Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Attitude”
Our Bible verse for today: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “God will help you overcome your fear.”
Courage isn’t the absence of fear. Courage is the determination to do what needs to be done in spite of your fear. It’s the resolve to push past your fear, to overcome it, and to do what you need to do – even though on the inside you might be terrified and shaking like a leaf.
Former Secretary of State, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Four Star General Colin Powell once produced a list of principles that guided his life. He called them “Powell’s Principles”. One of those principles involved courage. It reads, “Never let them see you sweat.” In other words, regardless of what you’re thinking or feeling on the inside, resolve to push past your thoughts and feelings of fear and do what you need to do anyway. Don’t let your fear stop you; don’t even let it show.
Everyone struggles with doubts and fears. Everyone. But for the Christian you have the Holy Spirit of God to walk with you through every fearful situation. Isaiah 41:10 is just one of many passages which assure us of that.
One of the most common refrains in the Bible is “Fear not”. Why should we “fear not”? In Isaiah 41:10 God tells us, “For I am with you.” In what way does God’s presence help us to deal with our fear? He says it’s because, “I will strengthen you and help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.”
Whether your fear stems from a sickness, the loss of a job, a wayward child, doubts about the future, or a thug with a gun, let your attitude about it be that you will turn to God for the help you need in dealing with your fear.
Courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the ability to push past your fears and do what needs to be done anyway. God will help you do that.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 