Fear is a Mirage

DAILY VERSE

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

– Timothy 1:7

DEVOTION

Fear is nothing. Fear is a mirage. It’s a temporary emotion based on a temporary situation. It is something the enemy uses to keep us distracted. Fear is a natural response to the unknown, but you can’t allow fear to control your life.

Often, fear is what comes before change, and change is necessary for growth. Your want for success and happiness must be stronger than your fear of failure.

Failure is a stepping stone on the journey to success. It is not to be feared, but to be learned from. Fear is only a setback if you allow it to be so.

Praying Scripture

DAILY VERSE

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

– Ephesians 3:20

DEVOTION

Sometimes, life gets so tough that you know you need to pray, but your words fail you. When you don’t know what else to pray, try turning to the Bible and pray scripture. 

Turning God’s Word into a first-person prayer can get you through some of your darkest times.

God, I know you are far more able than I am. Guide me on the right path that you would have me go. Open the doors that you want me to walk through in accordance with the power you have to work through me. In Jesus’ Name — Amen

In the Midst of Your 40 Days

DAILY VERSE

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

– John 14:27

DEVOTION

Sometimes, life is tough. Sometimes we feel like Noah on day twenty. We’re stuck in the middle of the biggest storm of our life. We don’t know what else to do, so we hold onto the wheel and try to navigate to shore. 

When we place God outside of our circumstances, or we focus on our own desires, we can find ourselves in trouble. 

Faith is the backbone of belief. Faith is what keeps us going. Noah reached day forty as a result of his faith. Imagine the fear he felt. The fear of the unknown, the fear of failure, the fear of change. 

If you find yourself in the midst of your forty days — hang onto your faith! Use your faith as a compass. Reject the urge to head to shore because God has a much greater destination in mind for you!

Life is Full of Waves

DAILY VERSE

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

– 1 Peter 5:10

DEVOTION

How do we hold onto our faith in the middle of a storm? It’s extremely easy to have faith when life is good. But what about when trials come? Does your faith waiver? Does it vary? If your trials feel like swimming in choppy water as opposed to feeling as if you’re drowning, does the level of trial coincide with the level of your faith?

Standing is a move! Standing firm in your faith is often the most difficult decision there is. It is also the best decision there is. When the waves are crashing over the side of the boat and you feel as if there’s no way through the storm — HOLD FAST! 

Life is full of waves. You’ve weathered many storms, you’ll get through this one as well, with God’s help.

Straight Ahead

DAILY VERSE

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

– Psalm 107:28

DEVOTION

God wants us to be focused on the present, not the past. He wants us to look straight ahead because what He has for us is not behind but in front of us. 

Faith is what you have left when everything else seems so far away. It isn’t always easy to have faith, but it is always necessary. Faith is what gives us the strength to carry on despite our circumstances.

Have unwavering faith! Know that whatever is going on in your life has already been planned out. God has you covered!

Freedom of Choice

DAILY VERSE

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 

– John 15:15

DEVOTION

So much of life hinges on our choices. Do people choose a destination other than what God has predestined for them? Absolutely. Are there people in the grave with books they were supposed to write, people they were supposed to save, companies they were supposed to launch? Yes, yes, and yes! 

We have the power of choice. What happens when we play God: We simply do not have what it takes. We contradict ourselves. We act selfishly. We say we want freedom and independence, even as we long for God to control the situation.

The ball is always in our court. God gave us the power to give Him the power over our lives. The choice is always ours. 

Be Still

DAILY VERSE

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 

– Exodus 14:14

DEVOTION

Perhaps God understands that our natural reaction in moments of uncertainty is to restlessly bounce between anxiety and despair? That’s why it’s important to fix your mind on what matters by centering your heart on God’s truths.

Stillness is a discipline that takes practice, but the act of being still makes us more aware of God’s presence in our present circumstances.

Whatever you face in the weeks ahead, remember that nothing you experience is uncertain to God.

God’s Not Done With You

DAILY VERSE

…and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things[a] that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.

– Joshua 23:14

DEVOTION

Joshua spent most of his life enduring adversity, setbacks, and disappointment. And yet, he never stopped believing that God would keep His promises. By the end of his life, Joshua saw God’s faithfulness come to pass, which is why he told the Israelites to recognize and remember God’s promises. 

If you choose to dwell on God’s promises, you start to recognize God’s blessings during uncertain times. Trusting that God will redeem your present circumstances equips you to walk forward in faith and keep on fighting. 

As you walk forward today, reflect on some of God’s promises, and let them transform the way you think: 

God will sustain you.

God’s peace will guard your heart. 

God delights over you with singing. 

God will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. 

God is your refuge and strength, your help in times of need. 

In all things, you are more than a conqueror because God loves you. 

God will never leave you or forsake you. 

God’s perfect love casts out all your fear. 

Nothing can separate you from God’s love. 

God’s not done with you.

Trust God’s Plan

DAILY VERSE

Jesus wept. 

– John 11:35

DEVOTION

This is the shortest verse in the Bible, but it speaks volumes! Jesus wasn’t weeping for Lazarus, He was about to bring him back from death. He was weeping because of His love for Mary and those mourning. Jesus’ compassion runs deep for us.

Maybe you’re stuck in a Lazarus moment right now, waiting on something to be raised up. Something feels like its dying in your hands, and you’re worried that death will have the final word. 

If that’s you, please be encouraged. Trust God’s plan while holding his hand. 

Run the Race of Faith

DAILY VERSE

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 

– James 1:12

DEVOTION

To persevere; is to remain, to bear, to have fortitude. 

To stand the test; is to be approved, acceptable, tried.

The last thing most of us are thinking about when a trial presents itself is a crown. Most of us will feel the weight manifest as anxiety and fear. But we’re looking at things all wrong.

An athlete trains to increase their certainty of winning. When a runner places their feet in the starting blocks, they do so with confidence. We should be able to do the same when we are confronted with trials. We’ve read God’s Word. We know the ending. We also know that throughout it He tells us “He is with us”, to heap our burdens upon Him and that through the Holy Spirit we are conquerors.

The next time you’re faced with a trial, imagine your feet pressed into the starting blocks. Run the race of faith!