, peace or torment. It relates to Mark 5:36, where Jesus said, “Do not be afraid, only believe”. Dr. Stanley comments on this passage by saying, “Regardless of our circumstances, God always urges us on to faith and away from fear”.  I want to post this in a prominent place—maybe several prominent places, so that I can be reminded of this truth throughout the day.

I find that I have fearful thoughts on a regular basis. This leads to worry and is also a concern in light of Revelation 21:8, which says the fearful shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, we are admonished: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”.

What do I do when these thoughts come to mind? Do I address them—do I even recognize them? (The first step in problem solving is to acknowledge the problem.) And, am I aware of their origin? There’s not time here to go into depth on the subject of “fear”. However, its not difficult to pinpoint its source. I John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love”. God is love (I John 4:8), therefore, God cannot be the author of fear. And, 2 Timothy 1:7 leaves no doubt about it: “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”. (This would be good to post also.) God does not intend that as believers we are to be tormented by fear.

God wants us to trust Him and rest in His love (Psalm 23 testifies to that.) It is so natural for us to fear. Yet, the truth is that we are a new creation in Christ—2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”.  Fear paralyzes us. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). We cannot accomplish what God has planned for us to do if we allow fear to paralyze us.

What if the woman in Mark had been too afraid to even touch Jesus’ garment? Maybe she was too afraid to ask Him for healing—she had evidently put much thought into how she was going to approach Jesus. Touching His garment may have been a way around her fear. We don’t know this for sure.  However, when Jesus asked who touched Him, the woman was “fearing and trembling” (Mark 5:33). How wonderful for her that she was able to push past her fear and receive healing.

I have a friend who shared with me a tool God has given her for dealing with fearful, or other negative thoughts. When she has a thought that troubles her, she writes it down in a little notebook she keeps for this purpose. She then looks for a scripture that tells the truth about the thought and writes the scripture in her notebook along with the thought. In doing this, she has (1) recognized that the thought is a problem, and (2) she has discovered what God says about it. Psalm 91:4, says, “His truth shall be your shield”, and Jesus says the truth will make us free (John 8:32).

Jairus’ daughter was dead by the time Jesus arrived. However, there is a truth that even supersedes death. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). When we are fearful, we need the Truth! This is awesome! Jesus told the mourners of the little girl the truth—she was not “dead” (without life)—the Life was standing close by, waiting to resurrect her!

Is it any wonder we are encouraged in Psalm 27:14, to “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He will strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord”. The woman in Mark had suffered many things at the hands of the physicians and was no better. If we trust in the solutions the world offers, we will also find ourselves “no better, but rather (growing) worse”.

Proverbs 10:14, tells us that: “Wise people store up knowledge”. My friend with her little notebook is evidently a wise person. She stores up knowledge of the truth when assailed by wrong thoughts. I must go now—as I have lots to do. I need to make some cards that say, “God always urges us on to faith and away from fear”. I also need to start my notebook. I hope you have also been inspired to take steps that will help you move toward  faith and away from fear!

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled--Day 8 Through the Bible

Mt. Mitchell State Park can be accessed from Hwy. 80 South via The Blue Ridge Parkway. Mt. Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi, with an elevation of 6,684 feet. It is a popular attraction in summer months for visitors to the area . The observation deck pictured here replaced the old observation tower.

                            

January 8

As I read Genesis 15:1, I am reminded of the many times God, Jesus, or an Angel told someone in the Bible not to be afraid. Fearfulness is listed as one of 8 sins in Revelation 21:8 that warrant the lake of fire (that really makes me fearful!). In the same verse, fearfulness is listed along with unbelief.

 In Genesis 15:1 the Lord explains to Abram the reason he doesn’t need to be fearful—“I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward”. Abram expressed concern because God had not given him an heir. God brought Abram outside and asked him to count the stars—if he could, and told him his descendants would be that numerous.

God always exceeds our expectations (in accordance with His will). Abram’s plan and desire included one heir while God’s plan for Abram involved an innumerable multitude. We just cannot comprehend what God is accomplishing! We cannot fathom His greatness and what He has in store for us. We cannot grasp the “exceedingly great reward” that God says is reason for us not to be afraid.

A shield serves as a source of protection—it comes between the bearer and the enemy. We usually think of it in the Bible in terms of battle. However today, we are familiar with personal protective equipment such as eye shields, face shields, leg shields, etc.  God says He is our “shield”. Shield can also mean to cover. In Psalms 91, God says He will cover us with His feathers and under His wings we shall trust. Today’s scripture in Proverbs 2:7 says, “He is a shield to those who walk uprightly”. The level of our despair would be greatly diminished if we could just grasp the truth that God is with us and provides for us--this includes His provision for our protection!

Although Abram believed God, he succumbed to his wife’s plan and fathered a son by Sarai’s handmaiden. Sarai despised Hagar to the point that Hagar left home. The Angel of the Lord found her and called her by name, then gave her God’s perspective on her situation. Hagar “called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, ‘Have I also here seen Him who sees me’?” 

If we are faithful in studying God’s Word, we are on our way to seeing “Him who sees me"! The more our knowledge of God increases, the more we realize God is aware of our situation, and—the more we see God’s perspective on our situation the more our fearfulness diminishes!

Our study wraps up in Matthew with Jesus telling us not to worry about what we need. Worry tends to cross over to fear. He tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to us. In this passage He addresses His hearers as, “O you of little faith”. Yet, this faith deficit can be fixed and God even tells us how. He says in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing the Word of God!  Daily Bible study evidently covers many bases!