Week 3 – Day 20
Dear Friend,
The basic phrase, “Read your Bible” can leave those of us in the middle of a battle with fear grasping for more instructions. How? Do we start at the beginning? Or start with the New Testament? When I began my journey to freedom, I began to focus on specific scriptures about peace and fear. Back then we didn’t have the ease of the internet and I had to use the huge Strong’s Concordance. I remember having my children read off the long list of peace scriptures while I scribbled them down. Then I grabbed my Bible with my journal and look them all up one by one. Those that ministered to me were checked off and then highlighted in my Bible. I would place Post-it notes on the pages so that I could access them quickly throughout the day.
Seeing these scriptures in print, jotting my name in them and reading them out loud became a key to my transformation. Soon the scriptures came to mind before the battles arrived. My mind was filled with new thoughts and peace became a part of my nature. To this day those scriptures pop out at me when we face situations in our family. They have become so real to me that they are like comforting words from a Father, who always has my back.
Here is one of my favorite passages and the revelation God revealed to me during my stand in faith.
Psalm 91 (AMPC)
1 (Your name) dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
- Shall remain stable! Oh those are glorious words. When things are attacking, I will remain stable (in God’s stability and peace).
- God has a secret place for me where the enemy cannot have access to me. I am safe there, surrounded by His Word.
- The enemy sees that I am close to God, His shadows warns the enemy that I am not unprotected.
- God is all-powerful and undefeated. The enemy knows he has lost where I am concerned because I am safe in God.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
- This confession is the prerequisite to the next scripture. Speak it out and declare it, “God is my Refuge…”
- All the pressure comes off of me in this battle because I can lean, rely and have confidence in Him operating on my behalf!
3 For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
- God sees the traps of my enemies and promises me deliverance.
- This world fears Ebola, flu and cancer but God promises me that He has delivered me completely.
4 [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.
- I consider His “pinions” mentioned here, to be His promises. His Word that always accomplishes what it says. So my life is covered by His promises of Eternal Life.
- I can trust His Word; it is a safe place for me.
- God is faithful and His Word overrides my situation or battle. They are actual weapons He put in place on my behalf.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,
- Promise: I will not be afraid of what the world fears.
- I would confess this one all the time. It became so solid on the inside of me that peace flooded my soul.
- No matter what others plan to harm or discredit me, I will not fear their works. God is handling it and there is no need to fear.
6 Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.
- This is a big one. We live in a world where fear of terrorism is prevalent. It is advertised through media, constantly bombarding us with the evil possibilities. We also hear firsthand from victims through social media. The stories of fear threaten the unimaginable.
- God promises that I WILL NOT BE AFRAID of these things.
- With a son in the military this is a frequent question asked of me, “Aren’t you afraid?” In truth, no. Is it a possibility that my son could face harm? Of course, it is a real battlefield with real bullets and a large-scale war going on. Yet God has placed a protective barrier on my heart and mind. It doesn’t make sense to the outside world, but it is tangible. I walk in a peace, which surpasses human understanding. When I do experience thoughts I have to stop myself and go back to the basics:
- Ask myself, “What is the truth according to the Word?
- Capture those thoughts and refuse to accept them in my life.
- Speak what I believe out loud to the atmosphere and create my future.
- This verse enforces that promise over you. As you pray, a foundation is set in place that you will draw strength and peace from for the rest of your life.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.
- I will not receive other people’s stories as my own. If they line up with what God’s Word I will rejoice in their victory. God’s Word stands alone on its validity. My confidence remains in Him.
- My life is governed by the rules of the kingdom of God, determined by the cross not by what I see.
8 Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.
- This one is a hard one. In reality no one likes to see the tragedy that happens around us.
- I am safe, protected in His Word; inaccessible to the enemy. But I will see what others go through each and every day.
9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,
- Within Him is my safe place from the battle. I am not limited to living in my circumstances. I can live in supernatural peace during a storm.
10 There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.
- Protection, protection, protection for myself and my family.
11 For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].
- God has set angels guard over me. I live in the promise of divine protection.
12 They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
- Angels see things that I do not see; operating as a defense around me. I can trust God with the unknown.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.
- From the largest to the sneakiest small enemy I will defeat. It won’t stop my forward progress; I will trample over it on my way to complete freedom.
This next part is an awesome letter straight from God. When you read the Word, picture Him talking directly to you. Make it personal.
14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].
- You place your love on God and He promises to deliver you.
- To promote you, because you have a revelation of who He is and the power of His name.
- God will never forsake you; He can be trusted.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
- You call out and God, the Almighty Creator of the Universe will answer you.
- You face each battle side-by-side with an Awesome Jehovah.
- You will be delivered from this battle and you will be given honor.
16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.
- The most precious of promises: A long life where you have satisfaction, peace and joy.
- Yes, you will have battles, but you will also have a personal story of God’s faithfulness and salvation on your behalf.
- Eternal Life – the life Jesus Christ died for you to walk in, true salvation, is yours forevermore.
This walk-through study is just the beginning. I encourage you to pull out a print Bible and begin to read the scriptures on peace and freedom from fear. Highlight, make notes in the margins and put bookmarks all over it. This is old school but it makes it come alive in a greater degree. I have a Bible for different seasons of my life. In the margins are the dates of the major battles I have faced. As I go back to those pages I remember where I was and what God has brought me through.
Technology is a wonderful benefit and I encourage you to use it to find specific scriptures, but do not miss out on the journey and journaling that takes place with an actual Bible. So many people around the world wish they had access to one. Our Bibles are readily available and hold the keys to our freedom. They also serve as a journal of our victories already won.
Enjoy the journey.
Love,
Jen
Journal:
Make a list of new scripture promises of peace and soundness of mind.
