Devotions
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Faith, not Fear
I once heard it explained that we need to “act like you have faith, until you have the faith you act like you have”. Having a spirit of Faith can conquer our sense of fear. Let me give you what was for me a real life example. As a new member of a Christian Frontiersman Camping group we were challenged by many spiritual and emotional conquests. One of which was having faith in God and others to lead us safely through life’s journeys. This particular journey was to be blindfolded, naturally with my own socks; there is a new sensation for you and we’re not talking Fabreze. It was then explained the path I was to take in the dark, blindfolded, was to cross a plank path over a crevasse and by a miss step to either side could lead failure, injuries, death or in crossing to life. Facing the unknown darkness of what your minds imagination can produce becomes fear of enormous proportion. The same was true for the disciples in the boat with Christ; Mark 4:38-40 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Fear of the unseen, unknown is a deception of the devil that brings questions; doubts and the fear of failure, falling short, or loss all of which are satan's tricks. Peter urged us to “give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith”. Faith is believing in the name of Jesus that He is with you, to guide and protect your salvation, walking beside you, upholding you by His righteous right hand. The rest of the story: Though the challenge of crossing over that plank sent thoughts raging through my imagination along with the fear of failing to complete the challenge, as well as the smell of my socks, the time seemed like an eternity; though only a few minutes. And yes. I successfully overcame the obstacle, only to realize that in reality the plank was laying on solid ground and only 1” high and all the while I was crossing it my precious Christian brothers were walking close on both sides of me ready to protect me from harm. Likewise Christ is always there close beside us, interceding for us by the Holy Spirit with God the Father, for us to endure and overcome life’s challenges and to guide us into eternity in Heaven with Him if we simply believe in Him, asking for forgiveness of our sin and grasping hold of Him by faith, not fear. God is with you, to guide and light the path for you follow. “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you…. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”. Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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