God Who Turns Our Fears Into Gladness

“Do not be afraid, neither be dismayed" (Joshua 8:1)

These are the words of the LORD God spoken to His servant Joshua who was leading the people in the wilderness towards the promised land. They were supposed to win battle against the city of Ai, but because of one person's disobedience they lost the battle and fled away from their enemies who were chasing them.

What were the fears of Joshua?

1. The fear and the discouragement he was facing because he lost the battle against his enemies
2. The fear about the attitude and behaviour of his own people against God's words
3. The fear about God's wrath against the people because of their disobedience
4. The fear about the lost hope among his people about winning the battle
5. The fear and confusion in his mind on how to plan the battle again.

Many of us lost certain things in our lives: because of the wrong moves we did in the past, because of our wrong motives and behaviour, because of fulfilling our own desires, or because of not understanding the path that God has set before us. Today we were standing in a place without knowing what to do and which way to go or how to start over again. Here in this case, God's word came to him when Joshua made sure he took off everything from his people which were displeasing before God's eyes. And thus Gid gave him the victory over the city of Ai.

Today if we are struggling just like how Joshua struggled, let us judge ourselves and take away all that are displeasing before God's eyes. Let us submit ourselves totally into His hands. The same God who spoke to Joshua "Fear not!" is speaking to us today. For He is with us and will deliver us from all our situations. Whatever we lost, God will help us to regain everything. So let us draw closer to Him and submit ourselves into His hands. He will restore the things we lost in the past. He will turn all our mourning into laughter, sufferings into joy, tears into gladness. God bless you.

Have a blessed day!

God Who Gives Us Victory

"Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible" (Deuteronomy 7:21).

These are the words spoken by the LORD God to His people in the wilderness.

What were their fears?

1. The fear about sickness and diseases because of the wilderness life
2. The fear about their enemies: the very thought of their gigantic appearance, their fortress and walls, the inferior thinking about themselves
3. The fear of falling into temptations when they face them and its consequences
4. The fear about their supplies being running out because of their wilderness life.

But the LORD God promises them not to be frightened. He wants them to remember the great signs and wonders He did amidst them, the deliverance He provided with His mighty outstretched arms, the care, protection and providence during their wilderness life.

Even today in our life we are struggling hard in facing many situations and issues. Fear grips us at the very thought about those things or people. But today the LORD God says "Fear not!" No matter what comes against us, no matter how big is the problem, no matter how fierce and vigorous is the issue, we have a big God much much bigger than all these problems that comes against us. The God who was with us all through these days, who lead us thus far, He is able to carry us forward.

So today let us just remember all the good things and the blessings that God has given to us. Let us think about the various ways in which God had miraculously delivered in various past circumstances and start to praise and thank Him for what He has done in our lives. He is faithful to keep up the promises what He has made to us. He will guard us and guide us. He will continue to be our protector, our shield, and our fortress. So fear not, be courageous, and commit our ways into His hands. Surely He will take care of us. He will be with us in all the circumstances we face and will bless us. He will fight the battle for us and will make us to triumph over the victory He purchase for us on all the situations and problems we are facing right now.

Have a blessed and victorious day!

God Is Our Hope And Strength

"Fear not, neither be discouraged" (Gen 1:21)

The words of encouragement given by the LORD God to His people in the wilderness. They were camped before the hill-country of the Amorites which is the borderlands of the promised land Canaan. God promises them that they will conquer the land. But the people feared to go further to conquer the land.

What are the fears of the people of Israel?

1. They feared about the great walled fortress surrounding the land
2. They feared about the numerous people whom they will be meeting if they go making war against them to conquer the land
3. They feared the huge appearance of the giants of that land
4. They feared that it is not wise to go to war without understanding the land and its things
5. They feared that they will be easily destroyed by the people of that land.
  
Today what is the situation you are facing. It maybe something like this hill-country looking with high walls so that no one can conquer or overcome it.

It maybe something standing like a huge giant frightening and making us to flee away from those situations. Many times we would  have fled away fearing to see those situations in our lives. Let us take few minutes to recall what is frightening us and what is making us to flee away.

Today the same LORD God says to us "Fear not!" The problems and situations we are facing might discourage and dissappoint us, making us to feel low about ourselves. Our God wants us not to be discouraged. Take heart and be cheerful. Let us regain our strength in the LORD and get ready to face any situations. Because our God is on our side and He has promised us that He will be with us no matter what is the situation and is going to strengthen us.

Have a blessed day!

God With Us

"Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed" (Gen 26:24)

The word of God came to Isaac when he was going through a very difficult situation.

What were his fears?

