What is Your Greatest Fear?
“Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
~ Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
If we are honest we all have fears. Fear of loneliness, fear that we don’t matter to the world, fear of loosing everything we have (family, friends, jobs…), fear of getting old — you name it. Fear in itself is not a sin (my personal opinion), BUT how we handle fear might very well lead to sin…
Let me tell you about a couple of personal fears and how I handled them (and still do). Several years ago my marriage was very rocky — to the point that it might have broken up. In order to save my marriage, I looked at myself and not my beloved. Was there anything I could change to save my marriage? No, but with God’s help I was able to change things that mattered, to make my marriage better.
One other fear I battle every single day is driving. I don’t like it — not so much my own ability of driving, but the ability of other drivers (people do do silly things while driving, you know). How do I get over my fear so I can get in the car and drive where I need to go? I walk around my car and pray for protection.
You see battling fear is not so much within us, but we can ask for His help to see us through. In 2010, Isaiah 41:10 is the verse I ‘claimed’ for myself. I have to admit that I am not much of an Old Testament gal, but when this verse popped up three times in a 48-hour period, I knew the passage was meant for me…
Tonight, before writing our 1,000th devotional (YEAH!!!!), I read Isaiah 41:1-20 (ESV). It has so much promise, so much comfort. Read it yourself (just hover over the passage reference to read it). In the passage, God uses “Fear Not” three times in 20 verses. In 2010 let us comfort each other; strengthen each other as God speaks of in Isaiah 41.
Lord of Heaven and Earth. Thank You for Your incredible promise to always be with us, to strengthen us in our walk this side of Heaven. Lord, I pray that You continue to use this blog and its writers to reach out, to comfort, and to pray for others. Lord, may our lips praise Your holy name throughout the next year. May we always be faithful to You; stand firm until Your return. In the precious name of Jesus ~ Amen
I pray that some of you will join me on the journey of living fearlessly in 2010. The series is based on Max Lucado’s book “Fearless”, which one of you can win the first week of January. Check out my personal blog “Grace Alone” on January 1st to find out more…
Live fearless because of His promise to strengthen you…Happy New Year…
Iris
Oh Iris,
I can’t beleive a 1000 posts. It has been a privilege to write here. The Lord amazes me with all of the authors and their lives they share. I have been encouraged, cried, laughed and loved. I am a better child of God because of Laced With Grace.
I look forward to your posts in the new year. Thank you. I love you my sister. Hugs. Lynn
I’m looking forward to traveling the “Fearless” road with you this year.
Whoa-Whoo! 1,000 posts! What an honor and privilege it is to write for Laced With Grace and to be able to get to know so many awesome women of faith.
Thank you, Iris.
And thank you for your transparency in writing this post.
Happy New Year!
Wow Iris, 1,000 posts! How awesome that God allowed you to be the one schedule to to this milestone post. Looking forward for what God has planned for LWG in 2010. I’m honored to be a small part of it.
BTW, Happy New Year!