Book Study – Page 19 – REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR THEMES FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR.

EACH OF THE FOUR POWER-PACKED THEMES ARE A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING TOUCHING INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC.

On the fourth Friday of each month in 2021 we’re studying Joyce Meyer’s newest book: Do It Afraid. We’re learning how to understand fear, to recognize how it works in our life and finally how to confront fear. We will learn new mindsets that position us for freedom from our most common fears.

Today we wrap up our Do It Afraid Book Study by reviewing Mamma Joyce’s chapters on Confronting Fear.

Take One Step at a Time

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. ~ Psalm 37:23

“Anything you do in obedience to God is something you never have to do alone.”~ Joyce Meyer

One of the best ways to overcome anything is to take it one step at a time. Scripture tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning. With that we know He is trying to teach us to trust Him as we go on our journey each day. Every journey starts with the first step. All God asks us to do is to take that first step with faith that He will be with us all the way.

Stand Up to Doubt

He said to them, ” Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” ~ Luke 24:38

If we truly want to live free from fear, we must learn to live without doubt. ~ Joyce Meyer

Doubt is just fear by another name. It’s sneaky. It doesn’t show up in the same way but yet it is fear nonetheless. Doubt means uncertainty, perplexity, to be without a way. These all imply fearfulness. The key with doubt is to believe we are going to hear from God. Begin by surrendering our will to His and continue on our path in faith thanking God for His direction as we go.

Refuse to Regret the Past or Dread the Future

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. ~ Proverbs 4:25

“Don’t miss what God has for you today by living in regret. Today is an important day in your life. It is actually the most important day of your life, because right at this moment it is the only day you are assured of, so live it fully and trust God to take care of your past and your future.” ~ Joyce Meyer

It’s easy to live with regrets from our past and to dread the future. But if we do we are missing out on what God has for us today. Regrets are just rehearsing past mistakes over and over again that keeps us stuck in the past. Dread is much the same except we are worried about what may or may not happen in the future. And when we get there we will probably have a bad attitude and not enjoy it either. If you struggle with these areas, ask God to help you and He will.

Take Courage and Be Strong

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. ~ Joshua 1:9

“Don’t just pray for fear to go away. Instead pray for God to fill you with boldness, courage, and confidence.” ~ Joyce Meyer

It’s important that we manage our thought life. If we are focusing on our fears they will control us. We can instead, choose to focus on being courageous rather than what we are afraid of. Keep a confession of God’s Word in your heart, mind and words. Don’t think about what can go wrong. Thank God for His direction, strength and courage. Remember, courage is always stronger than fear.

Learn to Be Secure and Confident

Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. ~ Hebrews 11:1

“The more you use your faith, the stronger it will become. Faith is confidence in God… when you have faith that something will take place, you have it in your heart first (you believe), and then you will have it in reality in God’s perfect timing.” ~ Joyce Meyer

Ask God for what you want. Scripture says He wants to give us the desires of our hearts. And God cannot lie. But we must have faith to ask and believe for the things we want, not just for the things we need. Every time we have a prayer answered our confidence grows.

As we watch God work in our life we will gradually become more secure in our faith. We will be able to courageously take one step at a time; to stop doubting our decisions; refuse to regret our past and to not dread the future. We will stand strong, confront our fears and show the devil how big our God is!

Be blessed with this message on Confrontation by Mama Joyce!

FREEDOM FROM THE FEAR OF DEATH

By embracing death Jesus sets free those who live their entire lives in bondage to the tormenting dread of death. ~ Hebrews 2:15

Many people live their lives with a tormenting fear of death or dying. And this isn’t something strange or unusual. Experiencing something that is unknown can be a fearful. But thankfully, God has given us the answer to that fear in Jesus.

We can first begin by talking about what death entails. The world’s definition of death would say that we cease to exist. But the biblical definition explains that while our physical body does cease to exist, our inner life (our soul) which is our mind, will and emotions, will continue on for eternity. In other words, death is when our soul is separated from our body.

For those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ, this isn’t a fearful thing. We have God’s promise of being in heaven with our new glorious bodies for eternity. But for those who don’t know Christ, this is a serious matter with eternal consequences that most people don’t even consider.

THE REALITY OF HELL

Hell is a difficult subject to discuss. Some people don’t believe hell exists. After all, why would a loving God send anyone to hell? What people don’t understand is that they are the ones who have made the choice to go there. God didn’t send them.

Yes, God is loving. But He is also a God of justice. Evil and sin must be punished. A price must be paid. Jesus lovingly came and sacrificed His life for all of the sinners in the world; freeing us from the punishment of hell where all sinners belong.

“Hell is a place we don’t want to go, so it is important to make the right decisions while we can.” ~ Joyce Meyer

THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION

Believers is Christ don’t need proof of the resurrection. The Holy Spirit placed that in our hearts when we became born again. On top of that, Scripture tells us many witnessed the empty tomb where Jesus left His grave clothes behind and the burial napkin, which had covered His face, was left neatly folded. Much like a person leaving a dinner table will fold their napkin when they are returning. Many see Jesus’ folded napkin as a sign of His return.

“Don’t worry or surrender to your fear. For you’ve believed in God, now trust and believe in me also.My Father’s house has many dwelling places. If it were otherwise, I would tell you plainly, because I go to prepare a place for you.And when everything is ready, I will come back and take you to myself so that you will be where I am.” ~ John 14:1-3

“Dying is something no one can avoid. We may feel some fear of the unknown, but we have assurance of the resurrection and heaven, and that is cause to celebrate!” ~ Joyce Meyer

If you are living in a dreadful fear of death and dying, if you have never prayed to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, take a couple of minutes to watch the first video below with Joyce Meyer. After you pray with Joyce, watch the second video from Elevation Worship beautifully singing of the fullness of God’s love and glory for eternity. You will be blessed if you do.