"When Fear Gets in the Way"

By: Samantha Roberts

Deuteronomy 1:29b-30a, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord you God, who is going before you, will fight for you...” (NIV)

I can still remember that night as a kid when we went to the county fair and I missed the opportunity of a lifetime. The special attraction that year was a helicopter that would take you on a ride over the city and bring you back to the fairgrounds. All I could think about was getting into that cockpit and lifting off the ground. I was only in elementary school, but I was sure I wanted to be a space shuttle pilot. Even though it wasn’t a rocket, that helicopter represented the beginning of a dream – it would be my first time in the air.

It wasn’t until we were standing in front of the helicopter, however, that I understood that neither of my parents would be going with me. “It’s a two-seater,” the man said. I hesitated a moment, and my mom asked me if I wanted to fly or if I would rather ride a few rides and go home instead. I panicked and whispered some lame response about not wanting to miss the rides, but it was an absolute lie. I wanted to fly in that helicopter more than anything. I was simply too afraid to go alone.

That happened over 20 years ago and I still regret my decision every time I think about it. The only thing that stood in the way of my dream of flying that day was fear. Not all fear is bad, but sometimes fear can be an ugly, paralyzing emotion. If we’re not careful it can even keep us from experiencing God’s blessing in our lives.

The Israelites knew something about this paralyzing kind of fear. When God freed them from slavery in Egypt, He led them to Canaan, the very land that He had promised His people would one day possess. Canaan was an amazing place, but when the Israelites sent scouts into the land, ten of the twelve scouts came back saying that it was filled with giants. Trying to take it would be a suicide mission, they warned. The people became so afraid of fighting those giants that they refused to enter their Promised Land. God, angry at their lack of faith, then sent them away from Canaan to wander in the desert for the next 40 years.

Truth be known, the Israelites never had anything to fear. God had told them to go into that land, and because He was with them it didn’t matter if a million giants lived there. As long as He was on their side, they could not lose. Somehow, though, their fear of the unknown became bigger than their confidence in God, and they held back. They could have spent the rest of their lives living the good life promised to their ancestors, but instead they found themselves trudging through the desert looking for water. Their fear had kept them from experiencing the great things God had planned for their lives.

Is there something in your life right now God is calling you to do but you are too afraid of the giants you might have to tackle to do it? Maybe you are fearful of living radically for Him because of what others might say or how they might treat you. Whatever it is that God has called you to do, don’t let fear hold you back so that you miss out on all the good things He has in store for you. God is with you, and as long as He is on your side, there isn’t a giant tall enough to stand in your way.

My Prayer for Today:

Dear Lord, please help me trust You when You call me to do things I am afraid to do. Help me remember that I am not alone because You are with me, and that I have nothing to fear because You will fight for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Think About It:

Has there ever been a time when I have missed out on the blessings of God because I was too fearful to do what He asked me to do?

What might God be asking me to do right now that I haven’t done because of fear?

What am I afraid of that has somehow become bigger than God in my heart?

Live It:

Journal about the things you want to do for God but are too afraid to do. Pray and ask Him to help you see which of these things He is asking you to do right now; then ask for the courage to do them.

Power Verses:

2 Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (NIV)

Romans 8:31b, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (NIV)

Psalm 27:1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?” (NIV)

© 2008 by Samantha Roberts. All rights reserved.

"Best Friends"

By Rebecca Ingram Powell,

Christian Speaker and Writer

Psalm 5:3, “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” (NIV)

From the time we were in the sixth grade, my best friend Angie and I spent most of our time together. If we weren’t in the same class, we would pass notes in the hall. Many afternoons, if she wasn’t at my house, I was at hers. And then, of course, there were the marathon phone conversations every night. (This was a couple of decades before texting!) We told each other everything.

When Angie and I had disagreements, we hammered them out. The “silent treatment” never lasted long. Both of us enjoyed writing, so if there was something that we couldn’t talk about, we would write about it until it was settled between us. Our friendship thrived because we stayed constantly connected.

In the middle of our sophomore year of high school, Angie and her family moved two states away. The constant contact was severed. The tie was loosed. It was a wretched parting that deeply wounded our tender teenage hearts.

I never realized how much I had depended on Angie nor how my time had been filled by our friendship until after she moved. At school, I was wandering around trying to shake the uncomfortable feeling of loneliness when a friend came up and put her arm around me. “You look like a fish out of water without Angie,” she said kindly. And that’s exactly how I felt!

I mourned the loss of my best friend not just as the moving van pulled away, but over the next several months. I grieved as the long-distance phone calls and letters between us went from daily to weekly to monthly—to hardly ever. For each of us, new friendships were established, and they needed time to grow and develop. There was never another friendship, however, that was quite the same.

