Defeat fear

“And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 This scripture is part of a message Joseph received after finding his betrothed pregnant. Joseph did not accept that Mary was pregnant by the HolySpirit, however the angel spoke to Joseph in a dream to accept the word as truth and keep to the plans to marry Mary. 

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Joseph would have been caught with fear, hurt and disbelief, however, he believed the message and became the father of Jesus.

Only Jesus saves us from our sins, and empowers us to defeat fear. When we have to act in the face of fear we can trust our Lord to empower us. Amen!

Victory

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Today is the last day of my Nepali language exams. It has been an interesting week. I have had to battle overwhelming fear and sleeplessness with worship, reciting scripture and praise. I have found a new depth of overcoming, a deeper appreciation for my God who goes before me.

I’ve had conflict in the house and high blood pressure that refused to bow, but God overcame all my enemies. I refused to entertain the thoughts of retribution and God did an amazing work. A miracle happened before my eyes. I am speaking down my blood pressure and prophesying that after today it will be well, and it will.

Tonight I celebrate with good friends coming to dinner. I love to see people set free from entangling thoughts that the enemy plagues them with. Jesus defeated death and the grave, He stripped Satan of his keys. Yes! Victory in Christ alone! Amen!

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=l3-XroRBMrE&si=7oV7KNUs-0AodsoQ

Mercy

“But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Have you received mercy! I have! My God showered me with His mercy when He brought me to Himself and poured His love all over me.

Have you given mercy? Mercy is given when someone who deserves our wrath receives grace instead. You probably have someone right now who is causing you angst, a family member, a friend, a neighbour? What will mercy given to them look like?

Jesus did not treat me with the justice I deserved for my sins, He forgave me and gave me His mercy.

In Australia there is a couple who lost three of their children to a drunken, unlicensed driver. They were in the news. People could not believe such grace. This couple are Christians. The pain they must have endured would have been phenomenal. They not only forgave the offender they went on to have more children.

Who is God asking you to forgive today? Who can you show mercy to?

Jesus please help me, fill me with Your grace and mercy, and flow out through me to that broken person today!  Amen!

Trials

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I am in a trial right now. I am attempting to sit a series of four exams and fear and anxiety are plaguing me. They will not win as my God is greater!

I look to Saturday when all this stress will be done for 6 weeks, praise God! Meantimes, I am spending a lot of time in worship and prayer. My enemies have to sit and watch as I worship my God for His victory! Amen!

Although I may be suffering, I rejoice that my son and grandson are winning souls to Jesus. Their evangelism is in full swing. What good news they bring me as a daily feast! God is good! Amen!

God’s promises

“Not one promise from God is empty of power. Nothing is impossible with God!”Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭37‬ ‭TPT‬‬

The angel Gabriel said these words to Mary after telling her that her elderly cousin Elizabeth was also pregnant. What man considered impossible, with God was possible. Sarah was Elizabeth’s proof. Sarah conceived and bore Issac in her 90’s. Issac means laughter. Laughter ensued when Sarah became pregnant. John ensued when Elizabeth became pregnant.

Sarah and Elizabeth speak to God’s amazing ability to do the impossible. As a woman in her 70’s I can look to this amazing fulfilment and know God is not finished with me yet. Whilst I do not need to bear more children, naturally,  I can bring forth more disciples to Jesus and thus spiritual children.

Today I start my exam week. The study I am doing will further enhance my language ability and understanding. I am learning the Nepali language so that I can converse with the Nepali people. The task has been fraught with physical difficulties, however, I am still here and have accomplished what few have dared to try. I have one more term before I can move onto a research project in western Nepal. That is where I want to be!

Him first

“Jesus answered him, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you.’’ Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Loving my God first and most passionately comes before sitting in a struggle to understand what is happening in relationships and what is happening in my physical body.

High blood pressure has been threatening me, and I refuse it’s athority as I’ve not had a problem with it ever before, except under stress. Whilst I am under stress with exams this week, the stress is not great. However, I live in a volatile environment where offense dwells. The endeavour not to cause offense is too great and its force must be dealt with spiritually, not naturally. 

When I love my God with all I am, I can trust Him in this challenge. He is my keeper and my protector. As I read about Israel’s latest challenge with the fall of Syria I recognise their need to trust their Lord as well.

“With you as my strength I can crush an enemy horde, advancing through every stronghold that stands in front of me.”Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭29‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Destroying strongholds of fear and intimidation is a must! 

“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ.”Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Without limits

““The One whom God has sent to represent him will speak the words of God, because God has poured out upon him the fullness of the Holy Spirit without limitation. The Father loves his Son so much that he has given all things into his hands.”John‬ ‭3‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭TPT‬‬

The words that capture me here are: ‘God has poured out His Holy Spirit without limitation’. When the Holy Spirit came in Acts 2 He poured out the Holy Spirit, it seems without limitations. Peter, in Acts 2 preached to the crowd and he referred to a scripture from Joel which states: in the last days I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh…’(Joel 2:28-32) can we say God has limited His Holy Spirit or can we embrace Him without limits?

The passage in John goes on to say: ‘the Father loves the Son so much that He has given all things into His hands’. I am challenged to believe that Jesus bought us the same privilege. Jesus told His disciples: ‘ Receive this truth: Whatever you forbid on earth will be considered to be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be considered to be released in heaven.’Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬ ‭TPT‬‬

This is authority! We have been given divine authority!

Jesus was our forerunner. He showed us the way to behave under authority and with authority. May we step up to our divine appointment! Amen!