On Being Content

Imagine for a moment that you are driving down the road and come across that house you love- the three story brick house that sits on a private pond and acres of land. You say to yourself, “I wish that was my house.” Your heart begins to sink because your house is not as grand. You begin to lament your place in life- you were not born rich, you do not make enough money to afford a house like that, and so on and so forth. Have you ever considered that the house you love could be a burden to its owner and would become a burden to you, thus causing you to resent the house you idolize? The grand estate you envision will no doubt cost more than your house which would translate into higher mortgage payments, higher costs in insurance, property taxes, and maintenance.

A lack of contentment will always lead to discouragement, maybe even depression. How many times of dwelling on the past hurts or fearing the future have taken us away from enjoying the present moment? Have you spent more time mourning for those not in your life at the expense of rejoicing with the people you have around you? We should live each day as if it were our last and enjoy what God has given us this day. I know there will be hard times and difficulties, but we must learn to find joy even in the midst of bad situations. I am currently going through this myself and I have had my struggles with this as well.

The Apostle Paul is a great example of a man who found contentment even in the worst of circumstances. Scripture tells us that Paul was rejected, beaten, left for dead, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and martyred for his testimony of Christ, yet he could rejoice.

“Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4, NIV).

 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him [Christ] who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13, NIV, brackets mine).

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:6-10, NIV).

Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us find contentment in our lives. Though your current circumstances may not be ideal, God has allowed them in your life and we must give Him praise. When we do come into a blessing, let us enjoy it and not allow it to become a burden or taskmaster, for one day we will be gone and someone else may have it. Christ has taken care of your eternity. Do not mourn the past. Find contentment in the present. Rejoice in the abundance of your blessings.

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Navigating through the Detours

Have you ever taken a trip using the global positioning system (GPS) in your car or on your phone? If your trip requires you to be on one stretch of road for a long period of time, the voice on the GPS will be silent until you get to the next stage of the trip. That “radio silence” can be a time of great peace as we can enjoy the trip or we can allow doubt and distrust to come in and make us wonder if the GPS is working. If we decide to take a different route, the GPS will reconfigure our trip based on our current location. We will eventually arrive at our destination, but it may take longer than anticipated. What about the “trip” we are taking with God? Has God been silent for a long time? Have you encountered detours? Is your life “under construction”?

Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world and all of us have been hurt by someone’s words or actions. Sometimes the hardest thing for us to do is to place our faith and trust in another person or even God. Have you ever been in a car with someone whose driving scared you a bit? Do you always insist on driving? It is human nature for us to feel like we are in control. While there are some things we can control- our actions, our diets, our attitudes, who we have in our lives, etc., there are large parts of our lives that are beyond our control. During these times, we must simply have faith that everything will work out for the best. Although the GPS or even a handheld map are far from infallible, we can take our trip knowing that someone went before us and mapped out the trip.

The Bible teaches that God sees the end from the beginning and that He has a plan for our lives before we are even born. We serve a God who cared so much about our “final destination” that He came to earth, lived as a man, paid the price for our sins, died, and rose from the grave. We serve a God who can relate to our suffering and the painful directions our lives can take.

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16, NKJV).

We may not understand the trip we are on, but we must keep faith in God that He is guiding and directing us.

“The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.” (Psalm 25:9-10, NKJV).

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye.” (Psalm 32:8, KNJV).

“They shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them, even by the springs of water He will guide them. I will make each of My mountains a road, and My highways shall be elevated.” (Isaiah 49:10-11, NKJV).

As for New Testament believers, we have a much better covenant because we have accepted the finished work of Christ on the cross and we have not only the Word, but the Holy Spirit as well.

[Speaking of Christ] “To give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:77-79, KJV).

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” (John 16:13, NKJV).

Over the course of this last year, my journey has taken me to places I never thought I would be in life. It seems like more than once God’s GPS has reconfigured my trip. I have at times found the trip to be difficult, but I know I am not alone. I have resolved to try and enjoy the ride because these matters are out of my control. I serve a God who loved me and cared for me to take care of eternity, how can I not trust Him to guide me through a brief detour?

