Way towards God

Dealing with fear (1)

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Ps 118:6 NKJV



During the Great Depression unemployment hit 25 percent of the American population. Savings accounts were wiped out by bank failures, farmers lost their land to foreclosures, and people were having trouble just feeding their families. During this dark time Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed the nation in these words: “Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” What most people didn’t realize is that the president himself had experienced some dark hours during which fear paralyzed him. Roosevelt was born a child of privilege and educated in Europe, at Harvard, and at Columbia Law School. But at age thirty-nine, he was stricken with a case of polio that left him severely disabled. During his recovery he developed an extreme fear of fire. He worried he wouldn’t be able to escape because of his disability. But in time he overcame his fear, regained the use of his hands, and even learned to walk again with the aid of braces. He reentered the political arena—fearlessly campaigning to become the governor of New York, which he did in 1929. He then went on to become one of America’s greatest presidents and guided the nation to victory in World War II. In his memoirs Roosevelt recalls how when he turned to God for help, courage, and guidance, he received them. Are you afraid today? If you are, stand on this promise: “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Knowing God's Will Is Not Enough

Luke 1:34, 'Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?'

LUKE 1:26-38

Contrast Mary's question and Gabriel's response with the question that Zacharias asked Gabriel and the response that he received (Luke 1:18-20). You will find the questions are similar but the responses are totally different.

Both Mary and Zacharias asked how these miracles would occur but it is evident that Mary was asking 'how' in faith while Zacharias was asking 'how' in unbelief. It is a clear Bible teaching that unbelief doesn't please God (Heb. 11:6), but the Lord doesn't mind us questioning Him for the purpose of instruction so we can cooperate with His will in our lives.

Abram knew that it was God's will for him to have a son but Abram and Sarai came up with their own plan which caused them and the world much grief (Gen. 16:1-6). Abram would have avoided many problems if he had asked the Lord how He was going to accomplish this miraculous event.

If Mary had not questioned this angel, she might have reasoned that Jesus would be born through the natural union of her and Joseph. This would have been a grave mistake. It would have disqualified her from being used.

It's not enough just to know God's will. We need to continue to seek the Lord until we know God's plan for accomplishing that will.

Stick with God’s plan (2)

“God is the one who began this good work in you.” Php 1:6 CEV



Paul writes, “God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain…he won’t stop before it is complete” (v. 6 CEV). You will notice that Jesus regularly took time out of His busy schedule to pray. In fact, He sometimes prayed all night. And He tells us why: “The Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing” (Jn 5:19-20 NLT). Under the weight of our sins, He cried from the cross, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46 NIV). And His words teach us three important things: (1) We can be following God’s plan and still feel overwhelmed and alone at times. (2) When God doesn’t answer, we must practice standing on the promises He gave us in His Word. (3) The pain we’re feeling will eventually give way to the joy that awaits us on the other side of it. So stick with God’s plan; as long as you do that, there is nothing the Enemy can do to destroy you. The Bible says, “No weapon turned against you will succeed…These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord” (Isa 54:17 NLT). When you feel like you have reached the end of your rope, do what Jesus did and pray, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Lk 23:46 NIV). In other words, turn it all over to God. Trust Him to do what you can’t do and to bring you through in victory.

Stick with God’s plan (1)

“God always does what he plans.” Eph 1:11 CEV



God said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Rev 22:13 CEV). God determines the end result He wants, then starts at the beginning and works toward it. He “always does what he plans.” Joseph discovered that even when your family turns against you, God’s plan is still in effect. Looking back, he said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Ge 50:20 NIV). But don’t confuse “good” with “comfortable.” When God corrects or redirects you, it doesn’t always feel good. But it is good! David said, “When you corrected me, it did me good because it taught me” (Ps 119:71 CEV). If you’re not sure of God’s plan, seek Him until He shows it to you. Other things may seem more urgent, but nothing is more important. And if you already know God’s plan, rest assured that no human action can cancel it. The psalmist wrote, “The Lord will vindicate me; your love…endures forever” (Ps 138:8 NIV). There is no situation Satan can devise for which God hasn’t already made “the way of escape” (1Co 10:13 NKJV). Paul reassures us: “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted [tested] beyond what you are able, but with the temptation [testing] will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (v. 13 NKJV). It’s in your times of testing that you discover “God is faithful.” He will stretch you, but never beyond your breaking point. His plan is for you to come out of this experience stronger and ready for what’s next on His agenda.