Don't be Afraid

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled , neither let it be afraid" John 14:27 NKJV

'Why has this happened to me, Why? I've never hurt anyone. It's not fair.' This is the kind of stuff that we come up with when the chips are down. When we have done all we can to sort something out and the problem is still there. Why?
We may be dealing with major problems such as our health - a serious diagnosis, or someone who is close, who needs help. It may be a work problem or the fact that no matter how hard you've tried, you find out that your job is coming to end and you'll be unemployed. 'What about the bills? or 'What about the mortgage?' These fears may be upper most in your mind. Someone may have been robbed, credit and debit cards cloned and are penniless. Then again, it may be something very tragic that has all of sudden taken place.

Certain emotional issues can hit us hard and when this happens we can feel totally inadequate and helpless. Some of the things that we may face are:

Immobilisation. We can feel numb to the situation and can't make any sense of what has happened. Confusion begins to set in and it is probably very difficult to think things through.
Minimisation. Some may try to deny what has happened because they need to be strong - for the family and can't be seen to be weak at a time such as the.
Anger. Tempers can erupt as the mind cannot process why it has happened and has a defence mechanism which can fly off the handle, because we're scared and unable to change things at this time.
Depression. This is always around, waiting to take us under its wing. It can be a safe place to be, especially if we can't cope with life at the present.
 However, it should not be allowed to carry on for a length of time without seeing a doctor.

Take another look at the scripture above. Jesus tells us that He wants to give us peace in the hurting time. He also tells us not to be afraid. He is in control, if we allow Him to be. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue came to see Jesus one day and fell at Jesus' feet and begged Him to come to his house as his daughter was very ill and close to death. Jesus agreed but on the way, He got held up with another person who also needed a healing touch. This took a little time and someone came from Jairus' house and told him that his daughter had died. Jesus heard this and said to Jairus, 'Do not be afraid; only believe and she will be made well.' And she was.  Luke 8:40 - 56.

That is the requirement. Inviting Jesus to come and help you and believing He can. He may be the only one who can and He can give you the peace you need whilst He is helping you.

Why not say this prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I am so confused and full of panic. I just don't know what to do. Please will You help me with this....................................................... I really am quite scared but I see that You don't want me to be this way. You don't want me to be afraid. You want me to believe, which I do right now.You promise me peace and a troubled free time as I go through this situation. You're all I've got that can really help me and I'm pouring my heart out to You at this moment. Please come and help me/us because I believe that you have the answer. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Now try and relax and keep believing Jesus.

Unsatisfied longing

"But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. then when desire has conceived , it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is full-grown, brings forth death"
                                                                                                          James 1:14 - 15 NKJV

This is something that effects us all. We can be so easily drawn away to temptation - whatever that temptation is. It happened to Eve in the Garden (Genesis 3). There was one particular tree that she knew she wasn't to eat from. The fruit must have been wonderful and the devil knew this too as he led her to look at it. As she looked, desire filled her soul. She was drawn away and enticed and she fell to the temptation. The longer you look into the face of temptation, the more dangerous it becomes and one can easily be enticed. Remember, Joseph ran out of the house when Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him. We have to run from the temptation before it overcomes us.

As Christian's, we are in a never-ending battle with spiritual attacks. They come from everywhere. This is why we need to put on God's Armour. (Ephesians 6). There is temptations and struggles at every corner and we have to be so careful that we're not drawn in.

One root of desire is 'Unsatisfied longing.' This is probably something that has been resident within certain people and they never knew. Perhaps there was something that you never received as a child, whether that be love, attention or affection etc. There is a unsatisfied longing element that is burning away and it is demanding some attention. This may be a need to drink, take drugs, bet money, have adulterous relationships, spend money that you don't have but with a credit card you do have or whatever else you have the need for. It is a battle and one in which needs attention before it goes too far.

God can deal with this unsatisfied longing. It may be too embarrassing to tell someone about it. That is for you to decide. However, you do have access to God 24/7. His office door is always open.

