HPN Discouragement & Despair DevotionalCampione

## LET GO OF FEAR “Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and Hallelujah is our song." Pope John Paul II > PRAY: Heavenly Father, I praise You that I am a child of the resurrection and that Jesus is with me and the Holy Spirit is in me! Would You show me where I am afraid and discouraged, so that I can identify the battles and ask You to fight them for me. I want to take up my position of prayer and praise, stand firm in my belief, and trust in YOU, and then watch the deliverance that You will bring. I thank You for how You take care of me and I don't have to be afraid or discouraged! Father, prepare me to "go out and face them" today, and tomorrow and the day after! Amen. > REFLECT: Sit quietly and ask yourself, and the Lord - "What am I afraid of?" Ask the Lord to reveal to you what you're not trusting Him for. And then when you see those issues, can you imagine giving them to God and knowing that He is fighting those battles for you? What does it mean to stand firm and take your position? Is that physical, or emotional? Reflect on the practical meaning of this scripture. > ACT: Be honest and jot down the things that bring you fear, anxiety, or worry. Is it finances, your relationships, your job, your career, your education, your insecurities? Choose one area of struggle and focus on giving that to God every day. Stand your position! Decide what you are going to do when that fear overtakes you and press into the fact that God wants to fight that battle for you. You have to give it to Him and walk away - both mentally, physically and emotionally. It is like developing a new muscle; it takes exercise, focus, prayer, and commitment.