Wednesday, February 14, 2018

God = Love

 Happy Valentine's Day to all you dear friends!
Do you have any special activities planned for today? If so, I'd love to hear about them in the comment section!   Today I'm sharing a post that has been on my heart. I pray it will encourage you. 


Lately, I've been realizing how detrimental fear can be in our lives. Some people fear death, others fear making big decisions, others fear the future, and some fear having close friendships/relationships with others outside family. Those are just a few of the many fears people have. And guess what? Fear comes from Satan. Jesus is the author of beauty, peace, joy, and order. Satan is the author of fear, confusion, distress, and chaos. Fear is a prison that torments your soul. Once inside, Satan throws darts of doubt, discouragement, and dismay to try to make you fall. But he just doesn't want you to fall - he wants you to stay down and wallow in your fear and distresses. And that is totally opposite of what God wants. He came and died to set you free from all bondage and longs to rescue the fearful heart. Remember what 2 Timothy 1:7 says: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
Jesus loves and treasures you way too much to abandon you in any situation. 
1 John 4:18-19 ~ "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us."
Over and over and over in the Scriptures, God instructs us not to fear.  Our Saviour is love and fear has NO place in love. It does not belong.  God can't reign as king of your heart if fear is sitting on the throne. It will not only steal you joy, but will also hinder you from being fully used by God. So today, dear heart, if you are fearful, give your worries and fears to God because He is big enough to handle them. And He desperately wants to take that burden away. Then replace it with faith. Don't let fear rule your heart, but instead allow the peace of God to fill you. Even though you may not see what comes next or know what God has planned for your future, you can have total peace knowing that He knows. For after all, we walk by faith and not by sight. It can be helpful to find some verses about fear and memorize them. That way when the enemy comes with his fiery darts, you can combat them with God's word. 
The more we fill our hearts and minds with God's word, prayer, and praise, the less room we'll have for Satan's deception that is designed to distract us from the One who loves us extravagantly.  Never forget that you are SO LOVED by the Creator! 

Psalm 34:4-8 ~ "I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Lamentations 3:22-24 ~ "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him."

Isaiah 41:10 ~ "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." 

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Lord, You are love, and we are Your children,
Called to Your family, drawn to Your heart. 
One with Your Son, our goal is Your glory. 
We live to prove how loving You are! 

Father Creator, Shepherd and Savior,
Ever within You guide and renew. 
Help us to follow, trusting Your spirit,
Spending our days completely in You.  

Lord, You are love and patience and kindness,
Glad to forgive, so eager to bless. 
You give Your all in joyful abandon.
Help us, O Lord, to do nothing less! 

Father Creator, Shepherd and Savior,
Ever within You guide and renew.
Help us to follow, trusting Your spirit,
Spending our days completely in You.

* "Lord, You Are Love" *
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And to close this post, I'll leave you with the words of this beautifully sweet hymn: 

Loved with everlasting love, 
Led by grace that love to know;
Spirit, breathing from above,
Thou hast taught me it is so. 
Oh, this full and perfect peace!
Oh, this transport all divine! 
In a love which cannot cease,
I am His, and He is mine.

Things that once were wild alarms
Cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms, 
Pillowed on the loving breast.
Oh, to lie forever here,
Doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear,
I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His:
Who the Lord and me shall part? 
Ah, with what a rest of bliss
Christ can fill the loving heart. 
Heaven and earth may fade and flee,
Firstborn light in gloom decline;
But, while God and I shall be, 
I am His, and He is mine.

* "Loved With Everlasting Love" *

Dear friends, may the Lord richly bless you with His love today. 

with love in Jesus,
Ashley

Jeremiah 31:3 ~ "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."


8 comments:

  1. Beautiful post, Scriptures + songs! Happy Valentines Day, Ashley! :)

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  2. Loved this post! Fear will cripple us if we allow it too. Oh Lord may I always remember that fear comes from Satan and not you! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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    1. Yes, fear is such a dreadful thing. I love how God tells us he contradicts fear in His word...He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind.

      Hugs!

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  3. Dear Ashley! This was such an edifying, encouraging post! I so enjoyed reading it and allowing its truth to penetrate my spirit today. I LOVE every verse you shared...those are some of my favorites, too. Thank you for being such a shining, faithful light for Jesus in this sin-darkened world. I love and appreciate you, sweet friend. :)

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    1. Dear Mrs. Smith! All praise to the Lord! I am so blessed by your sweet comment...so glad it encouraged you. I've been thinking of you and your family and praying for you. God bless you!

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  4. Hey Ashley, wanted to pop back in and tell you that I was able to share this post with a friend yesterday and the timing couldn't have been more perfect! Also, before I forget it again, I found the white plates with scripture at Ross. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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    1. Praise the Lord!

      Thank you for telling me. :)

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