Acts 4:13 (ESV) Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Monday, January 30, 2017
Day 30: "By Faith Moses"
Hebrews 11:23
Hebrews 11:23 (ESV) "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict"
Hebrews 11:23 (ESV) "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict"
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Day 29: "Remember"
Deuteronomy 7:17-18 (ESV) "If you say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I. How can I dispossess them?’ you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt."
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Day 28: "God Meant It For Good"
Genesis 50:19-20
Genesis 50:19-20 (ESV) "But Joseph said to them, 'Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.'"
Sometimes the things you are seeing happen in your life that seem wrong may be God's purposes in disguise. Pay attention to those hard things and watch how God works them out for His glory.
-M.
Genesis 50:19-20 (ESV) "But Joseph said to them, 'Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.'"
Sometimes the things you are seeing happen in your life that seem wrong may be God's purposes in disguise. Pay attention to those hard things and watch how God works them out for His glory.
-M.
Friday, January 27, 2017
Day 27: "We Do Not Lose Heart
2 Corinthians 4:1-2
2 Corinthians 4:1-2 "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God."
2 Corinthians 4:1-2 "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God."
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Day 26: "Shall Not Be Empty"
1 Kings 17:13-16
1 Kings 17:15-16 ESV "And Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, "The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.”' And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah."
1 Kings 17:15-16 ESV "And Elijah said to her, 'Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, "The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.”' And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah."
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Day 25: "Fight for Your Brothers"
Nehemiah 4:14-15
Nehemiah 4:14-15 "And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, 'Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.' When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work."
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Day 24: "With a Sincere Heart"
Ephesians 6:5
Ephesians 6:5 "Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ."
Ephesians 6:5 "Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ."
Monday, January 23, 2017
Day 23:"I Shall Not be Shaken"
"I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption."
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Day 22: "Leads to Life"
Proverbs 19:23
Proverbs 19:23 "The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm."
Proverbs 19:23 "The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm."
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Day 21 - "Why Have You Deceived Me?"
1 Samuel 28:12-13
1 Samuel 28:12-13 "When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, 'Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.' The king said to her, 'Do not be afraid. What do you see?' And the woman said to Saul, 'I see a god coming up out of the earth.'”
The preface comes from 1 Samuel 28:5-6 "When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets."
The story that follows is a story of Saul going to a medium to try and bring Samuel's spirit up from the dead to try and get an answer from the Lord regarding what he should do about the Philistines. This resulted in him actually hearing from Samuel of his death the next day. The other unintended result from his mistrust of the Lord was this fear from the medium. She got involved in this story and it caused her great distress.
I take away one major thing from this story - Going about things, even possibly good things (i.e. discerning God's will) in the wrong way will hurt you and others.
Live in trust with Him and walk boldly today, friends.
-M.
1 Samuel 28:12-13 "When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, 'Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.' The king said to her, 'Do not be afraid. What do you see?' And the woman said to Saul, 'I see a god coming up out of the earth.'”
The preface comes from 1 Samuel 28:5-6 "When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets."
The story that follows is a story of Saul going to a medium to try and bring Samuel's spirit up from the dead to try and get an answer from the Lord regarding what he should do about the Philistines. This resulted in him actually hearing from Samuel of his death the next day. The other unintended result from his mistrust of the Lord was this fear from the medium. She got involved in this story and it caused her great distress.
I take away one major thing from this story - Going about things, even possibly good things (i.e. discerning God's will) in the wrong way will hurt you and others.
Live in trust with Him and walk boldly today, friends.
-M.
Friday, January 20, 2017
Day 20 - "In Safety"
Psalm 55:18-19
Psalm 55:18-19 - "He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, because they do not change and do not fear God."
Psalm 55:18-19 - "He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, because they do not change and do not fear God."
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Day 19 - "You are a Worthy Woman"
Ruth 3:11 "And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do
for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy
woman."
Shout out to my girls reading this! Walk in the light of
knowing you are worthy because Christ made you worthy.
-M.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Day 18: "For God Has Come to Test You"
Exodus 20:20 (ESV)
Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Day 17: "That He May Deliver"
"Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.”
Monday, January 16, 2017
Day 16: "Yet"
1 Samuel 12:20 (ESV)
"And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart."
Yeah you messed up, and God knows, but that doesn't stop Him from loving you so don't let it scare you or stop you from turning back and following Him.
-L.
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Day 15: "Renewed"
2 Corinthians 4:16
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV)
Friday, January 13, 2017
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Day 12: "Face to Face"
"Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the LORD. And Gideon said, 'Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.' But the LORD said to him, 'Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.'"
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Day 11: "What Can Man Do to Me?"
Psalm 118:6
This reminder was so good for me last night, that God is with me and I have no reason to fear any human. Such a breath of fresh air after a stressful day of worrying about how other people see me!
-L.