The Restoration of Joy

My dad’s hobby is restoring old cars, mainly cars from the 1920s and 1930s. Anyone who has restored something old, whether it be a car, a house, or an antique piece of furniture knows that it is a process. In regards to restoring old cars, the process may involve repairing a steel body that has suffered years of corrosion and rust, replacing or rebuilding an engine, replacing the interior and repainting the car, all of which involve the resources of time and money. When the car is restored, it brings a sense of joy to the owner.

Our God is in the restoration business- restoring the lives of people. Of course, God’s greatest restorative act was sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for humanity’s sins. However, God not only seeks our eternal redemption, He wants a personal relationship with us. God wants us to seek and worship Him in our everyday lives. Going back to the car in need of restoration, what has brought “corrosion and rust” into your life? What needs to be rebuilt? What needs to be replaced? Do the rough edges need to be sanded down and made smooth? If we allow God to take us through His restorative process, it will bring great joy in our lives. God will replace our rusted out “jalopy” of a life with a life of joyous “show room quality.”

The restoration of Israel is a thread woven deep within the pages of the Old Testament. As Israel would fall away from God and worship the pagan idols, God would bring judgment upon Israel, often in the form of an invading foreign nation. God would relent when Israel would repent of its sins. Even in the midst of their rebellion and coming judgment, God never gave up on Israel. God sent prophets not only to warn Israel, but to encourage them with future days of joy and restoration, which would culminate with the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of His kingdom.

“Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” (Isaiah 51:11, KJV).

“Break forth into joy, singing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted His people, He hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” (Isaiah 52:9-10, KJV).

“For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. Therefore, they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.” (Jeremiah 31:11-13, KJV).

The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesied before the Babylonian Exile, where the Israelites spent seventy years in Babylon as punishment for their continued disobedience to God. As Christians, we have a better covenant with better promises (Hebrews 8:6) and we are forgiven of our sins past, present, and future. However, there may be times when we will have to deal with the consequences of our sins. We may go through a sorrowful season, but there is joy and restoration on the other side.

The seventy years of exile in Babylon came to an end and the Israelites were allowed to go home. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah deal with the issue of the Israelites returning home to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and the temple. For some, the rebuilding of the Temple was a time of sorrow, as they remembered the glory of the first Temple (Ezra 3:12-13). However, for many coming back to Jerusalem was a time of great rejoicing, for God had once again showed His faithfulness to Israel.

“And the children of Israel, the priest, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy…And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; for the Lord had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.” (Ezra 6:16, 22, KJV).

Concerning the dedication of Jerusalem’s walls, Nehemiah 12:43 states: “Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.” (KJV).

All of us will go through difficult times. There will be times of pain and suffering, but we must rejoice in those times because we know that our God is faithful. God will restore us, bringing us eternal glory and joy after we have gone through our “momentary” trials.

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18, KJV).

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17, KJV).

“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:13, KJV).

Whatever you are facing, this shall pass. Your personal Babylon will not last forever. God will restore what you have lost. To paraphrase the Psalm, you have spent the night in sorrow, but joy is coming in the morning. God bless you all.

Resolve to be Joyful

As 2016 began, millions of people made “New Year’s resolutions,” which may have included resolving to lose weight, get into shape, quit smoking, go back to school, etc., which are all fine and admirable goals. However, the struggle begins the moment the resolution becomes work and our wills struggle against our “flesh man” and what the enemy and the world are saying to us. Our flesh alone will never be strong enough to overcome any obstacles that we face. Rather, we must depend upon the Lord, the guidance of His Holy Spirit, and His Word. Dwelling in God’s presence does not guarantee us a life free from struggle, but we will be better equipped to handle anything that comes our way.

God’s Word assures us that we can live a joyful life. Please keep in mind that being joyful is not being blissfully ignorant of the world around us or being in denial about the problems we face. To be joyful is to take the opportunity to rejoice and praise God for who He is in spite of what we face. If we allow ourselves to be driven by our circumstances, we will not be joyful, but we will go through life depressed and beaten down. Even when God allows circumstances, He is still worthy to be praised because we as believers in Christ can rest assured God’s hand is upon us. Even for non-believers, God is using circumstances to draw you to Him and to come to Christ.

“Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you; they sing the praises of your name. Come and see what God has done, His awesome deeds for mankind!”(Psalm 66:1-5, NIV).

Nehemiah 8:10 is a verse cited frequently for joy, as people will quote, “the joy of the Lord is your strength,” for the verse says that. However, if we look at the verse in its full context, there is even more to it.

“Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’” (Nehemiah 8:10, NIV).

During this passage of Scripture, Ezra had just read the Law of Moses to the people and the people were sorrowful because of how far they fell from God. If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, you know that all of your sins-past, present, and future- have been forgiven. There is no need for a forgiven Christian to live in condemnation and sorrow, because the blood of Christ has restored you to God. Going back to Nehemiah, there are principles to living a joyful life that we can extract from this Scripture:

*God wants us to enjoy our lives.

*God wants us to use our blessings to help others.

*God has given us this day and He wants us to make the most of it.

*We do not need to grieve over the past or the present.

*Being joyful in God will give us the strength we need to overcome difficult times.

The cares of this world can steal our joy

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke record Jesus’ parable of the four soils, which discuss how people’s hearts respond to God’s Word. The second and third soils where the farmer threw the seed were the rocky places and among the thorns. Jesus later explained the parable to His disciples.

“The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:20-22, NIV).

Thus, if we allow our circumstances and difficulties to rule our lives, we will not be joyful in serving the Lord and we will not walk with Christ as we should walk.

To be in Christ is to be joyful

Jesus had just finished teaching on the vine and the branches when He told His disciples:

“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:9-11, NIV).

As we seek to live a life of obedience, the joy of Christ will remain in us. Joy is also a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

To be joyful in trials is a sign of spiritual maturity

Not only is joy a by-product of being in Christ and a fruit of the Spirit, joy in the midst of a trial is also a sign of our spiritual maturation and the refinement of our faith.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4, NKJV).

The Bible, as it does with so many other subjects, is rich with illustrations and Scriptures concerning joy. I urge you to seek out the Word and find joy for yourselves. No matter what you have been through or are going through at this moment, you can have joy. If you have made a resolution, a vow, a promise, or a pledge, concerning your spiritual walk, trust in the Lord. Trade in condemnation, shame, guilt, hopelessness, and sin in for God’s joy. As we resolve to live a joyful life, we will walk in more of God’s presence in this upcoming year and in the years ahead. God bless you all.

When the Brook dries up

The timing could not have been worse. Weeks before the 2015 holidays I learned that my contract employer was underbid by a new company. I found myself in the awkward position of applying for a job I held for over seven years. The uncertain days turned into weeks and the anxiety and tension cranked up to eleven for everyone from senior management, to those like myself in management, and down to every regular employee. To be completely honest, I spent equal times in prayer, trusting in God’s provision, and worrying as this burden weighed heavily on me. I know Scripture says not to worry, but for anyone who provides for their family, your family’s well-being is always on the forefront of your mind- that is why you carry health insurance and life insurance- to try and protect against life’s “what ifs.”

The word finally came on December 23, 2015 as I received a letter from the new company stating I would not be hired. I was stunned, as I have never been let go from a job, for I always left on my own terms. The new company had decided to cut the management staff in half and other long-term managers had been let go as well. The managers who stayed received drastic pay cuts. People around the office were just as shocked as I was about the changes. I knew deep in my heart that I had done nothing deserving of being let go, as I did my absolute best to serve the Lord and my employer and did all I was asked and expected to do. I even uttered the phrase, “It’s nothing personal, it’s just business.”

I don’t know what the Lord has in store for me at this point, but I know He is faithful and will lead me in the right direction. I leave with no hard feelings or bitterness toward anyone; my conscience is clear. God always opens up another door for His children when one door closes. God always has a purpose, even if we don’t know what it is or can’t see it. Our lives are solely in God’s hands and He is sovereign over everything that happens to us. He has a purpose for everything and can use good and bad times to draw us closer to Him. Our assignments may change, but God’s purposes stay the same.

The life of the Old Testament prophet Elijah illustrates this point. God had sent Elijah before Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, to pronounce judgment in the form of a drought.

