Fat Free Faith: October 2012

Live Fearless - #Bible Devotional Guest #Blog by Suzanne Williams

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2Ti 1:7)

This is a very familiar verse to most people. I know I heard it quoted many times growing up. However, it wasn’t until I became completely crippled by fear and was unable to leave home that I had even a faint glimpse of its meaning. And it’s a powerful verse because everything you need to overcome fear in your life is given there.

First, God did NOT make you afraid. Now, I’m not talking about fear, or reverence, for God. I’m talking about terror. I was afraid to leave home and get sick in public. Others are afraid of water, doctors, traveling, etc. There are many forms of fear. In order to be free you must settle in your heart that God did NOT give them to you.

There is no such thing as healthy fear. If fear was healthy, then I’d be a giant now because I’ve had my share. No, fear took over my decisions. I made choices based on it, and I stopped doing things because of it. It then leaked into my personal life, affecting my family and friends. Fear is satanic, and this verse says so.

But God didn’t stop there. He also provided the three things needed to overcome fear. When you tap into the Holy Spirit power of God, you won’t be afraid because fear cannot live in God’s presence. At my lowest times, I entered into worship. I turned the television off, closed the computer, and concentrated on how marvelous God is.

I also began praying earnestly. The Scripture says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (Jas 5:16) There is power and strength in prayer.

Yet prayer and worship are most effective when you know God loves you. “There is no fear in love” (Jn 4:18) because God’s love is so grand and high and wide; it’s so all-encompassing and all inclusive that nothing we have ever done or ever will do can overpower it. Instead, God meets us where wevare and lifts us up above all the thousands fallen at our side. (Ps 91:7)

And he heals our mind. Having a sound mind comes as we renew our thoughts. (Rm 12:2) This is definitely the hardest step in overcoming fear because it requires deliberate action. We think God’s thoughts instead of fear. (Php 4:8) It also means we change our confession. We no longer say whatever pops into our head, but speak the truth of God’s Word.

I am a free woman today no longer captive to fear, and it was a long, slow road to get here. But I walked it hand-in-hand with my loving heavenly Father knowing He was there for me every single step of the way. And I live fearless. Not because I no longer struggle with fear, but because fear no longer has a hold on me for I know God is bigger. He’s greater. He’s higher. He’s more than enough.

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Suzanne Williams is the author of Fearless -

Which will be on sale for half price on October 31!

Guest #Bible Devotional - Discretion by Heather Hart

An Excerpt from “Teen Devotionals… for Girls!”

What do your actions and words portray?

Written by Heather Hart

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

~Proverbs 11:22

Being beautiful isn’t all about the outside. This verse says that beauty can be like a gold ring in a pig’s snout - it catches the eye, but it still isn’t appealing. We need to learn to show discretion. We can be discrete with our words or our actions. Discretion is being cautious in what we say, and it includes making responsible choices. …It is not being loud and boisterous, but quiet and well mannered.

Let’s think about pigs for a minute. The rings in their noses are small in comparison to their loud squealing, running and rolling around in the mud - they are genuinely fierce creatures. They eat just about anything, and they are not exactly a role model for good hygiene. They don’t really seem to care about anyone but themselves, and they surely don’t make responsible decisions. They don’t worry about what they eat, or the consequences of any action, they just do whatever pops into their little, piggy heads.

We can show discretion in what we wear, what we say, and how we act. As a result, we won’t spend all day pulling the skirt down because it shows just a little more than we thought when we tried it on, and we won’t be eating words that were meant only for one person when they are spread throughout the whole school. Being discrete is actually beneficial.

Plus, it is part of our inner beauty. What good is outer beauty anyway if it is like the ring in a pig’s snout compared to our inner beauty?

Reflection:

Are you discrete in your words and actions?