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Day 10: "I Will Show You Kindness"
1 Samuel 9:7
And David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always." (ESV)
Years before saying this, David had made a promise to his best friend Jonathan to show the steadfast love of God to him and his family forever (1 Samuel 20:12-17 [you should read it]). Later David became the king of Israel but by then Jonathan had been killed so David started asking questions to see if any of Jonathan's family was still alive so he could fulfill his promise. A servant told him where to find Mephibosheth, Jonathan's only living son. David sent for him and made the promise above, and he kept it. He didn't just give him land and send servants to care for it but he gave him a seat at his table with his sons, to sit there always.
The Bible tell's us twice that Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet so he couldn't do much to replay David, but David didn't expect anything; he just cared for Maphiboshelth out of love for Johnathan, and faithfulness to his promise. He showed him kindness, not because of what he did, but because of who his father was.
The first time I remember hearing this story was at a church summer camp. My pastor pointed out that striking reflection of God's grace to mankind. God lavishes His love on us, calls us to His family (1 John 3:1), and offers us an inheritance with His Son (Romans 8:17), and not because of what we have done or can do (remember? Mephibosheth was crippled,) but because of who we are to Him, because of who our father is.
So don't be afraid; God welcomes you freely; you don't have to earn his grace, He loves you for who you are and nothing will ever change that.
-L.
And David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always." (ESV)
Years before saying this, David had made a promise to his best friend Jonathan to show the steadfast love of God to him and his family forever (1 Samuel 20:12-17 [you should read it]). Later David became the king of Israel but by then Jonathan had been killed so David started asking questions to see if any of Jonathan's family was still alive so he could fulfill his promise. A servant told him where to find Mephibosheth, Jonathan's only living son. David sent for him and made the promise above, and he kept it. He didn't just give him land and send servants to care for it but he gave him a seat at his table with his sons, to sit there always.
The Bible tell's us twice that Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet so he couldn't do much to replay David, but David didn't expect anything; he just cared for Maphiboshelth out of love for Johnathan, and faithfulness to his promise. He showed him kindness, not because of what he did, but because of who his father was.
The first time I remember hearing this story was at a church summer camp. My pastor pointed out that striking reflection of God's grace to mankind. God lavishes His love on us, calls us to His family (1 John 3:1), and offers us an inheritance with His Son (Romans 8:17), and not because of what we have done or can do (remember? Mephibosheth was crippled,) but because of who we are to Him, because of who our father is.
So don't be afraid; God welcomes you freely; you don't have to earn his grace, He loves you for who you are and nothing will ever change that.
-L.
Monday, January 9, 2017
Day 9: "You did not Receive..."
Romans 8:15-16
Romans 8:15-16 ESV "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."
Romans 8:15-16 ESV "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."
Sunday, January 8, 2017
Day 8: "With Confidence"
Hebrews 4:16
Hebrews 4:16 ESV " Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:16 ESV " Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Day 7: "The Judgement is God's"
Deuteronomy 1:17
Deuteronomy 1:17 ESV - "You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God's. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it."
Deuteronomy 1:17 ESV - "You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God's. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it."
Friday, January 6, 2017
Day 6: "For You Are With Me"
Psalm 23:4
Psalm 23:4 "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."
This verse in David's psalm is a rock to me. I desire - I crave - to know that Jesus is with me every day, in each moment. It is not that I feel less capable or more capable dependent on His presence, it is more a matter of breathing. I don't feel like I need my God.
I need Him.
I am encouraged that David doesn't say he feels God's presence, because physically or emotionally feeling the nearness of God is not something I experience often. The valley of the shadow of death certainly doesn't sound fun. I have walked it; I know it better than His presence. It does not seem that presence of Christ would be near in such a place. But to David, it is not about feeling Christ near; rather it is knowing He is near though the feeling has come and gone.
And yet, comfort is found in the rod and staff of Jesus. The discipline and protection of the Good Shepherd. Those tools bring a stray sheep close to the fold and force back the predators. For this reason, I am comforted when Jesus convicts me that I am moving far from Him, because I know He is bringing me back close, to where I am safe from sin's teeth.
Today I pray for you, as you read this. May the Lord direct you. May He comfort you with His presence. The valley you may be walking in may be the deepest and darkest one you have ever walked, yet I pray His perfect love casts out any fear that is in you. And may you always know the close abiding presence of the Lord who never leaves in the darkness.
-M.
Psalm 23:4 "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."
This verse in David's psalm is a rock to me. I desire - I crave - to know that Jesus is with me every day, in each moment. It is not that I feel less capable or more capable dependent on His presence, it is more a matter of breathing. I don't feel like I need my God.
I need Him.
I am encouraged that David doesn't say he feels God's presence, because physically or emotionally feeling the nearness of God is not something I experience often. The valley of the shadow of death certainly doesn't sound fun. I have walked it; I know it better than His presence. It does not seem that presence of Christ would be near in such a place. But to David, it is not about feeling Christ near; rather it is knowing He is near though the feeling has come and gone.
