Category: Fear

Living at ease with God

Proverbs 1 New International Version

Wisdom’s Rebuke

²⁰Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
she raises her voice in the public square;
²¹on top of the wall^[d] she cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech:

²²“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate knowledge?
²³Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.
²⁴But since you refuse to listen when I call
    and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
²⁵since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
²⁶I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
    I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
²⁷when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

²⁸“Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
    they will look for me but will not find me,
²⁹since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.
³⁰Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,
³¹they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
³²For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
³³but whoever listens to me will live in safety
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

God’s wonderful Love

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

There are many bible verses in the bible that talk of God’s love, the above probably being the most common. Then of course we have the love chapter 1 Corinthians 13 often used at weddings. we are reminded of God’s love in many ways, shapes and forms.

We often testify to God’s love in our lives by singing or using the words below. You will find when listening to the video it is not the usual tune. I actually came across the video a long time ago and liked the tune so i thought i would share it with you and I hope like just as much as me. See the source image

1.
God’s love to me is wonderful,
That he should deign to hear
The faintest whisper of my heart,
Wipe from mine eyes the tear;
And though I cannot comprehend
Such love, so great, so deep,
In his strong hands my soul I trust,
He will not fail to keep.
Chorus
God’s love is wonderful,
God’s love is wonderful,
Wonderful that he should give his Son to die for me;
God’s love is wonderful!

2.
God’s love to me is wonderful!
My very steps are planned;
When mists of doubt encompass me,
I hold my Father’s hand.
His love has banished every fear,
In freedom I rejoice,
And with my quickened ears I hear
The music of his voice.

3.
God’s love to me is wonderful!
He lights the darkest way;
I now enjoy his fellowship,
‘Twill last through endless day.
My Father doth not ask that I
Great gifts on him bestow,
But only that I love him too,
And serve him here below.

A God of Compassion

Isaiah 54 New International Version

The Future Glory of Zion

54 “Sing, barren woman,
    you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
    you who were never in labour;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
    than of her who has a husband,”
says the Lord.
²“Enlarge the place of your tent,
    stretch your tent curtains wide,
    do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
    strengthen your stakes.
³For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
    your descendants will dispossess nations
    and settle in their desolate cities.

⁴“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.
    Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth
    and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
⁵For your Maker is your husband—
    the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
    he is called the God of all the earth.
⁶The Lord will call you back
    as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—
a wife who married young,
    only to be rejected,” says your God.
⁷“For a brief moment I abandoned you,
    but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
⁸In a surge of anger
    I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
    I will have compassion on you,”
    says the Lord your Redeemer.

⁹“To me this is like the days of Noah,
    when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.
So now I have sworn not to be angry with you,
    never to rebuke you again.
¹⁰Though the mountains be shaken
    and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
    nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

¹¹“Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,
    I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise,^[a]
    your foundations with lapis lazuli.
¹²I will make your battlements of rubies,
    your gates of sparkling jewels,
    and all your walls of precious stones.
¹³All your children will be taught by the Lord,
    and great will be their peace.
¹⁴In righteousness you will be established:
Tyranny will be far from you;
    you will have nothing to fear.
Terror will be far removed;
    it will not come near you.
¹⁵If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;
    whoever attacks you will surrender to you.

¹⁶“See, it is I who created the blacksmith
    who fans the coals into flame
    and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc;
¹⁷    no weapon forged against you will prevail,
    and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
    and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord.

Whilst I was reading the above bible reading Admittedly I couldn’t think of a video to match the reading until I reached verse 12 when a very well known Sunday school hymn popped into my mind and although it’s not the original tune the words have not changed.

When he cometh, when he cometh
to make up his jewels
all his jewels, precious jewels
his loved and his own

Like the stars of the morning
his bright crown adorning
they shall shine in their beauty
bright gems for his crown

He will gather, he will gather
the gems for his kingdom
all the pure ones, all the bright ones
his loved and his own

Like the stars of the morning
his bright crown adorning
they shall shine in their beauty
bright gems for his crown

Little children, little children
who love their redeemer
are the jewels, precious jewels
his loved and his own
like the stars of the morning
his bright crown adorning
they shall shine in their beauty
bright gems for his crown

Following Wisdom

Proverbs 3 New International Version

¹⁹By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
²⁰by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
    preserve sound judgement and discretion;
²²they will be life for you,
    an ornament to grace your neck.
²³Then you will go on your way in safety,
    and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
²⁶for the Lord will be at your side
    and will keep your foot from being snared.