1. The fear of how to feed his family in the hard time of famine
2. The fear of living in a foreign land because he fled from his place due to famine
3. The fear of losing his loved ones and his family because of the people of that land
4. The fear because of the envy of the people of that land due to all the blessings he received from God
5. The fear because the king of that land ordered him to get away from his land
6. The fear of survival because of the oppositions and obstacles he faced from the people in all the things he did.

Dear friends, we too in our life will be going through such tough situations where fear gripping us. Because of the oppositions we face, the envied voices we hear, lost hope on our future, losing our loved ones. But the same God who promised Isaac today promises us that

# He is going to be with us
# He is going to bless us
#He is going to increase us.

So the word of God comes into our lives "Fear not!" The God who promises us is faithful. He is faithful to take you safe and secure through the path you are going through. Have a blessed day!

God Hears Our Cries

The LORD said, "Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the child from the place where he is" (Gen 21:17).

These are the words of God spoken to Hagar, an Egyptian handmaid given to Abraham as his wife, when she was in the wilderness with her about-to-die child.

What are the fears of Hagar?
1. The fear of being a handmaid tortured by her mistress
2. The fear of loneliness as her own husband and his family drove her away along with her child into the wilderness
3. The fear of future as she was wandering alone in the wilderness without knowing where to go, what to do, how to survive
4. The fear of the provisions running out in her hand, every supplies she had is now empty and she doesn't had any hope to get even a drop of water for her dying child
5. The fear of losing her child who is crying out of thirst but found nowhere in the wilderness, putting the child away not willing to see her child's death.

Many times in our lives we come across similar fears - fear about our future, being drove away alone by our family or relatives or friends, about our needs not met, losing the things that we love. This was the same situation Hagar went. But the sovereign God heard the cry of the child and spoke to Hagar saying "Fear not!" And God blessed Hagar and her son Ishmael.

Today the same God who hears the cries of your heart says to you "Fear not!" He wants to bless you abundantly. Just like Hagar listened to God's voice, today if we obey, our God is faithful to bless us and to lift us up. Have a blessed day!

God is my Reward

Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward (Gen 15:1)

 

The LORD says, "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" (Gen 15:1)

 

Abram was a righteous person who pleased God through his obedience and faith. But in his life, fear gripped him - about his future.

 

What is the fear of Abram?

• He doesn't have a proper place to dwell in the land along with his family and all that he has.
• He is too old and still he doesn't have a child.
• He feared of his future. There is no one to take care of all that he has, coz he is the richest of the people of his times.

  

Many times fear grips us. Fears about our family situations, about our kids, financial pressures, family issues, future, health problems, and so on. But the same God who said to Abram "Fear Not!" looks at you with a heart of love and compassion and says "Fear Not!"     
     
God became his shield and his reward and he became blessed.  So fear not, our God is protecting you and fills you with His goodness. Have a blessed day!

God's Guidance in Our New Tasks

"I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation" (Genesis 46:3)

These are the words the LORD God said to Jacob whike he was forced to leave the promised land because of a severe famine and to go to Egypt towards a welcoming son who was lost long back. We in these last days get struck in making newer decisions. The endeavor may be new to us, we would have been forced to quit from the existing work, thousands of questions circling around our head, analysing the pros and cons, meeting the experts and seeking friends and elders for advices—all these increase the pressure of the scenario.

Here is a man of God who is toiling in such a situation. Jacob feared of this new journey at this old age—130 years of old. He also knows that the journey is a long one. He remembers the death of his beloved wife Rachel on one of such journeys. This is how we too look ourselves in front of the new endeavor. Are we skilled enough to handle this work? Does our health factor is a concern? Can I be able to undergo this new task? Will any calamity befall in the midst of the task? and so on the list of questions go.

Jacob feared of the consequences that may happen in Egypt—his people, his sons, who accompany him, may forget their originality, their lifestyle, their culture and fall to the modern culture and practices. He would have feared that they may forget the LORD their God who led them all these days and serve foreign gods and embrace the new pleasures of the world. This is also a point we normally think when we are about to be enter into a new task. What will happen to me—will I need to compromise with my principalities, my beliefs, my culture, my lifestyle, and so on. Will time make me to change myself completely, away from my present trend.

Jacob also feared the earlier prophecy that God had told his forefather Abraham about a bond of slavery. He would have feared that this might make us to bind ourselves into slavery in Egypt. This is also the fear we always have whether we will be binded by the clutches of slavery. Will the true purpose for which we have undertook this task be fulfilled?

Dear friends, you know what Jacob did amidst all his fears—He waited in the God's presence and listened to God's voice. Today, in all our new endeavors let us keep away all our fears and worries and be in the presence of God for His guidance. He is faithful in His promises and He will show us the way at the appointed time. So be not discouraged nor fear of the dangers before us. May God bless you!