Do you struggle with fear, anxiety, or worry?  Many people I talk to do.

For years I suffered from anxiety.  But not anymore!  By submitting my life to Christ and his kingdom — through his Word — I have found freedom.  By learning to live my whole life as an apprentice to Jesus, devoted to him alone, I have learned not to worry about the outcomes of events, what people think about me, or whether or not I succeed.

365 Fear Nots

It’s been said that there are 365 Fear Nots in the Bible, one for each day of the year! In “Fear  Not 365 Days a Year” I explain that there are actually more than 365 verses in the Bible guiding us in how we deal with “fear” (or “afraid”, “frightened”, “terrified”) and other verses on “worry,” “anxiety”, and related issues.  We can be sure that 365 days a year the Lord says to us: “Fear not!”

Again and again in the Bible his promise to us is: “You will not fear… by day” (Psalm 91:5). For the Bible Study I selected 31 of my favorite Fear Not Bible passages (from the NIV84) and identified the fearless truth God is teaching us.

31 Days to Freedom from Fear is designed as a daily training program with Jesus to help you overcome fear and anxiety. If you train with Jesus in this way for 31 days then you will grow in his peace for 356 days a year!

How the Fear Not Training Works

Read, meditate on, and pray on one Fear Not Bible passage per day for 31 days.  You need to approach this like you’re taking your daily dose of medicine – because you are!

Each day write the Fear Not Scripture down on an index card so you can carry it with you all day.  Re-read it and turn it over and over in your mind and let it lead you into personal prayers.  Try to memorize the passages that especially speak to your struggles.

Talk to a friend about what you’re learning and the struggles you’re having.  Pray together.  Be “Christ’s Ambassadors” to one another (2 Corinthians 5:20).

If each day for one month you train with Jesus in this way – relying on his Word to help you submit yourself to his kingdom rule in your daily life – then you will make progress in learning to Fear Not!  You will form new, godly habits of being ruled by the peace of Christ in all that you think, desire, say, and do (Colossians 3:15).  You’ll learn to “let go” of trying to control things as you Learn the Secret of Jesus’ Easy Yoke that brings rest to your soul (Matthew 11:28-30).

God will help you to Calm your Anxious Mind.

Fear Nots for 31 Days

Day 1 Fear Not: the Lord, Creator and Savior, calls you by name to say, “You’re mine!”

“But now, this is what the LORD says – he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine’” (Isaiah 43:1).

Day 2 Fear Not: Come to Jesus with tiresome burdens to rest in his care as you work with him

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Day 3 Fear Not: the Shepherd is with you to train you to find comfort in him

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Day 4 Fear Not: Don’t be anxious – instead pray, ask, give thanks, be guarded by God’s peace

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Day 5 Fear Not: Jesus’ way is to simplify: Don’t worry.  Be like the birds and flowers.  Seek God.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important…? Look at the birds… your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow…. Will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:25-34). 

Day 6 Fear Not: The fear of the Lord alone is the beginning of wisdom, not the end

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding” (Psalm 111:10a).

Day 7 Fear Not: God’s perfect love (which often comes through people) removes fear

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another… There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:11, 18).

Day 8 Fear Not: the Lord wants to hold your hand and help you

“For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you’” (Isaiah 41:13).

Day 9 Fear Not: God wants to set you free from fear by being a Daddy to your inner child

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption and by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father’” (Romans 8:15).

Day 10 Fear Not: If we live in the Lord’s light and salvation we need not fear any threat

“The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?… Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident” (Psalm 27:1, 3).

Day 11 Fear Not: When you fear the Lord you discover that he is a compassionate Father

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13).

Day 12 Fear Not: Fearful hearts need encouragement to put hope in God’s help and justice

“Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you’” (Isaiah 35:4).

Day 13 Fear Not: Give up all your worries to God who cares for you

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). 

Day 14 Fear Not: The Lord’s ministering angels bring peace to those who trust Christ

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people’” (Luke 2:10). 

Day 15 Fear Not: God is with you, strengthening you and upholding you

“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).

Day 16 Fear Not: God doesn’t want you to suffer shame

“Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated” (Isaiah 54:4a).

Day 17 Fear Not: Practice being quiet before God; learn to be still in his presence

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). 

Day 18 Fear Not: Jesus taught us not to fear people, but the God who cares for little sparrows

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Luke 12:4-7).

Day 19 Fear Not: Trust God – he won’t frighten you!  He gives you power, love, self-control

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

Day 20 Fear Not: Trust God who delights in you and bad news won’t scare you – you’ll overcome!

“Praise the LORD.  Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands… He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.  His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes” (Psalm 112:1, 7-8). 

Day 21 Fear Not: Call the Lord and he comes close and comforts your fears

“You came near when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear’” (Lamentations 3:57). 