Oddly enough, in the weeks that followed, I gradually became aware of another Friend who had been trying to get my attention. This Friend desired a constant connection with me. Because Angie and I had been inseparable, I hadn’t even noticed His still, small voice, whispering His love and availability. I hadn’t noticed His nail-scarred hands, reaching for me with the promise of a friendship that would never move away. Until He pointed it out, I had not realized my need for Him.

I was formed with a desperate, inborn need to know God and be known by him. The enemy tries to satisfy this longing by placating my wicked flesh with a variety of pleasures intended to distract me. In the same way that a pacifier meets the need of a hungry baby, so my soul desires are fulfilled by the world: temporarily. As a girl, my best friend could not fill that need. As a woman, my husband cannot meet that need. Food, pleasure, success, recognition, prosperity---these cannot meet my heart’s truest need for Jehovah’s companionship.

I long to be mindful of His nearness twenty-four hours a day, but I continue to be easily distracted. In order to maintain my relationship with Him, I start with a morning quiet time. It is hard work to maintain the habit of this connection. It goes against my human nature to get up instead of sleep, to concentrate on the Lord instead of my “to do” list, to be peaceful in His presence instead of fidgety at His feet. There have been times when I’ve given Him the silent treatment, until I read something He has written and remember that He has already hammered out our differences on the cross. He has made the ultimate connection between God and man. Without Him, I really am like a fish out of water.

My Prayer for Today:

Lord, I long to know You. Please show me how to get into the habit of spending time with You every day. I know that it will make a huge difference in my life, and I know that You will help me do this. You are my best friend, Lord, and I want to spend more time with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Get Real! : Embrace the Reality of Ruth, by Rebecca Ingram Powell

Think About It:

How long has it been since you spent some quiet time with the only one who deserves the title Best Friend?

How do you maintain the friendships you have now? Could you stay friends with someone that you hardly ever talked to?

How do you feel when you see a friend you haven’t seen in a long time? Are you excited and happy to see them? How do you think God feels when you meet with Him?

Live It:

Write out your daily schedule. Could you get up 15 minutes earlier to spend time with God?

Where are you spending excess time that you cut something out? Could you log off the computer 15 minutes earlier in the evening to spend time with God before you go to bed?

Tell a friend you want to be committed to a daily time of prayer and Bible study. Ask her to hold you accountable to your new habit! She might want to start this habit, too!

© 2008 by Rebecca Ingram Powell. All rights reserved.

Rebecca Ingram Powell is a conference speaker and the author of the teen Bible studies, Wise Up! Experience the Power of Proverbs and Get Real! Embrace the Reality of Ruth. She is online at www.rebeccapowell.com.

"Daughters," Part 3

By: Katie Rath

2 Corinthians 3:18, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (NIV)

We’ve talked about how your Abba Father has made you an heir, and how He considers you valuable. Now I want to discuss how being a daughter of God can make you a better woman, a better wife, and a better mother.

Paul stresses in his letters to the Gentile churches that though they are not bound by Jewish law, the must still live ethically. God gives us a lot of practicality on this one. We are called not only to love God and serve Him wholly, but also to love one another. Remember the Golden Rule? - “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Scripture also says that we must pray for our persecutors, take care of the poor, encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ, obey our parents, and live according to the laws of the land. We’re also called not to lie, steal, cheat, covet, murder, worship idols, etc. So when we become adopted daughters of God, He asks us to live this way and do, or not do, these things. Why? If we aren’t bound by the Jewish Law, why must we live righteously? Paul tells us that even though we aren’t subject to the Law, we are not above it, and we must still live ethically. In Psalm 15 we learn another reason why we should live rightly- if we do not live correctly as daughters, we do not truly belong to God.

Being a daughter also teaches us how to be, and how to prepare to be, good wives and mothers. Proverbs 31:10-31 describes how a true woman of God should act. This section of scripture emphasizes that our value isn’t found in what we do or how we look, but in God’s love. So a woman of noble character isn’t made noble because she wears the right clothes or has the cool friends or listens to the popular music or because of her talents. A woman of noble character is noble because of her loving reverence for God. This includes following His commandments and striving for His will. Because the Father is to be praised, his Daughter needs to be a good example also worthy of praise as a likeness of her Father. Does that make sense?

Growing up and even now, I always heard from adults that met me, “You look so much like your dad.” I do, I admit it; you should see the baby pictures. A daughter is a reflection of the Father not only physically, but also in spirit. As daughters, most of us look to our earthly fathers as examples, as leaders, to direct us and shape our thoughts and attitudes. We should look to God for the same things, relying on Him to learn things and to shape us. Therefore, as true daughters, we are like God.

