my mind is spinning again. spinning and spinning over right now and in 5 minutes and in 5 months and in 5 years. spinning with fear, with anxiety, with unrest.
“just breathe,” says the Lord. “align your breathing with mine, sit right here and feel your hand grow warm because i’m holding it.”
selah
“just sit here with me and pause. i’m fighting for you. you’re not alone, you don’t have to fight for yourself.”
selah
“i’m here, i’m here. i love you.”
(an excerpt from my journal entry/listening prayer over myself from this morning)
i’m learning a lot about fear. if you know me you know that i’m a person who likes things just so, that i’m a person who likes a plan, who likes to know things. ever since the Father delivered me, one of the hardest things i have learned is surrendering every single fear at the foot of the cross. walking up to the cross, setting down my fears at the feet of Jesus, and walking away. not picking them back up again. in one of my church’s sermons from a few weeks ago my pastor referred to fear as the ex that we continue to let spend time with us. i’ve never thought about it like that, how i was once married to my sin nature of fear and that it actually got buried the second that Jesus delivered me. 1 John 4:18 says that the Father’s perfect love casts out, drives out, and damages fear. Galatians 2:20 says that I no longer life but it is now the Spirit of God who resides in my body, and if it is God’s perfect love that drives out fear how is there still room for it? John 3:16 says that God gave His one and only son for us because His love for us was that big. Jeremiah 31:3 says that God has loved us since forever, that His love for us is without end, and that He will continue to love us forever. Psalm 136:26 says that His love is loyal, and that it will last forever. these are just a few out of many times in scripture that God expresses His love for us. i am learning to pause in His presence & just remember who He is.
this morning during devo time the Lord told me to read Psalm 46, and it was exactly what i needed to hear. God spoke to me a lot through it. here is what it says in the passion translation (my fave!):
Psalm 46- God on Our Side
1 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.
2 So we will never fear
even if every structure of support were to crumble away.
We will not fear even when the earth quakes and shakes,
moving mountains and casting them into the sea.
3 For the raging roar of stormy winds and crashing waves
cannot erode our faith in you.
Pause in his presence
4 God has a constantly flowing river whose sparkling streams
bring joy and delight to his people.
His river flows right through the city of God Most High,
into his holy dwelling places.
5 God is in the midst of his city, secure and never shaken.
At daybreak his help will be seen with the appearing of the dawn.
6 When the nations are in uproar with their tottering kingdoms,
God simply raises his voice
and the earth begins to disintegrate before him.
7 Here he comes!
The Commander!
The mighty Lord of Angel Armies is on our side.
The God of Jacob fights for us!
Pause in his presence
8–9 Everyone look!
Come and see the breathtaking wonders of our God.
For he brings both ruin and revival.
He’s the one who makes conflicts end
throughout the earth,
breaking and burning every weapon of war.
10 Surrender your anxiety!
Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God.
I am the God above all the nations,
and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.
11 Here he stands!
The Commander!
The mighty Lord of Angel Armies is on our side!
The God of Jacob fights for us!
Pause in his presence
something that stood out to me the most was how God is referred to as “The Lord of Armies.” i love this name for the Father because it reminds me of His vast power and security, especially in the presence of His enemies.
so today I paused in His presence for a while, and really thought about my fears. the Lord aligned my mind with His, and I was left with this thought: “the God of the universe is on my side. the man who’s power is more vast than we could ever comprehend, who’s love literally casts out any fear imaginable.”
So what reason then do we have to fear?
Thanks for reading everyone! As my time in Romania comes to an end, you should be seeing a Q&A blog up real soon!
All my love,
Nikki
Song(s) of the week: Inheritance by: Jonathan David Helser AND Rita Springer’s version of Defender
