Tag: fear

Focus

3 Ways to Enhance Your Focus

Posted on by Evangeline

Have you heard the  saying, “What you focus on grows”?

Focus is defined in the Webster’s dictionary as a central point of concentration. What you focus on–what you concentrate on and put your attention to–grows in its importance and impact in your life.

Scripture encourages us to focus on Jesus. Hebrews 12:2 AMP instructs us on this:

“Looking away from all that will distract us and focusing our eyes on Jesus.“

We focus by looking away from the things that distract us in the natural realm and then fixing our gaze on Jesus, keeping our eyes on His love for us. He gave us a great example of how to focus during the closing days of His life here on earth. As our Savior, he paid no attention to the shame of the cross– He looked away from it. He fixed His gaze on the joy he was destined to experience. The joy grew as He remained focused on it!

An important thing to remember: DISTRACTIONS are the enemy of focus.

Consider your focus as if it was a camera lens that zooms in on one particular item.  You get to see that item very clearly. But, if you spread your camera’s “attention” over multiple items (distractions), you don’t get to see that one thing clearly.

3 Ways to Enhance Your Focus

  1. EXPECT HEALING – Instead of focusing on the symptoms, put your attention on God’s healing Word. Find Scriptures that are specifically related to healing and begin consistently speak them over your life. This will help you to expect healing.
  2. DEAL WITH FEAR – Make a decision to not be distracted by and dominated by fear. Recognize that fear activates the devil’s power. Know who you are in Christ and put on His armor. Be courageous and speak the Word to the “mountain” (Mark 11:23).
  3. EXERCISE YOUR FAITH – Be truth-minded, focused on what God has said about your situation. Take actions that align with the specific scriptures that apply to the circumstances that need to change. Have an active faith!

When we get our heart in line with the Word and put our attention on the Word’s power, we are able to more fully concentrate on the positive instead of the negative.

And as we focus on the positive, life gets better! 🙂

Make a decision to not be distracted by and dominated by fear. Share on X

 

 

Never give up

5 Scriptures for When You Feel Like You Want to Give Up On God’s Promises

Posted on by Evangeline

The enemy would like nothing better than for us to give up on God.

When we don’t see the results that we want to see…

When we don’t get what we asked for in a “reasonable” timeframe…

When we feel like giving up on what God said…

We need a plan. A plan that we can count on to pull us through the tears, the fears, and the dread that comes when we experience delay. I think the best plan for maintaining hope and for changing any circumstance in our lives always needs to include the power of God’s Word. The Word is what helps us remember that the God of the universe is on our side. It makes it clear that God loves us with a no-matter-what love. Incorporating His promises into our plan makes it an effective battle plan so that we don’t give up.

Don’t Give Up… Encourage Yourself

David encouraged himself when he was on the verge of giving up (1 Samuel 30:6). Couldn’t you do the same?

Here are 5 examples from Scripture that you can use as a part of your battle plan to ultimately live as the victor God created you to be. Use them to keep yourself encouraged about experiencing what God has promised:

  • “But as for you, be strong and do not give up.” – 2 Chronicles 15:7
  • “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial.” – James 1:12
  • “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” – Mark 10:27

  • “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” – Isaiah 40:29

  • “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then.” – Ephesians 6:12-14

What other scriptures would you add to this list? Please share one in the comments! 🙂 

The Word is what helps us remember that the God of the universe is on our side and loves us with a no-matter-what love. It makes our plan into an effective battle plan so that we don't give up. Share on X

While You Endure the Storm Do You Ever Wonder “Where Is God?”

Posted on by Evangeline

It’s been a while between the last message from me and this one. Thank you for your patience.

In this season of infertility, you probably wonder to yourself, “Where is God? When is He going to show up and turn this thing around?”  I’ll admit that I did! Doubt and impatience sometimes got the best of me. But when it feels like Jesus is nowhere to be found, it’s important to recognize that it’s just a feeling and not the Truth. The truth is He is right there with you, promising to never leave you. He is ever-present and already well-proven to be able and willing to help.

Let Psalm 46:1-2 (The Passion Translation) encourage you:

God, you’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in time of trouble— more than enough and always available whenever I need you. So I will never fear.

Let Jesus be your Superhero!

There’s no need to fear… He’s the best ally and friend you could ever have. Recognize that He’s for you and not against you.

Call on the Lord; talk with Him from your heart. Invite His love into your situation. He cares about all the practical things in your life– your health, your marriage, your finances, EVERYTHING. He wants you to seek Him for wisdom on what your next step should be. He’ll never grow tired of your desire to have a heart-to-heart with Him.

Align your words with His promises. What comes out of your mouth is powerful. So much so that your words will either promote life/success/blessing or death/failure/affliction within your situation. Let what you say be based on what He has said.

All of these things are important. I think the BEST thing to do in this season of asking,”Where is God?”, is to consistently ask God for a fresh revelation of His love. When you know how much He loves you, that is a HUGE difference-maker in every circumstance of your life.

 

where is god
Photo courtesy of Microsoft Images

Tag-Team With God and Experience Victory

Posted on by Evangeline

Victory

This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast number,  for the battle is not yours, but God’s. You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.  He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged.  Tomorrow, go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.’ 

2 Chronicles 20:15, 17 HCSB

God is an encourager. Throughout the Bible, His words encourage us to experience victory, to not fear, to move forward by trusting Him, to confidently expect good things, and perhaps most importantly, to know that He loves us. When we are confident that He loves us, we can experience increased confidence that we can live victoriously, no matter the circumstance. But sometimes, maybe even most times, we find ourselves fighting for victory using only our own strength, using only our personal capabilities.

Are you trying to live victoriously in your own strength? How’s that working for you?

Are you overcoming the fear of never having a child (or any other fear) or are you giving in to it? Allow any fear that you may be feeling right now to be the prompt that turns you to God. Do not give in to the fear. Doing so will drive you away from Him– the One who has the power to change your circumstances from trouble to triumph. Decide to not engage in battle in your own strength. God stands at the ready, will and able to fight on your behalf. His desire is for you to only be a spectator of your enemy’s defeat. His willingness to fight and His ability to win allows you to expect deliverance and a sure victory.

God will fight for you. He will do all the combat work. You only need to ask Him to partner with you and then stand still, watching Him do the work. Think of it as a tag-team wrestling match. Here are some of the details of how tag-team wrestling is done:

The basic tag team match has two teams of two wrestlers facing off against each other. However, only one wrestler from each team, called the “legal man” is allowed in the ring at a time. The other member of the team wait outside the ropes in the team’s specified corner until the active “legal man” becomes weakened and tired.  All the while, his partner watches helplessly, struggling to reach him for a tag. The tension builds as the legal man is unable to tag out until something happens that allows the partners to tag and reverse the momentum of the match in their favor. Then he can tag (much like a high-five) his partner to come in to fight for him. [Source: Wikipedia]

I see this from a spiritual viewpoint as you being the “legal man” in a fight, struggling to pin your opponent down and stop his attack. God is your team member, always in your corner,  watching you trying to win on your own, wishing you would allow Him to be the “legal man.” When you choose to put your hand up– taking a hands-off approach to your fight– and tag God to make Him your “legal man” in the fight, you get to climb out of the ring, wait and rest in your corner, and watch God do all the work in defeating the enemy.

Which will you choose to do? Keep fighting in your own strength or tag God to fight your battle so you can experience victory?

Photo courtesy of Nongpimmy|Free Digital Photos

Focus Friday – You Are Not a Loser

Posted on by Evangeline

As a trustee at my church, I sometimes go to unlock the property so that a contractor can get in and make repairs. Recently, a contractor lost his keys to his truck and got frustrated that he couldn’t find them. He retraced his steps over and over, trying to see where he had set them down while he had done his work. Finally his frustration came to its tipping point because of fear of not finding the keys. What came out of his mouth shocked me. No, he didn’t start cussing. He started calling himself a loser, a dummy, and an idiot. The negative self-talk that came out of his mouth grieved me. What must this 50-year-old man have been told about himself growing up that he would say those things to himself? It’s sad that someone thinks of himself in that way. How could he have gotten so comfortable with thinking and speaking negative words to himself that he would say those thoughts out loud in front of a stranger?

Ever found yourself thinking and saying negative things about yourself, even jokingly calling yourself a loser in some way? Watch this video then read Romans 8:31 (below) to focus on God’s love for you.

Here’s a quick Focus Friday visit from me to remind you that with God on your side, you are NOT a loser!

Romans 8:31-39 (The Message Bible)

“So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.”

The Rest of the Story

In case you’re wondering, the contractor found his keys…they had fallen under the rear bumper of his truck. They were right there all along.

Under what circumstances do you find typically negative self talk coming out of your mouth?

Is fear the trigger?

Monday’s Marinade – I Will Not Fear

Posted on by Evangeline

 

Monday’s Marinade is provided to you as a means of “soaking yourself” in the hope-filled Word of God at the beginning of your week. 

Start your week by meditating about how God has not forgotten you so there is no reason to fear. 

Repeatedly think about this and quietly say it to yourself.  

Marinate and season your week with hope and a confident expectation of good things happening!

 

Here’s your spiritual marinade:

Monday's Marinade - I will not fear

Monday’s Marinade: Ebola — Fear Not!

Posted on by Evangeline

God says FEAR NOT!

Monday’s Marinade is a little different today…

After listening to the CDC’s press conference about the first transmission of the Ebola virus within the U.S., I thought I’d share this so that we remember Who we belong to and what His Word is able to do on our behalf.

Instead of speaking fearfully about this virus spreading in the U.S., believe and boldly speak God’s powerful Word!  Refuse to fear!

Soak yourself in this hope-filled Word of God that can stop Ebola in its tracks. Repeatedly think about this scripture and quietly say it to yourself.

Marinate and season your week with the hope this scripture contains. Have a confident expectation of good things happening!

Print out this graphic and place it somewhere to remind you to speak God’s Word of protection over yourself, family, and nation.

SHARE this post with your friends so that more of us are speaking victoriously in this global situation.

Ebola and Psalm 91

Monday’s Marinade – Courage

Posted on by Evangeline

Monday’s Marinade is provided to you as a means of “soaking yourself” in the hope-filled Word of God at the beginning of your week.

Start your week by meditating on this Word about why you can have courage. Repeatedly think about it and quietly say it to yourself.  Marinate and season your week with hope and a confident expectation of good things happening!

Here’s your spiritual marinade for courage this week:

marinade, courage, make room for mommy

Monday’s Marinade – No Fear

Posted on by Evangeline

Monday’s Marinade is provided to you as a means of “soaking yourself” in the hope-filled Word of God at the beginning of your week.

Start your week by meditating on this Word about fear and anxiety. Repeatedly think about it and quietly say it to yourself.  Marinate and season your week with hope and a confident expectation of good things happening!

Here’s your spiritual marinade for this week:

Monday's Marinade Isa 41-10

Monday’s Marinade

Posted on by Evangeline

Monday’s Marinade is provided to you as a means of “soaking yourself” in the hope-filled Word of God at the beginning of your week. Start your week by meditating on this Word. Repeatedly think about and quietly say it to yourself.  Marinate and season your week with hope and a confident expectation of good things happening!

Here’s your spiritual marinade for this week:

Monday's Marinade 1Tim 1-7.jpg