TakeNote

Key Points to remember in today's message from God's Word

A Life Without Fear
I John 4:13-18
Pastor Brian Howard
August 12 & 13, 2017

All Things New Radio Ministry

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Biblical Insights for the Coming Week.
Just 5 Minutes a Day for 5 Days.


Take5 for the Week of August 14-18, 2017
A Life Without Fear, Pt. 2
By Stephen Millage


MONDAY
Wait for the LORD
Psalm 27:14

The counsel that the author of Psalm 27, David, gives to us in verse 14 is spoken in the context of suffering and sorrow and difficulty. He implores us, “Wait for the LORD.” Twice he says this. “Wait.” This means that at present we may be in a very difficult season or situation, in which we don’t necessarily want to wait. It is the time, then, when God’s purposes are being hidden from our eyes, and it seems that God is leading us in a way that is contrary to His promises. We desire relief. And then fear begins to surround us, and we are tempted to become bitter, impatient, or to take matters into our own hands in desperation.

However, “Be strong and don’t lose hope. Wait for the LORD.” By faith let us put our trust in the LORD. Let us wait confidently and silently and humbly before the LORD. And He will strengthen our hearts.

FOR TODAY: Are you in a season of uncertainty? Ask for the strength of the LORD to trust in His plans.


TUESDAY
Light and Salvation
Psalm 27:1

David claimed that God was his light, his salvation, and his strength for the journey along the path of life. Notice how personal David made those statements: “my light… my salvation… the strength of my life.” There are times when we think we don’t have the strength to make it or go on. Fear rules our heart and our mind. David was pointing to the fact that in those times God strengthened him, but even more importantly he was pointing out that God was the constant, main source for everything he did in life. Note, it is not said merely that the LORD gives light, but that He is light; nor that He gives salvation, but that He is salvation; and finally, not that he provides strength, but He is the strength. The powers of darkness are not to be feared because we can find all we need in the LORD.

FOR TODAY: Repeat this verse to yourself throughout the day. Let this verse be the reassurance you turn to in the face of darkness.


WEDNESDAY
Daily Goliaths
Psalm 27:1-3

Throughout this entire Psalm we are pulled from one end of the spectrum to the other confidence and uncertainty, life and death, light and darkness, joy and pain, abandonment and adoption, distance and closeness, good and evil, waiting and receiving. This is a Psalm written by a man who faced Goliath. A man who, with the
LORD’s strength, defeated Goliath.

Our situations in life may not be exactly like David vs. Goliath, but they are similar. It could be any situation we face: a particularly difficult person whom we are trying to muster up the strength to interact with at work, a financial burden that is staring us in the face, or uncertainty about the path in life God has us on. Twice David says, “Whom shall I fear?” Then, he proceeds to remind himself of the faithfulness of God. Many times we must remind ourselves, just like David, that God is faithful.

FOR TODAY: Re-read Psalm 27 several times throughout the day. Ask God to remind you of the times that He has been faithful.



THURSDAY
Fix Your Eyes
Psalm 27:13

The goodness of God is stamped all over Scripture. Psalm 27:13 says, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” We don’t know what specific circumstance David was facing when he composed this psalm, but his concluding statement is full of faith.

We will lose hope if our eyes are anywhere but on the LORD. When our eyes are fixed on Him, we will see His goodness. When our eyes wander elsewhere, we focus on our own strength and the judgments of humans. It may not be today, but we can join David in believing that we will “see the LORD’s goodness in the land of the living.”

FOR TODAY: Look for moments throughout the day when your heart may be trusting in something other than the promises of God.


FRIDAY
Take Courage and Believe
Romans 8:35-39

David concludes Psalm 27 with “be strong and don’t lose hope.” This is the promise of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the one that can stand against all enemies and all opposition. Jesus Christ is our light and our salvation.

Romans 8:35-39 offers us a firm foundation for where we stand when darkness seems to surround us. We are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Luke 18:1 says that we ought to always pray and to not lose heart. If we grow weary and cease to pray, our faith will wither. We should not grow weary; God can to do far more abundantly than all that we could ever ask or think.

FOR TODAY: Ask God for courage and faith. Go before God in prayer to ask Him for more than you can ever comprehend in the face of difficulty.