Fear Not ...

I believe we can all agree that we are living in unprecedented times riddled by fear … if we allow it.  As I watch the world around me, the root of what I see is fear. We are in a battle. This is a spiritual battle, and I’m not sure that many people see that or even understand it. Yes, there are those who do understand it, but it’s my belief that many do not. God’s word tells us that our struggle is not  against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, and the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 Jesus said, “The enemy comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy. I have come that you may have life and have an abundant life.” John 10:10 For myself, I don’t doubt any of this. Have I been challenged in this? Yes, but I have chosen to not let fear rule my life.

Over the past many, many years, I lived in a situation where fear was cast on me constantly. I’m very happy to say that God was, has been, and will continue to be faithful to keep me safe in spite of this fear that had been perpetrated on me. What I have learned is invaluable.

God is our only hope … period!

When I first heard about this virus back in November of 2019, no fear came … only strength from God and His word, Psalm 91. I’ve been standing on this Psalm since long before this virus reared it’s ugly head. The strength that God has supplied for this battle has been unwavering.

Over the past several years, well actually decades, I’ve chosen God’s path for my life, no matter how challenging it has been. And, it has been very challenging. What I have found interesting is that many, many people in the churches that I have attended, attempted to walk with and have fellowship with have chosen to judge me, for whatever their reasons, as not walking with God … because of the hardships I have endured.  ?? Yes, it’s true … and nowhere in the Bible does it say that being a Christian will be an easy, carefree life! I have cried out to God for a true “home church” where I can truly call it my family, but that has yet to happen.(I’m not the only one in this situation, either.) I have found that although I can attend, worship God, even feel God’s presence, and hear a word that I can align with the Word of God and my life, that, even still, there is something missing. I believe it’s the true movement and acceptance of God’s Holy Spirit fully leading and guiding us. Now, please understand that I’m not saying this of 100% of the people I have come in contact with. That would be a foolish statement. But, what I am saying is that the here in the U.S., or even the western church, we are missing out on the fullness of God … I believe, due to unbelief. If, in a casual conversation with Christians, I mention something about how the Lord spoke to me or how the Holy Spirit led me, I am often met with silence and a change of the subject. Is this how the disciples of Jesus lived? No, I don’t believe it is. They praised God and thanked Him for His goodness.

Many of you know that the past 4+ years of my life have been ultra challenging. There are so many things that it would take too long to share them all. In the past three years, God enabled me to travel to Australia two times for a worship gathering each time. In my first visit, I asked God to allow me to return to live there for a year after my house sold. His answer to me was that whatever I chose would be ok. At the time I didn’t understand that, but add three years to that statement and it all makes sense. At the time, I didn’t realize that it would take more than two years for my house to sell.(but, God did) In that time, God allowed me to have that “move” as a goal to work toward while He worked out one miracle after another in my life to benefit and repay me for the years of fear that had been perpetrated on me. (Job 42:10) God didn’t have to do this. But, because He is so good, He did do it for me. Now, several months before my house did sell, God spoke to me and gently led me away from making the move to Australia. That door closed. And, He didn’t slam the door. He did it in a very loving and gentle way. So, with that preface, I’ll get to the past year of my life. Just shy of a year ago, my house did sell. Although God spoke to me one place (temporary) that I believed I would reside after the sale, I still had no clue as to where I would live. I am a single woman in my 50’s who had been a stay at home mom/wife for the better part of 27 years. I had given my time to writing Christian blogs, a Christian book, learning graphic arts for His glory, volunteering at numerous places, including devoting time to singing/playing the guitar for worship services. This is an accumulation of more hours than I could ever count … all without any pay … in the worldly realm. I might add that I didn’t expect pay. I’m merely pointing out that my time has been devoted to serving God and not earning a paycheck. Trust me, this was a fearful moment. The enemy wanted to destroy me with fear. What was I to do? Trust God!

Working through God’s plan after the sale of my house was not easy. When I asked Him where I was to go, what I was to do, He told me that I would know when He told me. I assure you that is how it has been for the past year. It has been a pretty intense lesson in following the Holy Spirit.  I have prayed and trusted Him to open doors that man cannot shut and close doors that man cannot open … and praise Him for both. (Jeremiah 22:22) In this time, God crossed my paths with a handful of people that have been key to sharpening my skills in discernment and trusting Him … and not because they were true follower of Christ, but rather because they claimed to be, but were not. They were very stealthy about it also. That is how the enemy works. Not everyone who says they are a Christian is a Christian, which I have known for decades. But, God chose this time to allow me to experience this in real time, living it out.

I have experienced those who say they are Christians, but do not believe what the word of God says (new age, cult beliefs) along with those who live their lives like the two religious people who walked by the man in the ditch who desperately needed help and it ended up being the Good Samaritan who helped him … not the “religious” people. (Luke 10:25-37) These things that have happened in my life have served to continue to strengthen my trust, faith, discernment, and following the leading in and of the Lord. But, at the same time, He has shown me the error that the church has been making for years. This is not something new that I’m speaking of. I’ve been saying it for years. If the church was doing what God wanted … fully … this country would not be in the predicament that it’s in right now. “The church in America is five miles wide and an inch deep.” ~ unknown   Unfortunately, this is, for the most part, true. Otherwise, we would not see people, the church included, dealing in fear due to the things we are seeing happen in our nation right now.

Fear has gripped this nation.

Philippians 4:19 says, “My God shall supply all my your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” This scripture covers all things in our lives … all things. “Dear friend, I pray that you will prosper in all things and be in health as your should prospers.” 3 John 1:2 You see, God wants us to prosper in all things and be in good health as our soul prospers. He says that He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. The question is; are we living our lives that way? Are we trusting God to take out of us what He doesn’t want in us, effectively making us more like Jesus? Are we trusting Him to supply our needs … or are we taking control or supplying our “needs?” What I’m asking here is, are we truly allowing God to have full reign in our lives? I believe there are folks who do. But for the most part, I believe what Jesus told John in Revelation about the lukewarm church. “Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 3 So many in the church believe that all is well. So many are so busy that they act like the “religious” in the parable of the good Samaritan, simply walking by leaving the man without any help. In the past year, I have personally experienced being the one who was passed by … by Christians who attend church every week. They don’t realize that there is more to do than just attend a church service. Even many of the literal churches during this trying time are trying to figure out how to fund themselves because the government has closed them down. What about Philippians 4:19? Doesn’t God’s word say that He supplies all of our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus? Doesn’t God say that that He wants us to prosper in all ways … as our soul prospers? Are our souls prospering?

It’s time for the Church, the Body of Christ, to stand up and be what God created us to be. That means we must get real about who God is and who we are in Him. We can no longer “play church.” We can no longer allow the fear of crossing the government interfere with our freedom to worship God in this nation. What will it take for us to realize this? Do things need to get worse than they already are or is this enough? In Revelation, Jesus spoke about seven different churches. Only two of the seven churches were fully doing what Jesus wanted them to do … only two. I don’t know about you, but I don’t care how challenging it is, I want to be included in the church that Jesus finds acceptable … not just in a church that goes along with the flow.

Fear has no place in our lives. Fear is not from God. Fear is from the enemy.

We are blessed in the United States to have freedom of religion as given to us by the 1st Amendment of the Constitution. We need to use it … or we’re going to lose it! “Fear not” is in the Bible 365 times. We need to repent, take up our cross, and live the lives that God created for us. We need to choose to be who He created us to be, in Jesus’ might name! (Matthew 16:24-26) Fear is not a part of that plan.

Fear not!