Sunday, August 13, 2023

Fear = God’s Gift

 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHokgXI0IgI

Or search YouTube for “Fear Not (Isaiah 41:10)

(Official Lyric Video)

By Tom Mottershead (3 min 46 sec)

 

[God speaking] “’You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its remotest parts and said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.  Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

 

“’Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonoured; those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.  You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.  For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’  Isaiah 41:9-13

 

Fear is a gift of God.  The purpose of fear is to protect you from danger.  An example would be that once you burn your hand while cooking, the fear of doing it again helps you learn new ways of cooking that are safe.  God is sovereign over all – all that happens, all you feel, all those around you, the mountains, the oceans – everything. 

 

Because we can never fully understand this, our trust may be placed elsewhere or withheld when we are afraid of something.  Yet, fear should help drive us to our knees in thanksgiving for God always being with us, saving us from danger, walking with us through danger and carrying us through the worst of it all. 

 

Take care with love, especially His, Darlene (who still prays for you daily)

 

PS:  Find my statement of faith:  https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com  (where you will also find a series of beginner Bible studies to share). You can easily find the WeakDay Devotion online by doing a Google search for ‘WeakDay Devotion’.  (Also, there is an android ‘Google Blogger’ app you can download to read them on your phone.  Not sure about Apple.).  For the books, go to Amazon books.  

 

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS (Thank you for the updates.)

·      Jill – will soon have cataract surgery.  Please pray for the surgeon and those who support her that the procedure will go smoothly, and her eye will heal quickly and that Peter, and those who love her, would rally to support her.

·      Barbara – the beloved wife of my brother (who recently passed) – thank you for praying for her (and for me as we struggle with our loss of Tim).  Please pray God places people in her path who will help her with all the things He knows she needs help with.  Pray for Barb’s peace and protection at night.

·      Wayne B – is slowly losing his beloved wife, Lyn, (diagnosed with frontal temporal dementia three and a half years ago).  She has been in care since May of 2020 but recently had a succession of falls and is now in a psycho-geriatric facility. She sometimes knows who he is but is no longer able to respond.  Pray for comfort for Wayne as he deals with this difficult situation. 

·      Jenlost her only sister and still needs your prayers to get through this difficult time and pray her health remains good.

·      Hans– a dear friend in Germany struggling with lung cancer and financial difficulties.  Pray his new social worker will be able to help him and that he will have patience.  Pray for his healthcare providers and that he is surrounded by faithful and compassionate Christian friends who will remind him of the Lord’s love.  Pray for his Mom (age 84) -- that their time together is filled with extraordinarily good memories and lots of love.

·      Jake – No news about Jake, a friend of my brother, also living with COPD (emphysema) and heart problems.  Please pray for his daughter, Tiffany and for his other friends and health carers to help him through his health journey.

·      Callilah- a lost child.  Pray in thanksgiving that the Lord is softening her heart and that the Lord has placed Patti just where she needs to be.  Pray for Patti’s safety and patience.

·      Pray for Jeff and Rachael’s family in Louisville to desire and seek a relationship with the Lord.

·      Philip and Sue – Philip recently had surgery.  Pray for his health carers and for Sue as she supports him through his recovery.

·      Sarah and Andrew – he left his job a year ago -- she went to work in a new role.  Pray for this precious Christian couple that they focus on family balance to the glory of the Lord.

·      Sue and Rob – opened their home to support Luke who is lost, angry and refuses to move out.  Please pray he wakes up and realises he must take responsibility for his own life and most of all that he needs the Lord.  Pray for the continued patience and compassion of Sue and Rob.

·      Ray and Kathy – Ray’s mom is fading away into the growing fog of dementia.  She lives a couple of hours away and recently had a serious fall and is now in an aged care facility.  Pray that she might adjust and stay healthy.  Pray for travelling mercies for Ray as he drives back and forth to visit her, and for Kathy as she supports him through this difficult time.  Pray also for their separate ministries to grow through the witness of their love and compassion.

·      Bettina – continue to pray for her as she grows into a new phase of her life in the Lord.  Pray each of her five married daughters, spouses and 18 grandchildren grow to love and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

·      Paul – please pray for him.  He was unsuccessful for the job he applied for (after more than ten years without work).  He is very discouraged and now unwell.  Please pray the Lord provides needed work so he can begin to heal and strengthen.

·      Ian – continue to pray that his desire to grow his understanding and effectiveness with personal evangelism is fulfilled. 

·      Peyton and Carter - Grandchildren of Jeff and Rachael.  Payton, their granddaughter is now a senior in university.  Carter, their son is now a freshman in college.  Both are exceptional students and love the Lord.  Pray they are not distracted by worldly things, that the Lord watches over and protects them, that they continue to do well in their studies and that their love of God’s Word increases daily.

·      Elina – needs courage of her convictions and resolve to live a life that is Christ-honouring for herself and her young son, Jimmy.

·      Megan (for emotional healing) and Scott, her husband (for patience and wisdom) and wisdom for his sister, Clare, as she seeks to support them through troubled times.

·      Christine – give her strength as she journeys to heart-healing and pray her husband gives his heart to the Lord.

·      Robin – lost her beloved mother (was 93 years old), please pray for strength and healing for her as she navigates through this time of mourning and for her daughter who is comforting her.

·      Pray for true, Christ-centered revival in America.

 

Pray for those in full-time service

Pray the Lord upholds our Christian leaders – that they never compromise God’s Word and remain bold and courageous in the face of evil.  Pray for their wisdom, safety, ingenuity, strength and for their families.

 

Pray for those with ongoing health concerns

Many of us have family, friends and loved ones with fragile health.  Pray God takes special care with them and protects them in practical ways and that the Lord will have mercy on them.

 

Pray for the World

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