Day 22 Fear Not: The risen Christ brings peace to those who are hiding behind locked doors

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’” (John 20:19).

Day 23 Fear Not: Rely on God to “work in” you and then “work out” of you

“Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12b-13).

Day 24 Fear Not: To “fear God” is to worship him as glorious and holy

“Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy.  All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed” (Revelation 15:4).

Day 25 Fear Not: Even in suffering you are blessed if you do what’s right and look to God

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened’” (1 Peter 3:14).

Day 26 Fear Not: Like Paul, accept your weakness, rely on God’s grace, be made strong in Christ

“Three times I [Paul] pleaded with the Lord to take [the thorn in my flesh] away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ …That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).

Day 27 Fear Not: trust God to give you the words to say and you won’t fear public speaking

“Do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11b).

Day 28 Fear Not: Step into God’s light – be true and honest – and he’ll empower you

“Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God” (John 3:20-21).

Day 29 Fear Not: Look to Jesus for the gift of the Father: the Spirit as your indwelling Comforter

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor [“Paraclete”: Comforter, Encourager, Advocate] to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth…  You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you (John 14:16-18). 

Day 30 Fear Not: The Lord sets us free from fear by removing our punishment and our enemy

“The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy… Never again will you fear any harm… The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:15, 17).

Day 31 Fear Not: Prayer helps us to overcome our fears of sharing the good news of Jesus

“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19)

courtesy:soulshepherding

Why at times does it appear that God ignores us when we pray to Him, asking Him to help when we have a serious problem? Many have prayed for God to intervene and solve a problem that they are struggling with, but sometimes God‘s apparent answer is silence.

God knows what’s best
Even when we feel that God is not answering our prayers, you can always know God is a God of love. The Bible tells us He loves us:

John 3:16. ‘”For God so LOVED the world”…….
Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.”….

God created us and knows infinitely more than we know. He knows what is best for us, and what would not be good for us. If you have children, when they were very small, sometimes they asked for things that would not be good for them, or would harm them. For good reasons sometimes parents do not always give their children what they ask for, when they ask for it. Parents give them what is best for them.

It is the same way in our prayers to God. God gives us what is best for us. We are God’s children and He gives us what is best for us, and at a time when it is best for us. Our lives must be right with God before He can answer our prayers.

Right way
God has certain conditions that must be met before our prayers can be answered. One of the first, is we feel our need of help from Him. Isaiah 44:3 says, “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground.” The heart must be open to the Spirit’s influence, or God’s blessing cannot be received. One cannot pour water into a cup that is already full.

Right heart
If we have cherished sins in our lives, and refuse to give them up, or if we are doing things we should not be doing, and are disobeying Him, we cannot expect Him to answer our prayers. He cannot answer our prayers if we have sins in our lives that are unconfessed or if we are hanging on to cherished sins. Also, if we refuse to forgive others who have wronged us, God cannot hear us. (See Matthew 6:12 and Ephesians 4:32).

This is not saying you can earn God’s favor to answer your prayers, it will always be Jesus’s blood that makes us worthy; but we do need to do our part if God is going to work in our lives.

Pray without ceasing
One of the reasons we feel our prayers are not being answered, is because we stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says it best, “pray without ceasing.” Paul is more direct in Philippians 4:6, “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

In reality, we should not be worried so much about if God hears our prayers – He does and He does care. What we should be worried about is if because of temptations, hard times, and trials we get discouraged, and give up praying. In Luke 18:1, Jesus, “spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.”

His time, His will
God is a God of love, and He is interested in every detail of our lives. He hears our prayers, and answers every sincere prayer if we meet His conditions. We must not expect that every answer will be “yes”, since we are sinners and do not always ask what is best for us. Sometimes His answer is “No’ and sometimes it is “wait.” (Hebrew 10:36) We need to end each prayer with, “Not my will but Your will.” Even if we are sincerely doing God’s will, and to the best of our ability, following His will for us, He may see that it is best for us not for Him to say “yes” at this time. We must continue trusting Him, regardless of His answer at the moment.

God’s timetable is not the same as ours. He knows better than we do when is the best time for our prayers to be answered. (See Hebrews 6 :13-15). God is eternal and does not measure time as we do. 2 Peter 3:8: “Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

In the story of Abraham, God promised a son to Abraham. But Abraham became impatient when Sarah didn‘t bear him a son, so he took his wife’s servant as his wife. Abraham tried to solve the problem in his own way and the result was disastrous. We are still seeing the results of his mistake today. God eventually answered his prayer at the time when He saw it was best for Abraham.

For God to give us what we ask for, we must ask “according to His will.” Faith cannot take the place of “asking according to God’s will.” 1 John 5:14, “…if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” If you do not ask according to God’s will, it is not real faith in God. If God’s answer is “No” we still must be willing to wait patiently, and trust God to answer in his own way and in His timing.

