Living a Life Not Based in Fear

When Life Happens, and situations do not add up to “a happy place” we can easily find ourselves deeply entrenched in places of fear, insecurity and doubt.  In the heat of our emotional response to things, we often find ourselves reacting in ways that have to be retracted later! Anyone with me on this?

The Apostle Paul was no different. He was human, battled with the human condition, the desire for significance, and all the things that we as humans struggle with. His personal struggles may differ than mine, and mine differ from yours, but the struggle of life continues today….in people, like you and me.

Yesterday we saw that, ” whatever happens” we are to live as citizens of a new Kingdom. “Whatever happens” we are to conduct ourselves in a certain manner. Ephesians 4:1 says, ” As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

It was Paul writing this also, and as a prisoner, he was urging them to live differently. Living a life not based and rooted in our circumstance of the day, but living a life, regardless of circumstance that points to faith in the One True God.

Today, we go another step:

Philippians 1:28

“without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.”

Let’s face it, when in a trial of any kind there is something that is opposing us. It is either people or circumstance. We can find ourselves feeling like Life itself is opposing us, or sometimes in the heat of relational trial we can feel that a person or people are opposing us.

It is the same today as it was when Paul wrote this letter. Our culture is different, but the human condition is not. And, trials are different…maybe people were not going bankrupt and losing homes back then, but they had their own problems.  Scripture is relevant  today and we need to understand something….

It takes courage to walk with Christ in the meantime.  Period.

• It takes courage not to sink down into fear or insecurity.
• It takes courage to trust God when unsaved family and friends think it is a bit radical or irresponsible to trust God with your problems.
• It takes courage to conduct yourself in a different way than people are accustomed to you reacting.
• It takes courage to choose faith and upward focus, rather than fear and defeating depression.
• It takes courage to Go to the Lord with your problems instead of just fussing and fretting about your problems over a latte with friends.

Let’s build on what Paul is teaching us:

Whatever happens…In the meantime

1. Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. ( Live like a citizen of Heaven, like you truly are HIS)

2. Without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you ( when life or people oppose you, trust the God who holds your life)

I am so excited this morning about the things God is pressing into my own heart. I have spent the early hours having some Ah-Ha time with Jesus.  I just walked through one of the worst seasons/years of my life, and now I am seeing some things in Scripture in a fresh and living way. I just want to shout for joy that God KNOWS us, and KNOWS the whys of the things allowed in our lives.

If you recall a few verses back, Paul stated, ” what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance” Perhaps, what is happening to you is going to be the thing that sets you free, places you in a better place….once you have walked through it.

So…Whatever! Just throw your arms in the air this morning and say “WHATEVER”  with me. Not a haughty “Whatever” but a joyful, abandoned, courageous, Whatever!

Bless you my dear sisters!

Have a wonderful Tuesday, April 27, 2010. And, don’t forget to Seek His Face today, connect to the Power Source of all Life, and Cast every Care upon Him. Then, after you have done so, go out and have a Latte with a friend. Some friendship and fellowship does a girl good!

Living as His,

Debbie

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