Dear Ones, Happy weekend to you!! We had a big turnout for Bible study yesterday and good sharing. Today is another party day here and we are having a dinner party tonight! Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
We all have fears, and some fears are beneficial so that we can respond to threats and escape a dangerous situation. But most are fears we need to overcome, and we need God’s grace to let go of them so that we might do all that God has called us to do. It’s good to honestly examine our fears and name them, so they can be dealt with rather than attempting to suppress them, for they don’t go away on their own. Something that is a fear for one person, may not bother another person at all. I am not afraid of spiders but if a bat flies in my room, I am out of there pronto!

Instead of suppressing our fears and avoiding situations that may bring on anxious thoughts, we need to not only name the fears, but do the opposite of what we would naturally want to do and face it…like if we fell off a horse, we should get back up again. The Bible gives so many examples of people who were afraid, and yet they went on to do what God asked them to do. The most common command in the Bible is to FEAR NOT. I think of Gideon and Abraham and Moses and Joseph, who were all told to do difficult things. They didn’t feel capable, but God graced them with His power to do what He asked of them.

I have had fears in my own life, and knew that in my own power I could not accomplish what God was asking of me. We are not to go in our own power, but to be empty of self, that God will fill us with His power. I pray that every week for Al before he goes to teach Bible study, as when we are empty, He can fill us with all that we need for what we are to do. Let us not be bound by our fears, but admit to them, face them, and go in the strength of the Lord. Even when we have times we fail, we can learn from much from our mistakes, knowing God still loves us and forgives.

Challenge for today: When the next situation comes up to cause fear, pause and pray and ask the Lord to help you through it, and go in His power.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy