Do Not Fear nor Be Afraid

I was asked a two-part question, 1. “Do you believe God is for you and loves you despite your circumstances? And, 2. Do you believe that God will never leave you?

We are all going to leave this life one day. But the good news, is, if we are of the family of God through the Lord Jesus Christ, we will not die. We are here for a purpose and that is to serve the Lord with all of our heart, mind, body, soul. With all of our might. Not when we feel like it. Not when everything is going great. Not when we get that dream job, have success or when life is a bowl of cherries. Because life never runs smooth.

I received a video today that scared the daylights out of me. I felt fear begin to grip me and I was shaken. Until I remembered Who Jesus is and what He said. What I’m about to write is in response to all of that.

It’s difficult to wrap our minds around what’s happening today in our world, our country, our city and our very own personal lives. Of course, we want to be happy. We want to live the best life we can. See our children and grandchildren grow up and have happy successful lives. We want to think they will have a wonderful future full of hope, with a long and prosperous life. We want them to accomplish great things, even if it’s just to live a simple, peaceful life without drama or war or sickness or hurt and pain. We want to think that we all will remain free and without tyranny. That the system, we grew up in, while it had its flaws was still a better place than anywhere else in the world. After all, many of our countrymen and women gave their lives so that we could have freedom.

God said, he will never leave us nor forsake us and he gave us his son to prove it. He sent his Holy Spirit to live, in, us. We are never alone. God does not lie. Paul, the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ said in Romans 8:38-39 The Message (MSG)

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.

I found that I’ve been focused on the wrong thing. Maybe you feel this way too! This life is going to end. Everyone of us is going to give up the ghost one day. Some sooner, some later but we are going to go. It’s how we live this life we’ve been given that’s going to matter when we do leave. If you have said, yes to Jesus you really have nothing to fear. Accepting Jesus is the most important thing you will ever do.

Jesus himself said, and I’m paraphrasing it. “In this life you are going to suffer. You’ll be imprisoned, and have tribulations, and trouble. But, and that’s a big but, BE OF “GOOD CHEER” (means Courage) for I have overcome the world!”

Our focus is to tell and to show others the way to Jesus. Our focus is to have faith in God no matter if we lose loved ones. No matter if sickness comes, or disease, or wars and rumors of wars, famine, natural disasters; no matter if governments fail us and tyrants rise against us. We are to stay focused on Jesus and the life after this life.

Peter didn’t get it. Jesus was a whole new concept. God had arrived on the scene in a new way. The religious world didn’t even recognize God and he was walking and living right in front of them. Even though the prophets of old had told them what to expect, their expectation was totally different from God’s. He was not coming to build his kingdom on the earth at this time. He was coming to build his kingdom with those who would obey him and accept his son by faith who would live in a heavenly kingdom. God’s own people rejected him and missed his plan and they didn’t even know it.

So, Jesus revealed himself to a few men and women who were nobody’s until the day of Pentecost and even then, they didn’t fully understand.

Jesus went to plan B and met Saul on the road to Damascus, a man who had killed Christians. A religious man, well educated but blind to the truth. Saul encountered Jesus and was literally blinded then healed by a Jesus follower and his name was changed to Paul.

Paul’s life was turned completely around and he learned and taught that Jesus wasn’t talking about this earthly life. He was talking about the life to come and it would be for ALL who would say, yes to Jesus and follow him. Jesus wanted people’s hearts.

Don’t focus on this life in the sense of it being where you’re going to be forever. This world is going to come to an end one day and there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

Until that day comes live your life in a way that glorifies God, and leads others to Jesus. Have no fear of anything, because from all that is taking place in the earth right now are the happenings of a greater plan.

Live your life the best you can. Don’t focus on all the fear talk. Keep your heart, your eyes, your ears open to the Holy Spirit and walk by faith and not by sight. Keep your mouth shut and speak when the Holy Spirit gives you something to say. This is wisdom.

Your time on earth is in God’s hands. It’s a whole new adventure. Read God’s word but see it through God eyes…

Have faith in God! Love with God’s love! Be courageous! Stand firm in the Lord! Encourage others in the Lord! A new day has come! We are not defeated! We’ve already won!

When you find yourself in despair …recognize that is not the Lord. Draw close to the Lord, resist the devil and he will run! Pick yourself up…pray…sing and rejoice for you’re on your way to a better place~

Open your ear and hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying, “this is the way walk in it!!!”

~Marla Shaw O’Neill July 13, 2020

John 16:33 The Passion Translation (TPT) And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!”)

Isaiah 41:10 King James Version (KJV) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Psalm 56:3 King James Version (KJV) What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

Philippians 4:6-7 The Passion Translation (TPT) Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 1:7 The Passion Translation (TPT) For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.