“As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” (1 Kings 17:1b, NKJV).

Scripture later states that this drought lasted for three years. In the midst of this drought, God gave Elijah a new assignment:

“Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.’” (1 Kings 17:2-4, NKJV).

The Bible says that Elijah went to the brook and was fed by the ravens morning and night.

Elijah’s assignment was temporary

  In the Book of James, Scripture states that our lives are just a mist that is here and is gone (James 4:14). Elijah was never meant to settle permanently at the Brook Cherith, as God had another assignment:

“And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.’” (1 Kings 17:7-9, NKJV).

How many times in our lives have we tried to make something work that is no longer meant to work? When we ignore the signs, we can waste a lot of time, energy, and money trying to make something work- whether it is a relationship, a car, home repairs, or a job. In Elijah’s case, one day the birds stopped bringing the bread and meat and the brook dried up. Elijah could have chosen not to listen to the Lord’s instructions or study the signs it was time to move onto the next assignment. Elijah could have prayed, “Oh Lord, please send the birds and make a stream in the desert.” If Elijah prayed like that day after day, he would have died of starvation and dehydration. The brook was not Elijah’s final destination, because there was a widow and her son who needed help. The rest of 1 King’s chapter 17 details Elijah’s interactions with the widow- from her feeding him her last meal, to her and her son not running out of food during the drought, and ultimately to her son being raised from the dead.

Our assignments are temporary

 The Bible teaches us that we are strangers and pilgrims in this world. We are not meant to get attached to the worldly possessions around us. There are times when we must let go of what is in our hand and allow God to give us what is in His hand. Everything belongs to the Lord anyway and we are merely stewards. We may not understand why the situation changed, but we must listen for the Lord’s voice to direct us where we need to go. Elijah was sent to a temporary brook, but we must remember that Jesus offers a permanent stream of water from which we can drink.

“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.’” (John 4:13-14, NKJV).

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37b-38, NKJV).

“Behold God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For YAH, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation. Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2-3, NKJV).

As I begin this journey, I place my trust in the Lord and will allow Him to direct my path. May God bless you all.

 

Are You Perceiving God’s Voice?

Have you ever had a one-sided conversation with someone? Have you ever tried to start or maintain a conversation with someone who seemed disengaged from what is going on around them? Have you ever spoke from the heart about something important and the other person just brushed you aside and did not listen or hear anything you said? Have you cried out for help and felt ignored or slighted? Did the exchange or the lack thereof change the dynamics of the relationship? Have you ever felt that away about God? Be honest.

The old adage “perception is reality” holds true in these instances. How we view the world around us is colored with our thoughts, senses, relationships, beliefs, biases, and unfortunately, any prejudices we have developed. In the midst of an ongoing or series of trials, we can become so caught up with ourselves that we miss the clues about God and the people around us. We may perceive that someone blew us off, but could it be possible that person has had an extremely bad day or they are dealing with their own trial? Of course, that does not excuse any malicious ill-mannered behavior, but it is something to keep in mind.

If we are not careful, our relationship with God can be hampered or altered by our perceptions. For example, a believer may think that God does not answer prayer because they prayed for a sick loved one who eventually passed away. Or how about going through a severe financial trial after years of being generous with giving? Or how a parent dealing with a rebellious child who was raised in church? When we think God is silent or does not care our trials will feel that much more difficult. However, all we have to do is listen.

Job was a righteous man who had to endure a series of trials- the loss of ten children, the loss of his financial livelihood, sickness, his wife told him to let go of his integrity, his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar all claim that his suffering is a direct result of some secret sin he has committed. Just having to endure one of these trials would be enough to shake the faith of some people.

Job does not blame God for his trials, but maintains he has committed no secret sin. Job longs for an audience and mediator with God because God has been silent in all of this (Job 9:33-35; 10:2-22; 16:19-21; 23:3-9). After the discussion of Job and his three friends ends, a young man named Elihu comes along and helps correct the wrong perceptions Job has had during these trials. In fact, Elihu maintained that God was trying to speak to Job, but Job was not perceiving it.