A Quiet place

Image result for A Quiet time

2 Corinthians 7; 5

For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

We all need to find a quiet place from time to time to get away from the turmoil’s and conflicts of daily life. This can be easier said than done sometimes (especially if you have a busy life). Some people find it easy first thing in the morning before they go about there daily tasks where as others like myself may find it easier last thing at night when going to bed to have that quiet moment & reflect.

Wisdom bestows well-being

Proverbs 3 King James Version

3 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

²For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

³Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

⁴So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

⁵Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

⁷Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

⁸It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

⁹Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase:

¹⁰So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

¹¹My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

¹²For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Proverbs 3 V6 Is probably one of the most common verses quoted in the bible. I’ve lost count of the number of bibles or hymn books I have been presented with or given as a present with that verse on the inside cover.

Benefits of Wisdom

Proverbs 2 New International Version

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

2 My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
²turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
³indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
⁶For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
⁸for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.

⁹Then you will understand what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
¹⁰For wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
¹¹Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.

Jesus Heals and Saves

Jeremiah 17 New International Version

⁵This is what the Lord says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
    who draws strength from mere flesh
    and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
⁶That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
    they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
    in a salt land where no one lives.

⁷“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
⁸They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

⁹The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?

¹⁰“I the Lord search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
according to what their deeds deserve.” Related image

¹¹Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay
are those who gain riches by unjust means.
When their lives are half gone, their riches will desert them,
and in the end they will prove to be fools.

¹²A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning,
    is the place of our sanctuary.
¹³Lord, you are the hope of Israel;
    all who forsake you will be put to shame.
Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust
    because they have forsaken the Lord,
    the spring of living water.

¹⁴Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;
    save me and I will be saved,
    for you are the one I praise.
¹⁵They keep saying to me,
    “Where is the word of the Lord?
    Let it now be fulfilled!”
¹⁶I have not run away from being your shepherd;
    you know I have not desired the day of despair.
    What passes my lips is open before you.
¹⁷Do not be a terror to me;
    you are my refuge in the day of disaster.
¹⁸Let my persecutors be put to shame,
    but keep me from shame;
let them be terrified,
    but keep me from terror.
Bring on them the day of disaster;
    destroy them with double destruction.

Living Godly

1 Peter 2: V 11-25 NIV

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

¹¹Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. ¹²Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

¹³Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. ¹⁶Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.¹⁷Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor.

¹⁸Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. ²⁰But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. ²¹To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

²²“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”^[e]

²³When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” ²⁵For “you were like sheep going astray,”^[f] but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1.
I am so glad that our Father in Heaven
Tells of his love in the book he has given;
Wonderful things in the Bible I see;
This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.
Chorus
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me,
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.

2.
Jesus loves me and I know I love him;
Love brought him down my poor soul to redeem,
Yes, it was love made him die on the tree;
O I am certain that Jesus loves me!

3.
If one should ask of me, how could I tell?
Glory to Jesus, I know very well;
God’s Holy Spirit with mine doth agree,
Constantly witnessing Jesus loves me.

4.
O if there’s only one song I can sing
When in his beauty I see the great King,
This shall my song in eternity be:
O what a wonder that Jesus loves me!

5.
In this assurance I find sweetest rest,
Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blest;
Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee
When I just tell him that Jesus loves me.

Fear of disaster

Proverbs 3:25-26 New International Version

²⁵Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
²⁶for the Lord will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.

When I read this proverb and think of all the natural disasters that happen in the world, earthquakes, landslides, plane crashes, Tornado’s etc.

Wickedness seems to over take in cases like these, for example a plane that crashes through terrorism is just wicked. As is stealing from homes that have been damaged as a result of a disaster.

Verse 26 tells us we need not fear because ‘The Lord’ is at our side to keep us from being caught by the evil one.