Fear not
I'm excited about this weekend's services at CVC. Why? We're going to seek to address a real struggle with fear that many people are facing. My pastor's heart is beating fast. I want to see CVCers draw close to Jesus during these times when fear is running rampant.
So, please invite some friends who are tempted to be fearful during these tough economic times. I think they will be encrouaged. And you will want to find out what the picture in this post has to do with overcoming fear.
Too many people take their cues from the news. And these days, the news feeds fear. What we hear from the media is more and more bad news about job losses, cuts in pay, stock market downturns. Sadly, God's people can conform to the world and allow fear to limit what God wants to do in, through, with and for them. But God is calling us to live in faith, not fear. In this series, we will learn more of what it means to obey the command "fear not" even in light of a shaky economy.
I want to give you a little preview from the message for this weekend...
We have to figure out ways to remind ourselves that our Shepherd, our Father, our King has promised to take care of us. And it can be the little things you do that can make a big difference when it comes to defeating your fear.
I have a friend who has gone through some challenging times with his career. He had a good job with a big pharmaceutical company. But cutbacks happened. And he had to ask the big question, “What am I going to do now?” So, he started his own business. And I’ve been doing some business with him lately.
On Monday, I wrote him a check. Later in the week, he said, “Hey, thanks for the scripture.” I’m sure I had a puzzled look on my face because I didn’t remember giving him a verse. He said, “I went home and looked it up and it was meaningful. Thanks.”
And then I remembered. I have developed a habit. For over 30 years, on the memo part of the check, I write, “Phil. 4:13.” It’s an abbreviation for Philippians 4:13.
I started doing that years and years ago because as we started our family I had a lot of job changes and a lot of entry level salaries. And I had to figure out how to fight fear. So, every time I paid a bill, I wanted to remind myself that I have a God who has promised to take care of me. The verse?
My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (ESV)
I think I need to develop a new habit or start writing a different verse. I think it’s become vain repetition for me. I didn’t even remember writing it. But it reminded my friend who’s started this new business that God’s going to take care of him and his family.
How about you? How will you remind yourself that you have a Shepherd, a Father, a King who’s promised to take care of you?
***
By the way, this post about one family's goal to "never let the gospel get smaller" from John Piper is amazing.
I'm excited about this weekend's services at CVC. Why? We're going to seek to address a real struggle with fear that many people are facing. My pastor's heart is beating fast. I want to see CVCers draw close to Jesus during these times when fear is running rampant.
So, please invite some friends who are tempted to be fearful during these tough economic times. I think they will be encrouaged. And you will want to find out what the picture in this post has to do with overcoming fear.
Too many people take their cues from the news. And these days, the news feeds fear. What we hear from the media is more and more bad news about job losses, cuts in pay, stock market downturns. Sadly, God's people can conform to the world and allow fear to limit what God wants to do in, through, with and for them. But God is calling us to live in faith, not fear. In this series, we will learn more of what it means to obey the command "fear not" even in light of a shaky economy.
I want to give you a little preview from the message for this weekend...
We have to figure out ways to remind ourselves that our Shepherd, our Father, our King has promised to take care of us. And it can be the little things you do that can make a big difference when it comes to defeating your fear.
I have a friend who has gone through some challenging times with his career. He had a good job with a big pharmaceutical company. But cutbacks happened. And he had to ask the big question, “What am I going to do now?” So, he started his own business. And I’ve been doing some business with him lately.
On Monday, I wrote him a check. Later in the week, he said, “Hey, thanks for the scripture.” I’m sure I had a puzzled look on my face because I didn’t remember giving him a verse. He said, “I went home and looked it up and it was meaningful. Thanks.”
And then I remembered. I have developed a habit. For over 30 years, on the memo part of the check, I write, “Phil. 4:13.” It’s an abbreviation for Philippians 4:13.
I started doing that years and years ago because as we started our family I had a lot of job changes and a lot of entry level salaries. And I had to figure out how to fight fear. So, every time I paid a bill, I wanted to remind myself that I have a God who has promised to take care of me. The verse?
My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (ESV)
I think I need to develop a new habit or start writing a different verse. I think it’s become vain repetition for me. I didn’t even remember writing it. But it reminded my friend who’s started this new business that God’s going to take care of him and his family.
How about you? How will you remind yourself that you have a Shepherd, a Father, a King who’s promised to take care of you?
***
By the way, this post about one family's goal to "never let the gospel get smaller" from John Piper is amazing.
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