Our 'Soul'

"Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name!
Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all His benefits. 
Who forgives all your iniquities. Who heals all your diseases. Who redeems your life from destruction. Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles."  Psalm 103:1 - 5. NKJV

The word 'soul' mentioned here in this scripture is made up of your Mind, Will and Emotions. The dictionary explanation is:

'The animating and vital principle in humankind credited with the faculties of thought, action and emotion.' ( Reader's Digest Universal Dictionary )

So in a nutshell, it is connected with our thoughts - what we think about things, our action - what we do about certain things and our emotion - how we handle each and every situation. In this Psalm by King David, he is encouraging us to bless God in all things, with everything that we have got within us - our mind, will and emotions. It is so important, that he mentions it twice 'Bless the Lord O my soul'. God has given us life and everything we have and will have in the future. There are many people who have left this world who would give anything to be able to do this.
Let us take a look at what is on offer here:

BENEFITS
We are not to forget His benefits. Now, let me say this. God's benefits are not means tested. What He offers us, we get. It is not given in one hand and taken back out of the other. We get it all.
FORGIVENESS
Whatever we do wrong, as we confess this to Jesus, he forgives. We make many mistakes and He knows we will continue to do so, but He is forgiving. That doesn't mean though, that we can go out and paint the town red, white and purple, sinning here, there and everywhere because we know He'll forgive us. A word of caution, we should never test the Lord. He is patient but He will not be messed about by this type of deliberate action.
HEALS
He is a healing God and His desire is that we should be in good health. He is Jehovah Rapha, which basically means the Lord heals. The meaning in Hebrew is that He mends and cures. We should go to Him, believing that he can and will heal us of all diseases. The healing can be instant, and I've seen this happen. At other times, it can be long and drawn out and He may not heal us the way we expect Him to. However, we should never doubt. Always live in biblical hope.
REDEEMS
He redeems us from destruction. I can certainly testify to this. Just over a year ago, I was washed out to sea as I walked along the beach in a storm. Try as I may, I could not get back to the shore line so that I could get out, as large waves washed me back. Out of nowhere, the hand of a lady, pulled me out to safety. I don't know who she was or where she came from. But I was rescued. That is one way of being redeemed from destruction. However, He also redeems us from death. One day we'll all have to stand before Him and give an account of our life. If Jesus is your Saviour, you are redeemed. If not it'll be too late.
CROWNED
He crowns with His kindness, His love and helps us be content, giving us His mercy. He loves us so much.
SATISFIESS AND RENEWS
He provides all we need, from clothes and food, to friendship, love and security. He is all we need.He makes us feel content, blessed and satisfied. He also revitalises and refreshes us giving us the strength to get through each and every situation. And He reserves a place for us in Heaven.

Now, I don't know about you, but that is my God. His love is endless. He is faithful and with us always. The thing is, if you don't know Him, I could talk alike this forevermore. You have to try Him out for yourself. You'll believe me then.

Hope

"I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."  Psalm 27:13 NKJV

How many times have we been tempted to give up. This may have been a cross country run, one in which every fibre of your body is hurting and you feel that you can't go on any longer. The temptation to give up at this stage is immense.
Then there is the times when we have been waiting ages for something - whether it be an answer to prayer, or a job offer. The waiting sucks at times and we feel like giving up at this stage. There is also the despair that comes from daily Christian life - waiting to be used in a particular field within the church - waiting for answers to prayer that never seem to come. Waiting; hoping; hanging on to the dream; waiting for that miracle. We need hope - the biblical hope that I've mentioned in earlier readings.

Dr Thomas Fuller, clergyman and historian from the 16th century, wrote: If it were not for hope, the heart would break'. Yesterday has gone. It has ended, there is no hope in that. But today is a new day, full of anticipation and hope:

'Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion" says my soul. therefore I hope in Him.'                                                                                    Lamentations 3:22 - 24 NKJV

Hope begins and ends with Jesus. Hope inspires and pushes us to embrace the future - the future that God wants us to have. Without hope, we're lost. Are you reading this and wishing that you could have this type of hope? Are you thinking, 'Things good only happen to other people, not me? Do you know something, if out of many millions of people who had been rescued from some worldly disaster, you were the only person who were lost somewhere; Jesus would stop doing what He was involved with and He would go out looking for you, to bring you to safety. That is Jesus, and you know what? He loves you more than I could ever tell you. Now that is something to hope about, isn't it? And you know something? He is calling out to you, "Where are you? Are you going to answer Him?

Come away

"My beloved spoke and said to me, 'Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with their tender grapes give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.' "     
                                                                                          Song of Solomon 2:10 - 14 NKJV

This lovely piece of scripture of the Shulamite and her husband - Solomon, is a beautiful analogy of how God loves us. How much He cares for us and becomes concerned when we're not flowing properly. When we have problems and worries, it tends to take over our mind and we are tempted to be so involved with these that we leave, the one who matters most, out of the equation.