“Why do you complain to Him that He responds to no one’s words? For God does speak- now one way, now another- though no one perceives it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn them from wrong doing and keep them from pride, to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword.” (Job 33:14-18, NIV).

Elihu goes on to further state: “Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in their bones, so that their body finds food repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal. Their flesh wastes away to nothing and their bones, once hidden, now stick out. They draw near to the pit, and their life to the messengers of death.” (Job 33:19-22, NIV).

What Elihu states is that God has been trying to get our attention- we are not listening. For anyone who is going through “a famine of the Word,” consider, what have you been dreaming about lately? Where has the Holy Spirit directed you to in God’s Word? What are your fellow believers in Christ saying to you? Have you gone through any sicknesses that may be a sign to change your lifestyle? Of course, this may not be the case in every situation, but we must be alert to what is going on around us and with us. When we go through trials, we expect God to show up and talk to us directly as He did with Job (Job 38-41), while ignoring the still small voice Elijah heard (1 Kings 19:12). There are also times when we expect God to speak to us the same way as He did before, but maybe God is trying a new method of getting our attention.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV).

We must remember that our lives are not our own because we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is sovereign over all His creation, including our lives. Though God spoke to Job, Job never received an answer as to why he suffered the way He did. God is always faithful to us and we must continue to be faithful to Him, even in the midst of the most severe trial of our faith. Grace and peace be with you all.

Overcoming Fear

Fear can be defined as a response to a threat, whether real or perceived. In the world of psychology, there are hundreds of fears known as “phobias.” For instance, someone who suffers from “xenophobia” is said to be afraid of strangers or people from foreign countries. If one is “claustrophobic,” that person has a fear of confined spaces. If someone is afraid of animals, they are said to have “zoophobia.” More specifically, if one has a fear of spiders, that person has “arachnophobia.” Of course, not all fear is bad and I am not belittling or judging what someone is going through in their life. The Bible discusses “the fear of the Lord,” which is showing reverence and honor for God. In regards to parenting, for fear that a child may be seriously hurt or killed, parents will warn their children about dealing with strangers or running out into oncoming traffic.

Fear becomes a serious issue when it controls someone’s life.  Fear can paralyze us in both the physical and spiritual senses. Fear can lead to anxiety, inaction, indecision, depression and medical problems. Have you ever woke up with a sense of dread about the upcoming day? You are allowing fear to dictate your thoughts and emotions. Have you allowed the news of the day to dictate how you respond to the world? You are being controlled by fear. Do you allow thoughts to run through your mind about your spouse leaving you, losing your job, or that you have failed as a parent or Christian or you might have a self-diagnosed illness? Once again, you are walking in fear.

Faith is the opposite of fear. If we are saved by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no need for us to walk in fear.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV).

Let’s take a few moments to break down the key words in 2 Timothy 1:7.

Spirit (Strong’s #4151) Pneuma- “current of air, breath, or a breeze.”

Fear (Strong’s #1167) Deilia- “cowardice, unmanliness, and timidity.”

Power (Strong’s #1411) Dunamis- Force “new and higher forces working in this world; It is “power, ability,” physical or moral, as residing in a person or thing. Power in action.

Love (Strong’s #26) Agape- “affection or benevolence.” This type of love is often referred to as an “unconditional” love or love expressed by actions, such as God sending Christ to die for our sins.

Sound (Strong’s #4995) Sophronismos- “discipline, self-control.” In a literal sense, “saving the mind through admonishing and calling to soundness of mind, and to self-control.”

Mind (Strong’s #4995) This Greek word is the same word as the above word for sound.

If the word “spirit” indicates a wind or a breeze, think of how the wind can move a sail boat, a kite, or tree branches- the wind is dictating the direction of these objects. Thus, if we are controlled or oppressed by a spirit of fear, the fear is dictating the direction our life is going and keeping us in bondage to our fears. However, God through His ultimate expression of love and His Holy Spirit has given us the ability to overcome our fearful thoughts. Through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, we have the power and authority to overcome our fears, whether they are real or perceived and have our direction guided by the wind of the Holy Spirit.

