karaspeak

So I was reading tonight and doing some poking around and I found myself in the Word. I just felt it kind of calling out to me. So while I was with it, I thought I would try and find some scripture that specifically deals with some of the things my Nathan had been "battling" lately - fear, worry, etc. If you read scripture, you are more than likely familiar with these verses, but I always feel like having them right there at a moment's notice to combat the devil in our weakness is so much more powerful than taking time on our own, or trying to ignore it, or stumbling around trying to find what we need in the moment. I have been convicted about not memorizing scripture as I did in the past and when I came across these scriptures, it reminded me why I did it and how powerful it is indeed. With a little willpower, we will be able to quote these (amazingly through the Holy Spirit) even in our moments of weakness in dealing with the issue at hand. I thought it couldn't hurt to give him (Nathan) some ammunition as he battled it (and wins!). For my own good too.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. II Timothy 1:7

This scripture has always been a favorite of mine and I use it often...to combat the belief that I don't have what it takes, because I do indeed...and with Him living in me, I have more power, love, and sanity than I could ever imagine. And it's right at my fingertips, if I only believe.

There is no fear in love (dread does not exist) , but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment and (so) he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love (is not yet grown into love's complete perfection.) I John 4:18

I really really love this second one - because it says that LOVE defeats FEAR and stops it dead in its tracks, in fact, fear goes running for cover! And in the end, if we fear, we haven't fully grown in our capacity to love and experience love. This fact was a huge ah-ha! for me tonight as I read it over and over. As I thought back to the times I was the most fear-ridden, I realized it was in the times when I either wasn't loving myself, wasn't allowing God to pour out his love on me, or didn't trust that anyone (God or man) loved me.

Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Proverbs 3:25-26

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. Psalm 91:4-7

These two are more or less for comfort, David has a way of doing that in the Psalms. It is so healing to know that He WILL be your confidence, he DOES provide shelter for us, he DOES protect and shield us from the things we could fear. He has us in the palm of His hand and will not ever let us go...no matter what circumstances we think will let Him leave us, he won't. He is there and can absorb your fear, worry, and doubt. Let it sink in.