Fear and anxiety are the conscious or unconscious feelings about an imagined or unknown future experience. This imagined future experience causes fear and anxiety when we feel that is too difficult, uncomfortable, or painful for us to handle.

Think about this, however, fear is not “real”. It is manufactured by us in our minds.

The antidote is realizing and believing that we can handle any future event.

Why can we believe that we can handle any future event. Because we are told so in the Bible. Hundreds of verses tell us to “fear not.”

Some of those we can keep in mind are:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13

Be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38

Most of the time, the thing we fear never happens anyway, but if did, we could handle it.

Dear Lord, thank you for knowledge that you are always there with us, giving us the power to deal with any situation in our lives. Help us remember, to send the fear and anxiety away by remembering your promises. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hopefully we have all experienced a person who amazes us with their exceptional work and performance in their job. For example, the sales person who knows just how to find you exactly what you were looking for without being pushy, the service technician with a bright smile and polite “yes sir” “yes ma’am”, the contractor who proudly strives for perfection, meticulously cleans up, and patiently explains everything to his customer, or the doctor or nurse who, with angelic like compassion and tenderness, cares for the dying patient. These people not only bring great credit on themselves, they make their employers and organizations look good to those who see their service.

In much the same way, Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 that we are the “light of the world,” and to in verse 16 he says, “In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.” When we do good, we are bringing credit (glory) to God, whom we follow.

I have heard it said this way, “You may be the only Jesus some people ever see.” We have an opportunity every day to demonstrate Gods love to those we contact.

Dear Lord, Help us remember that our actions demonstrate what Christians are to people around us. Help us do good and bring glory to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

There is a story written in John chapter 8 where a crowd was going to stone a woman for adultery, which was the law at that time. Jesus tells the crowd, “Let the one who has not sinned cast the first stone’ ” and the crowd of people all went away.

Jesus then told the woman in John 8:11 “Go and sin no more.”

There are many messages we can take away from this story, but the one I want to highlight is that at any point, we can make a change in our lives and start on a new path. “Your past doesn’t determine your future,” is a way I have heard it said.

I think that message is as relevant for someone living a “good” life as it is for someone who has a “troubled” life. We can all make a change in our lives, if we choose to; and when we do, God is always there to support us to change and follow his will. The most important change any of us can make is to accept the forgiveness and Salvation Jesus provides.

Dear Lord, thank you for the message you give us in this story that, no matter where we are in life, or what we have done in the past, we can change. Your forgiveness and Salvation is always waiting for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Most of us know the story of Jesus tempted in the wilderness in Matthew 4. Verses 4:3-4 write, “During that time the Devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

The scripture that Jesus is referencing is Deuteronomy 8:3, which tells the story about God providing manna to the Jews when they were in the desert after escaping from Egypt.

There are many ways to look at Jesus’ comment, “that people do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

It is easy to think the passage was just about spirituality, that Jesus is saying we need to feed our spiritual self with God’s word. However, the reference back to the story in Deuteronomy is a story of God fulfilling the physical needs and wants of the Jews in the desert, not just their spiritual needs. I think we can get this message from Jesus’ words, as well. The message that God’s word, the Bible, will give us direction and wisdom to provide for our physical wants and needs as well as our spiritual needs and wants.

Dear Lord, whether we acknowledge it or not, you provide everything we have. Help us remember to praise and thank you for what you provide us. Help us also to come to you for both our spiritual and physical needs and wants. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The book of 1 Corinthians is a letter written by Paul to the people of the church in Corinth. The people in the church there were having troubles that could be expected of a startup church in a large city of people who did not believe in God and lived immoral lives. The people in the church also struggled with the temptations of the world.

In 1 Corinthians 16:13, Paul tells them, “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong,” which sounds like something a military leader would tell his troops prior to a difficult battle. But then in verse 14 he writes, “And do everything with love.”

These two verses may appear somewhat contradictory, being courageous and strong, but acting with love. However when we look closely, this is exactly how we should be as Christians. We can be strong and courageous, because we have the power of God supporting us, and we can act with love to all, because the love of God is working through us. God’s love, for all people, that was shown in the saving sacrifice of Jesus.

Dear Lord, what great coaching you give to us through Paul in this verse. Help us go out into the world with courage to face our challenges, and love for all, because you first loved us. In Jesus name. Amen.