Category Archives: Christian Living

Boiled Down & Recoiled

Day 17 – Soul Detox

Exodus 4:1-17

Devotional

Fear is having faith, but it’s placing your faith in the wrong things. Fear is placing your faith in the “what ifs”. So much of our fears are focused on things that may or may not happen. There is no reason to fear things that might not even happen. Even people in the Bible struggled in fearing their own “what ifs”. You will read today about Moses’ “what if” fear and how God gave him strength to overcome his fear.

What are some of the “what ifs” that fuel your fears?

via Soul Detox | YouVersion.com.

Isn’t that startling? Fear is faith – misplaced faith. (perhaps a question to ponder is in whom is our faith placed when we fear?) When we fear a thing we are believing it will happen, even though it has not. Christian Faith is believing GOD. Believing HE will do what HE says HE will do.  Hmmm.

“What ifs”

What are my what ifs?

What if it doesn’t work?
What if he/she will not listen?
What if he/she is hurt?

There are other variations but when boiled down they are all akin? What if this does not end up the way I want it?

And the answer? FAITH – TRUST. Trust the GOD who loves me and loves them even more than I do.

Faith overcomes Fear.  Take a look at Moses (Moshe). He RECOILED at the snake but yet he obeyed and picked it up by the tail even as he was told. Faith gave COURAGE to overcome the fear.  And from personal experience, the fear did not go away BEFORE the action.  There’s a lesson here. Many lessons here.

2 Adonai answered him, “What is that in your hand?” and he said, “A staff.”
3 He said, “Throw it on the ground!” and he threw it on the ground. It turned into a snake, and Moshe recoiled from it.
4 Then Adonai said to Moshe, “Put your hand out and take it by the tail.” He reached out with his hand and took hold of it, and it became a staff in his hand.

via Exodus 4:1-17 CJB – Moshe replied, “But I’m certain – Bible Gateway.

A Courageous Wednesday to us all,

You might also check in with SHE READS TRUTH

 

Clean Conscience

Day 16 of Soul Detox

Are we gaining something from Soul Detox? We are one day beyond half way finished with the study.

2 Timothy 1:1-18

Devotional

There are four types of fears: fear of loss, fear of failure, fear of rejection, and fear of the unknown. It is very likely that you are struggling with one or more of these fears. These fears can paralyze you and keep you from God’s best. Remember what 2 Timothy 1 says in that God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.

Which fears do you currently struggle with the most?

via Soul Detox | YouVersion.com.

Truth?

Rejection.  I think.

For sure. It’s hard to be hated.

How about you?

You might also check in with SHE READS TRUTH

 

Pondering this:  worshiping with a clean conscience. Praying. Fear of Rejection. Any connection?

3 . . .  I worship with a clean conscience, as I regularly remember you in my prayers night and day.

via 2 Timothy 1:1-18 CJB;NASB – From: Sha’ul, an emissary of the – Bible Gateway.

If We What?

Day 15 — Soul Detox

Psalms 27:1-14

Devotional

We are often paralyzed with irrational fear that something may happen. Rather than living by faith, we live by fear. These toxic fears can cripple our lives and rob us of our joy. This week you will read what God’s Word says about toxic fears and how we should face them.

How have you seen your toxic fears influence your actions and thoughts?

via Soul Detox | YouVersion.com.

As you read the Text for today (via the link above or your own copy of Scripture in hand) did you notice NOT to fear is a choice? Did you notice that the Scripture in no way tells us there are not scary things around us?

What about evildoers, adversaries, foes all trying to eat us up? We can be easily paralyzed except for one choice. The choice must be to TRUST.

I mean what does verse 1 say?

Yeshua is our LIGHT – He gets us through any DARKNESS if we TRUST.  And He is our SALVATION – He delivers us from every evildoer, every adversary, every foe that comes against us if we TRUST.

And the Psalmist penned:

Adonai is the stronghold of my life;

of whom should I be afraid?

via Psalms 27:1-14 CJB;NASB – By David: ADONAI is my light and – Bible Gateway.

Of whom indeed should we be afraid?

How’s that for defeating toxic thinking and fear?

You might also check in with SHE READS TRUTH

PMS?

Day 14 — Soul Detox

Mark 11:12-25

Devotional

Not only should we speak life-giving words to others, but we should also speak them to our circumstances and ourselves. The toxic words we speak to ourselves can be some of the most dangerous.

What types of toxic words are you saying to yourself? What steps do you need to take to stop saying these toxic words to yourself?

via Soul Detox | YouVersion.com.

I hope you will read the whole of the text linked above. I am not going to pretend with you that I perfectly understand our LORD’s actions here but of this I am certain: JESUS was not having an off day, or a bad day, or even a ‘pms’ day and thus spoke out of turn. He was not vindictive to the fig tree. He was not in a ‘rage’ when He cleansed the temple. Righteous anger? Yes. But the temple cleansing was NOT in a fit of uncontrolled rage. Our SAVIOR – GOD MAN was ALWAYS obedient to the leading of THE HOLY SPIRIT.  His EVERY deed, EVERY word ALWAYS glorified the FATHER and would edify man, if man would listen.  We will NEVER be this controlled by the HOLY SPIRIT this side of HEAVEN; but we should be willing to try.  :)

So why did He curse the fig tree? I don’t know. But He had a purpose and I suspect the Disciples sooner or later got it! I hope I do too.

Happy Sunday, my Friends! Watch your Words to others and to yourself – our words contain life and death.

You might also check in with SHE READS TRUTH

Proverbs 18:21 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

21 The tongue has power over life and death; those who indulge it must eat its fruit.

via Pro 18:21 CJB;NASB – The tongue has power over life and – Bible Gateway.