There are both people who know Christ and those who do not know Christ who are tormented by fear because the enemy of our souls seeks “to kill, and to steal, and to destroy,” (John 10:10).  However, we must feed our faith and starve our fears.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13, KJV).

There are hundreds of verses in both the Old and New Testaments that God reassures us to “fear not” or “be not afraid” we must take these Scriptures and take the fight to the enemy and the fears that we face. I will share a handful of verses, but I encourage you to search the Scriptures for yourselves. If you believe you are being tormented by a spirit of fear, seek wise Christian counseling. Do not allow your lives to be controlled by fear because we are free in the Spirit. Christ came to set the captives free. There is no need to sit in the prison of fear, as these Scriptures will attest.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10, KJV).

“For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” (Isaiah 41:13, KJV).

“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” (Isaiah 43:1, KJV).

“…Be not afraid, only believe.” (Mark 5:36, KJV).

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27, KJV).

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage unto fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:14-16, KJV).

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18, KJV).

“…Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1:17-18, KJV).

May the Lord bless and keep all of you.

When Your Dream has been delayed

Dreams can motivate and inspire us. When coupled with the grace of God, dreams can give us the hope to rise above our circumstances. Dreams can inspire others. However, in our fallen world, our dreams can be delayed or denied. The opening of a new business fails because of a downturn in the economy. A promising athletic career is sidelined because of injury. A retirement nest egg is depleted due to a catastrophic illness. A couple wanting to start a family finds themselves in the pains of infertility. All of us, in one form or another, have faced setbacks that have delayed our dreams or stopped them dead in their tracks.

Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” (NIV).

Two such men who faced a delayed dream were Zerubbabel and Joshua in the Old Testament. Ezra chapter one tells of a decree issued by the Persian King Cyrus that allowed the exiled Jews to return to Israel. The return of the Jews brought an end to the seventy years of Babylonian captivity and fulfilled Bible prophecy. Ezra chapter three describes how Zerubbabel, the governor of Judea and Joshua, the high priest, led the people in the rebuilding of the temple. Zerubbabel and Joshua begin by rebuilt the altar, restored worship and burnt offerings

Our Dreams can bring God Praise

“In the second month of the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak and the rest of the people (the priest and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work…When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priest in their vestments and with their trumpets, and the Levites ( the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel, With praise  and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; His love toward Israel endures forever. And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.” (Ezra 3:8a, 10-11, NIV).

Our Dreams will face opposition from Satan and from other people

Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the returning exiles were off to a great start. The altar was built, worship and the sacrifices were restored and the foundation of the second temple was laid. However, the return of the exiles was not good news for the hostile neighboring enemies of Israel. After a failed attempt to physically infiltrate and stop the work on the temple, Israel’s opponents set about discouraging the people and wrote letters of opposition to the Persian kings Xerxes and Artaxerxes, the latter of whom commanded the work on the temple to cease.

A Dream delayed can be a Dream restored

The work on the second temple was halted for fifteen years, until the reign of the Persian king Darius, who discovered the previous decree of King Cyrus and issued his own decree in the process allowing the rebuilding of the temple. Those fifteen years must have devastating to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the rest of the people. However, God encouraged Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the people through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.

“But now be strong, Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord and work. For I am with you declares the Lord Almighty. This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.” (Haggai 2:4-5, NIV).

“The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.’” (Zechariah 3:6-7, NIV)

“So He said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty. What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to the shouts of God bless it! God bless it! Then the word of the Lord came to me: The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hand will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.’” (Zechariah 4:6-9, NIV)

Ezra chapter six describes how the temple was restored and dedicated and Passover was celebrated.

Brothers and sisters, how long have your dreams been sitting on the shelf gathering dust? Have you given up hope that your dream will ever come to pass? Have you allowed the voice of the enemy or negative people in your life to deter you? As long as the Lord gives you breath in your body, you have a reason to hope. You can still dream. You can still seek the Lord and find encouragement in His Word. As it says in Zechariah 4:10, “do not despise the day of small things.” (NIV). Start where you are at with the Lord. Maybe one dream has past, but God wants to give you a new dream, He wants to do a new thing in your life. Do not dwell on what could have been, dwell on the Lord and His goodness.