Trust God, even though you may at the moment feel he is not near and has abandoned you.

Isaiah 41:9,10:
“You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest regions, and said to you, You are my servant, I have chosen you, and have not cast you away. Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

If we have faith and sincerely trust God, we will not be concerned as to whether the answer is “wait” or the answer is “no” or “yes.” We must just trust, and wait and see if God in His timing will see fit to answer as we have requested, or perhaps He has something better in mind for us. Remember your prayer should end with “Not my will, Lord, but Your will.” (Luke 22:42). “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5,6.

Luke 6:38
“Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Jesus says; “The same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

THIS IS TRUE IN EVERY AREA OF LIFE. IT’S A PRINCIPLE THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY GOD

1. IN THE WAY YOU TREAT OTHERS.

“Whatever measure you use to give is the same measure that will be used in giving back to you”.

If you give hate, you will get hate in return

If you give love, you will receive love in return.

If you give lots of strife in life, you will receive lots of strife in return.

But if you give peace and joy and laughter, you will get that in return.

If you give lots of compassion, you will receive the same.

If you give forgiveness, God will forgive you.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:12
“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law”.

2. IT’S TRUE IN REFERENCE TO FORGIVING AND CRITICIZING OTHERS.
“For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

*Luke 6:37, Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. Stop criticizing others, or it will all come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven

-God will only give you as much forgiveness as you give to others.

- If you are critical of others. They will also be critical of you.

*1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful to forgive us”.

3. IT’S TRUE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS.
* Proverbs 18:24 says;
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly”.

Ephesians 5:28
“Husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies”.

- Wives should respect their husbands.

- Children honor their parents.

4. Its ALSO TRUE IN RESPECTS TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD.

John 7:37, 38 “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will Flow Rivers of living water.”
- Looking to the wrong source will cause you to be empty.

- Your source is not your pastor.

- It’s not your spouse.

-It’s not your job or your career.

-It’s not your house or your nice car

YOUR SOURCE HAS TO BE JESUS, AND HE SAYS; “For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

If you want God’s attention, you need to spend time with the Master

Try taking Jesus shopping with you instead of your friends.

Go fishing with Jesus.

Do some yard work with him.

Take a day off to spend some time with Him. Jesus said; “The same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

*Jeremiah 29:13,14
And you will seek me and find me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you”.

Ephesians 3:17, 19
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to com-apprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God”.

4. THE LAW OF MEASURE ALSO WORK’S IN YOUR FINANCES.
“Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom”

Malachi 3:10
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and try me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

Whether a business provides goods or services, its purpose should be for more than just making money. The operation of the business should add value to the quality of life, and should improve and enrich society. For Christians, because their entire life is meant to both glorify God and reflect Jesus Christ, their business should be conducted with utmost integrity. This means that in every facet, the business is honest, reliable, trustworthy, and that the company, whatever the size, offers consistent quality products or services.

Even many non-Christian business owners demonstrate integrity. For this reason, the Christian is challenged to be and do something that exceeds the standard expectations of the people it serves.

This level of business integrity includes providing fair and reasonable pricing. Exceptional customer service requires being punctual, neat and friendly. Business owners and managers are to treat employees fairly and pay them appropriately. They are to be insured, licensed and bonded if necessary. Christians business owners are to always be honest in dealings with other business people, and have truthfulness and accuracy in advertising. In short, Christian business people should go the extra mile.

The Christian businessperson should make every effort to be distinctive, exceptional and/or unique. The key is to develop a daily, disciplined awareness of the presence and power of the Heavenly Master. This awareness, fueled by an intimate relationship with Him, will influence the business owner’s thinking, decision-making, words and actions. It will also likely change their attitude toward job responsibilities. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men…for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Col. 3:23)

Working with diligence and enthusiasm, while constantly looking for ways to improve, will bring countless benefits to the business. Word of mouth is still the most effective kind of advertising. People still appreciate quality and honesty. In the Amplified Bible, this point is proven with Proverbs 22:29: “Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”

In today’s instantaneous communication, good or bad news about an experience travels quickly, and it can make or break a business. It has been said that when a customer has a bad business experience, they will tell ten people about it. Therefore, excellence in customer service and satisfaction will certainly help ensure success because “a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.” (Prov. 22:1)

The successful Christian business is marked by its affect on the lives of others. It should help improve and enrich the lives of those it serves. The atmosphere of the business and the attitude of the owner should bring glory to God and imitate the example of Christ. The operation of the business should provide products or services that exceed people’s expectations. The business owner should make every effort to be distinctive and exceptional, and should be aware of the presence of God every day. With these priorities in order, the good name and good reputation earned will have a long lasting value, and prosperity will surely follow.