In doing so, we learn how to be better wives. Proverbs 31:12 says, “She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life” (NIV). A wife is meant to support her husband and to bring him honor and joy. A wife is a reflection of her husband, just as a daughter is a reflection of her Father and should also bring Him honor and joy.

There are many instances in the Bible that instruct parents on how to raise their children. I want to stress that being a good parent, like being a good wife, revolves around reflecting God and being an example of Christ for your children. You are a daughter of God, and being a daughter is the best way to be a mother and a wife. I really hope you understand that. Recall that you’re not perfect, so you’re going to mess up, just like your parents have occasionally messed up. However, mistakes do not hinder God’s love for His children.

Alright, so being a reflection of God is like a math equation. The name of God (being an heir) + the face and identity of God (having value) + the spirit of God (being a woman of God) = reflecting God. You can truly show Your Father to the world if you fulfill your role as a daughter.

You are such a treasure. You have been expressly called to God’s heart to be his daughter. He wants to know your heart so He can show you His love, teaching you how to walk blamelessly, so that you may inherit His Kingdom and reflect His righteousness for all to see. Remember, you are a true daughter of the Abba Father, and more than anything, He desires to call you His.

My Prayer for Today:

Abba Father, I know that You have called me to be Your daughter. I know that because You love me and have brought me into Your family, You value me and You want me to be like You. Father, help me to show the world Your love, grace and mercy. Help me to be a true example of You. Even now, while I am young, help me to learn from Your Word the things I need to know about being a God-honoring wife and mother. Thank You for preparing my heart to do Your will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Think About It:

Why is it important to reflect the spirit of God?

What verse sticks out the most to me in Proverbs 31:10-31?

Do my actions show others that I am a true woman of God?

Live It:

Take some time to read through Proverbs 31:10-31. Think about how these things apply to you, even though you are not a wife or mother.

Power Verses:

Leviticus 11:45b, “Therefore be holy, because I am holy.” (NIV)

1 Peter 3:3-4, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (NIV)

Proverbs 31:30, “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” (NIV)

Romans 8:15-16, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (NIV)

© 2008 by Katie Rath. All rights reserved.

*This devotion is the third of a three-part series. Parts 1 and 2 were posted on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 and Monday, January 7, 2008.

"Daughters," Part 2

By: Katie Rath

Psalm 45:10-11 “Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear… The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.” (NIV)

If we’re heirs to a wonderful inheritance, doesn’t that make us kind of important? Let’s talk now about your value to God as His daughter.

We all want to be pursued. I mean, why else do we love romantic movies and cheesy stories of men fighting insurmountable odds to attain the love of some… woman? But nowadays this reckless pursuit of love has been lost in human eyes. Teenage girls and boys struggle for this love, obsessed with the idea that they may just find “the one” in freshman Biology. Riiiight, that happens.

So, in wanting to be pursued, we have to make ourselves worthy of pursuit. Women especially, fight the constant urge to be desirable. I know that for me, a lot of times I don’t fight that urge, I entertain it by buying new outfits, fixing my hair, constantly adjusting my clothes and occasionally wearing makeup. We all do it, and if you think you don’t, get a grip. The truth is we all just want to be loved, to be of value, to be desired. When we don’t feel like we’re being noticed, the way we value ourselves plummets.

I’m sure we’ve all had this feeling, the pain of not being noticed by some guy, or maybe even by a parent or teacher. We don’t feel valuable. Instead, we adopt roles to occupy our time and attract the “right kind” of attention. These roles include being the perfect cheerleader, athlete, sister, friend, student, girlfriend, and daughter. The problem doesn’t come with being any of those things. The problem arises when we attempt perfection. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never ever met a perfect person. Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins” (NIV). See?

Okay, so you’re not perfect. Can you deal with that? But, you may be asking, can God love me anyway? The answer: absolutely. God doesn’t want you because of some role you play. God wants your heart; He wants your laughter, tears, dreams, fears, and your heart of hearts. You were created for intimacy with God, to commune with Him and to know Him. He already knows every part of your heart, and guess what? He likes you anyway!

Every woman is searching for her beauty, for her desirable parts. Because you are a daughter of God, you are His beloved. Song of Songs is famous for its romance story, but one verse I especially like, and it just so happens to really fall in line with what I’m talking about, reads, “I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me” (7:10, emphasis added, NIV).

Again the Word tells us of who we are to God in Isaiah 62:4 and 12, “No longer will they call you Deserted…They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord, and you will be called Sought After” (NIV). You are the daughter of God, and your Father desires you, every part of you. You are most definitely being pursued. God longs to capture your heart and to love you intensely and wholly. No, you aren’t perfect, but His grace is and His love is. He doesn’t love you based on what you’ve done or how you’ve messed up, but rather, He loves you because of who you are: His beloved daughter, and you have value because you’re His.