Things may have happened in your life that are so horrific; so painful, that you cannot forget them. They are uppermost in your thoughts on a fairly regular basis. I believe that God is speaking to you at this very moment. I believe that He is saying, 'The past is over. You cannot change it. Come away with me. It is spring, a new beginning for you, a fresh start. The scripture says, "Rise up'. In other words, 'Get up, it's time to move on. There's life out there and it belongs to you. Rise up.'

Have you ever walked in the countryside in the summer and smelt the beautiful fragrance that is around. There is something so lovely and refreshing about the fragrance. Well, this is what God wants you to do. It is time for healing, for living your life to the full. Don't hide yourself away (verse 14). This serves no purpose whatsoever. Show your face; your beloved - Jesus is here. Speak out to Him, take His hand because He loves you so much. Rise up my love, my fair one.

It is time. The turtle dove is heard in the spring. Things are refreshing and beautiful in the spring. For me, it signifies a new start. Haven't you ever wished you could start again? You can. Say this prayer with me:

'Lord Jesus, things were not good in the past, but I trust that you wish me to leave these things behind and start again - afresh with You. I give You my life now and ask You to lead me to a brighter and happier future. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

There's a light at the end of the tunnel

"Not that I have already attained or am already perfected, but I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." Philippians 3:12 NKJV

Sometimes the trials of life can be so overwhelming and stressful. "When will they end?" we may plead. When we are at the end of line and don't know what to do or where to go. We often hear, 'There's a light at the end of the tunnel,' and that may be so but sometimes the light is difficult to see.
There used to be a sign in a particular social work office where I worked, and it said. 'I thought I saw a light at the end of the tunnel, but it was just somebody, with a torch, bringing me more work.' And that's the way it can seem at times such as these.

In our scripture today, Paul is encouraging us to keep going, not to lose heart. One of Winston Churchill's most infamous talks at Eton, consisted of just six words. He stood up in front of all the assembly, who were expecting a long and interesting speech from this very powerful man. However, he said, 'Never, never, never, never, give up.' He then sat down and the place was filled with silence until the full impact of what he had said, was realised. There was then very loud applauding and shouts of understanding. We should never give up, no matter what we're faced with. The going may be difficult; the road ahead dark and confusing, fearful and scary. But we should never, ever give up.

From one point of view, if anyone has ever done any night walking, we can fix our eyes on a particular light and as we move forward, it gets nearer and nearer, until we're there. But when we're in a tunnel of despair, it is more difficult. But I can assure you, there is a light in that tunnel and His name is Jesus. No matter what we go through, he is right there with us, encouraging us; and what's more, He has promised to never leave us. Hebrews 13:5.

What are you going through at this moment. Are you in that tunnel and the light at the end cannot be seen? Relax, the light is right beside you and He'll lead the way - if you ask Him. Asking Him is the secret. It's no use trying to sort things out on your own, especially at times like this. Pray, and pray some more.

There is a way through the trials and problems that you are facing. Just pour out your heart to the King of kings, the one who died in your place - Jesus  He's waiting. Reach out to Him now

People pleaser

"Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant." Galatians 1:10 New Living Translation

People pleasers are some of the nicest people you could ever meet. They're so helpful, always willing to lend a hand wherever it's needed. They never like to say no as they don't want to hurt someone or let them down, because they think this is being selfish and consequentely they end up being taken for granted.
From one point of view being a people pleaser is a good characteristic. This is the hallmark of a good servant. From another, and probably more important, it is not good. People pleasers spend more time trying to please other people than looking after themselves and it stems from insecurity probably caused by something earlier in life. They find it hard to say no, and if they do, they beat themselves up with guilt that they may have let the person down. They have a fear inside about this.

One way a people pleaser can free themselves from this is to start saying, 'No', to small things and sticking to this decision. At first it can seem difficult because the thoughts of guilt start to pile in. However, as this is exercised on a more regular basis, it becomes easier. People will not like this. They have always been used to you being there, willing to help at a moments notice. But as you establish that what you say, stands, they will begin to see that you mean it.

Possibly deep down in your past, you were ignored, unloved or passed over for someone else. Therefore, you had to force yourself forward to get attention, always wanting to be the one that does things well. When you didn't receive thanks or praise for what you did, it hurt but also made you more determined to do better next time.

Listen to me, the only person that you need to please is God - and he is not demanding but will always be grateful for everything you do. Stop people pleasing and start putting God first. This doesn't mean being rude to people and never helping out. But it states that there are other people who can help out for once instead of just little old you.

A final word is that God is so pleased with you. He loves you more than I could ever write about here. Relax in Him; be at peace and enjoy the privilege of being His friend.