And yet, comfort is found in the rod and staff of Jesus. The discipline and protection of the Good Shepherd. Those tools bring a stray sheep close to the fold and force back the predators. For this reason, I am comforted when Jesus convicts me that I am moving far from Him, because I know He is bringing me back close, to where I am safe from sin's teeth.
Today I pray for you, as you read this. May the Lord direct you. May He comfort you with His presence. The valley you may be walking in may be the deepest and darkest one you have ever walked, yet I pray His perfect love casts out any fear that is in you. And may you always know the close abiding presence of the Lord who never leaves in the darkness.
-M.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Day 5: "I am with you"
Isaiah 41:10
"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."
(ESV)
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Day 3: "In Whom We Have Boldness"
Ephesians 3:11-12
Ephesians 3:11-12 ESV "This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him"
Ephesians 3:11-12 ESV "This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him"
Monday, January 2, 2017
Day 2: "You Who Fear Him"
Revelation 19:5
Revelation 19:5 ESV "And from the throne came a voice saying, 'Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.'”
This is the last verse in the Bible that talks about fearlessness/fearing God. We wanted to start off this new year with the bookends of Scripture to possibly see a bigger picture. The first verse, as we saw yesterday, was a promise to Abram that he would be protected by God and he could trust in Him. This final verse near the end of scripture comes from the context of right before Christ's triumphant return to earth when He will defeat Satan, sin, and death forever, then bring His people home for good in His new heaven and new earth. This is a call to those who fear Him, to praise Him no matter how "small or great" your praise would be. I choose to be in that group of the servants who fear the Lord through all my days, not just near the end of time, but in everything I do. When I fear God, no earthly fear has power over me.
What do you choose?
-M.
Revelation 19:5 ESV "And from the throne came a voice saying, 'Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.'”
This is the last verse in the Bible that talks about fearlessness/fearing God. We wanted to start off this new year with the bookends of Scripture to possibly see a bigger picture. The first verse, as we saw yesterday, was a promise to Abram that he would be protected by God and he could trust in Him. This final verse near the end of scripture comes from the context of right before Christ's triumphant return to earth when He will defeat Satan, sin, and death forever, then bring His people home for good in His new heaven and new earth. This is a call to those who fear Him, to praise Him no matter how "small or great" your praise would be. I choose to be in that group of the servants who fear the Lord through all my days, not just near the end of time, but in everything I do. When I fear God, no earthly fear has power over me.
What do you choose?
-M.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
365 Days of Fearless
We've heard the claim that the Bible says not to be afraid exactly 365 times. We haven't found that to be exactly accurate but we know that the Bible address fear quite a bit. So, what we'd like to do is share one of those verses with you every day in 2017. Nope, we don't expect to write a whole post every day. [We're not that ambitious] Sometimes we'll just share the verse, sometimes we'll write about it. Sometimes we'll put it on a cool background or write it out in pretty letters but the important thing is that every day you'll get another reminder and another reason, not to be afraid.
Happy New Year!
-M. and L.
(Genesis 15:1 ESV)
I love this verse because it seems to be God's response to a step of faith that Abram has just taken. Abram was just offered a huge reward from an earthly thing and he turned it down because of a promise he had made to God. And now God the King of kings and 'possessor of heaven and earth' tells him not to be afraid and promises to give him a very great reward. I'm pretty sure it was a lot better than what the king of Sodom wanted to give him.
When God asks us to give something up he always has something better to give us. Don't get me wrong, he won't always give it right away and what he gives won't always seem better right away. Abram had to wait a long time before he saw even part of the fulfillment of God's promise. Sometimes God will give you something similar to what he asked you to give up like a new ministry or relationship to replace an old one. Even better though, every time we surrender something to God we draw closer to Him as he builds our trust, so when you give something up for God you get to experience more of God and He is better than anything. So don't be afraid to make sacrifices for God because He is better than anything you could give up.
Here are some quotes on the matter from people more eloquent than me:
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose"
-Jim Elliot
Happy New Year!
-M. and L.
Genesis 15:1
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”(Genesis 15:1 ESV)
I love this verse because it seems to be God's response to a step of faith that Abram has just taken. Abram was just offered a huge reward from an earthly thing and he turned it down because of a promise he had made to God. And now God the King of kings and 'possessor of heaven and earth' tells him not to be afraid and promises to give him a very great reward. I'm pretty sure it was a lot better than what the king of Sodom wanted to give him.
When God asks us to give something up he always has something better to give us. Don't get me wrong, he won't always give it right away and what he gives won't always seem better right away. Abram had to wait a long time before he saw even part of the fulfillment of God's promise. Sometimes God will give you something similar to what he asked you to give up like a new ministry or relationship to replace an old one. Even better though, every time we surrender something to God we draw closer to Him as he builds our trust, so when you give something up for God you get to experience more of God and He is better than anything. So don't be afraid to make sacrifices for God because He is better than anything you could give up.
Here are some quotes on the matter from people more eloquent than me:
“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
-C.S Lewis, The Weight of Glory-Jim Elliot
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