Application Step:

Today, be mindful of your words and actions. Make an effort to be discrete.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for loving me enough to show me where I need to improve. Thank You for giving me the Bible to help guide me. Please help me to be discrete today. I want to make Psalm 19:14 my prayer today. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. In Jesus’ name I pray; amen.

Author Bio

First and foremost a servant of Christ, Heather Hart desires to grow more like Jesus every day. She has a passion for helping others find their true beauty in Christ and reaches toward that goal as the co-author/editor of the “Teen Devotionals… for Girls!” series, which is available on Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046LV86E/) and for free via e-mail at www.FindYourTrueBeauty.com/devos.

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Guest #Bible Devotional: Courage Angers Others by Sheila Hollinghead - #tworship

Yes, it is sad, but true. When we are courageous, it makes others feel uncomfortable. Perhaps they see their own inadequacies. An example of this can be found in the story of David and Goliath.

Even young children are familiar with the story. As soon as David saw Goliath, he was ready to fight. He could not understand the reluctance of others and cajoled them.

His brother turns on him in anger. Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” ~1 Samuel 17:28

People do not like to be told, whether directly or indirectly, that they are not trusting God.

Many times we let the naysayers win. We let our own fears manifest—and often it is simply the fear of ridicule. We turn our backs on our Goliaths, thinking we are foolish to believe we can prevail.

Yet, who would ever have thought David would prevail? His brothers? The other soldiers? The Philistines? Goliath? Saul?

Picture Saul. He is desperate. He puts armor on David to prepare him for battle. David shrugs it off. Saul had to be thinking, “We’re sunk.”

However, David did not need the armor of Saul, just as we do not need the trappings of this world to succeed. We do not need beauty, or wealth, or education. God uses the weak, the common--in this case, a young teen who used a common stone in his common slingshot. Through our weaknesses, God shines all the brighter.

And what happens next? When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. ~1 Samuel 17:51-52

David’s courage routed the enemy and rallied the troops. Just as our courage can do. We must rely on God and know that it is God who gives us the victory. If we stand firm against the naysayers, if we trust God’s power, if we are unafraid to use the common, we can prevail. The courage to stand up for right gives others courage.

No matter who we anger, let’s be courageous. After all, if God is for us, who can be against us!

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Sheila Hollinghead is the author of
Thundersnow (In the Shadow of the Cedar)

Study Questions for homeschoolers and group discussion

available at the author's website

http://sheilahollinghead.com

Guest #Bible Devotional: God's Unconditional Love by Dana Pratola

“But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:8

Recently I read an article about contract negotiations involving a group of workers and their employers. I don’t remember the details but the nutshell version is, “You do this and I’ll do that. If not, I won’t.” If all parties don’t agree, and they go back to the table for more of the same until they do. This idea has a solid place in the kingdom of God. Several things are conditional, salvation for one. If you trust in Jesus, He’ll save you; if you don’t, He won’t. If you chose the way of blessings, He’ll bless you; if you don’t, He won’t. But when it comes to His love for us, it is totally, completely, unconditional.

Romans 5:8 has become my banner. Ask me what I know for certain and I’ll tell you this: God loves me. Not because I’m good enough, faithful enough or brought so many to Christ. Before I did anything for Him, way back before I had any idea Who He was, He knew me. He chose me. He died for me.

What I hope to accomplish through my books is to emphasize the love of God to others. I’m trying to say, “Hey, God loves you. And no matter what you’ve done, who you’ve been, He wants a relationship with you. You can always come to Him because His love has no limit, no off switch, or expiration date.”

It’s the greatest hope for unbelievers, but I think the church needs to hear the message just as much. There is the temptation among Christians to wallow in condemnation and defeat when we sin. That was never God’s intention. The same love that has made us children of the King, is designed to bring us back when we fall. His love covers everything because it’s perfect love. I’m so thankful for the reminder of Romans 5:8. Just knowing it applies to me, and that Christ also died for the godly, is such a blessing.

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Dana Pratola is the author of DESCENDED ~ Jett

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