My Prayer for Today:

Abba Father, Thank You for calling me Your daughter. Not only am I adopted into Your family, but I know I am worth a lot because I am Yours. Help me to always search for my value in Your eyes, not in the eyes of other people. I know that I am not perfect, but You are, and You have made me perfect through the resurrection of Jesus. Thank You for making me valuable. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Think About It:

Where do I try and receive my value?

Why is it unfulfilling to receive my value from anyone but God?

How can I help other girls realize they are valuable?

Live It:

If you’re a daughter of the king, that makes you a princess! So go ahead, make yourself a crown! Better yet, make a bunch of them, and hand them out at school to girls who might not have a lot of friends. Introduce yourself and explain to them why they are so valuable to God.

Power Verses:

Song of Songs 7:10, “I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me.” (NIV)

Ephesians 2:10a, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…” (NIV)

Psalm 139:13-14, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (NIV)

© 2008 by Katie Rath. All rights reserved.

*This devotion is the second of a three-part series. Part 3 will be posted on Monday, January 14, 2008. Part 1 was posted Wednesday, January 2, 2008.

"Daughters," Part 1

By: Katie Rath

Galatians 4:6-7, “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” (NIV)

God has many names, both in the Old and New Testaments. He is called Elohim (God), El Olam (Eternal God), El Shaddai (God Almighty), Yahweh or Jehovah (LORD), and El Elyon (God Most High). He is referred to as the Alpha and Omega, the Sovereign Lord, and the Almighty. God also has some familiar names that refer to his attributes, such as “Our Deliverance,” “The King,” and “Our Strong Tower.” There is one name, however, that is so personal, that not only does it define God, it also helps us define who we are to God. This name is Abba, which means “Father.” This devotion is going to be a three-part series, and as you read each part I hope you can understand the meaning of God the Father and who we are as His daughters.

One Christmas, my two sisters and I jokingly talked about who will get what when our parents pass away. No, we weren’t wishing our parents’ deaths so we could get their stuff, but eventually we will have to deal with the question of an inheritance. Inheritance can be defined as, “inherited wealth or title, ownership or succession by heredity, the right to inherit.” Based on the things our parents own now, my sisters and I have a relatively good idea of our inheritance. But have you ever realized that because we are adopted children of God, we also get an inheritance from Him?

Adopted, huh? How is this possible? Check out Galatians 3:26, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (NIV). Replace “sons” with “daughters,” and what do you get? A clean-cut statement that assures YOU that you are part of God’s family because you believe in Him. Now we can reap the benefits of being in His family and being daughters of God!

The Bible also tells us what our inheritance will be. 1 Peter 1:4 says it is “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you” (NIV). So, our inheritance is eternal, unlike any material inheritance we may get here on earth. Our reward is heaven - eternal life with our Heavenly Father, the One who loves us, who loves you, more than anything else.

Along with the gifts of eternal life and all the splendor of heaven, we inherit the title and name of God. In Biblical times I found it interesting that there weren’t last names. It wasn’t Daniel Smith or Moses O’Connor. Umm no. Actually, the people in the Bible were identified as the “son” or “daughter” of someone else. Like James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They inherited the title of their father. In their case, their title meant they were the heirs of a very influential and well-known fisherman, so with their title came some kind of authority. As heirs, we inherit the name of God, and we inherit authority as well.

Because you are a daughter of the King, you gain everything that goes along with a relationship with God. A father wouldn’t be a father without having a relationship with His child. From Him, you receive more than you could ever dream, just because you believe in Him. God is just waiting to give you these gifts.

My Prayer for Today:

Abba, Father, Thank You so much for letting me be Your daughter. Thank You for adopting me into Your family so that I can be an heir to Your kingdom. I know You have prepared an inheritance for me that is so big and wonderful that I can’t even really know what it’s like. I am proud to have Your title and to call you my Father. Help me remember that I am Your daughter. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Think About It:

What does it mean to me that God is my Father?

Do I act like a daughter of God?

How can I encourage my Christian friends to remember they are children of God?

How can I help my non-Christian friends realize they can be adopted into God’s family, too?

Live It:

How cool will it be when we finally get to see the heaven God has prepared for us?! Today, just spend some time thinking about heaven. Then read Revelation 21:9-23 for a very short description of the beauty of the kingdom of God. That will all be yours someday!

Power Verses:

Romans 8:15-16, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (NIV)

Hebrews 3:6, “But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.” (NIV)

Ephesians 5:1-2, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (NIV)

© 2008 by Katie Rath. All rights reserved.