Faith vs. Fear

We have been in the midst of a health-related crisis which has affected thousands of people, many relationships, numerous lives, hundreds of businesses, and the economy in this country.  We have been in isolation, doing social distancing, and basically in quarantine for over a month now.  Many people wear masks when going out to run personal errands and going to medical appointments.

We as God's children don't have to fear catching the global virus, because of Jesus' sacrifice and atonement on the cross.  He was punished for all sin once and for all time (See Isaiah 53:4-5).  We are protected from all sickness, disease, illness by the blood of the Lamb.  Therefore, we already have divine health in this life. 

 

The world wants people to be afraid, because they live in the physical and the natural.  That includes the five senses of seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and feeling.  There is nothing and no one chasing after any person in this world, but there are people who are afraid and run for cover like they are fearful of getting the virus.  

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare..."  (Proverbs 29:25a, NIV)



"The wicked flee when no one pursues... " (Proverbs 28:1a, NKJV)

God wants us to put our complete faith in Him.  The kingdom of God is supernatural.  We walk by faith and not by sight (See 2 Corinthians 5:7).  We live by the Spirit of God within us.  We are in this world but not of this world (See Romans 12:2).  

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV)

God tell us hundreds of times in His word, "Do not fear... Do not be afraid..."  (See Deuteronomy 31:6, 8)  We can believe Him and trust Him.  He is trustworthy and faithful.

"...but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."  (Proverbs 29:25b, NIV)

"...But the righteous are bold as a lion." (Proverbs 28:1b, NKJV)

However, we use wisdom and walk in love towards other people which includes those who are weak in faith (See Romans 14; James 1:5).  Therefore, we wear masks when we are out and about in order to love ourselves and others in the world (See Matthew 22:37-40; Luke 6:31).  We keep our distance from others.  We isolate ourselves from other people.

But, ultimately we believe and know that God is our protector (See Psalm 91).

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe." (Proverbs 18:10, NKJV)

Copyright 2020 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Dear Younger Me

                                                                                         Source: YouTube

The above music video entitled Dear Younger Me is performed by the Christian artist group, MercyMe.  In the video, the artist sings about writing a letter to his younger self.  This contemporary Christian song is one of my favorites in the last several months.  I have been thinking about the letter that I would write to my younger self.  I am wondering whether there are others out there who may ponder the same about themselves.

What would I say to my younger self?  What would you say to your younger self?

This particular artist begins his letter in the song lyrics like this... "Dear Younger Me...Where do I start...If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far...Then, you could be...One step ahead...Of all the painful memories still running through my head...I wonder how much different things would be...Dear Younger Me..."

Those lyrics are probably the way many of us would start a similar letter to our younger selves.  We may not know exactly the way to begin the letter, but there would be a lot to include in it.  Perhaps, we could have spared our younger selves a lot of unnecessary heartache, pain, regret, hardships, challenges, trials, and more.  That is, if we could go back in time and share that much gained knowledge, wisdom, discernment, clarity, and more with our younger selves.

Would we do anything differently with all of that gained knowledge, wisdom, insight, experience?  I definitely would do some things in a different way---a better way.  For one, I would tell my younger self to daily read the Bible---God's word.

I have learned since then that an unrenewed mind hinders us in life.  There were many years where I was not renewing my mind on God's word---His truth (See Romans 12:2).  As a result, I really didn't know my specific purpose in God's plan nor that it was a good plan for me.  Only as I disciplined myself to read and study His word did I not only came to personally know my Father in a more intimate way but also the plans He had for me---plans to give me a hope and a future (See Jeremiah 29:11).

How about you?  What have you learned?  What would you do differently?


Copyright 2017 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Listening to Godly Counsel

God prepares and trains many different people along their unique paths for His specific purpose and plan.  Unfortunately, He normally raises them up through various hardships, trials, challenges, obstacles, and more (See James 1:2-4).  David and Joseph are only a couple of examples of the way God promoted and increased them over their lifetime (Read Genesis 37-50; 1 Samuel 16-17).

It does not necessarily have to be that way though.  People do not have to learn everything for themselves the hard way.  

Once Jesus was released into His full-time ministry, He was usually only able to help those people who either personally asked for His assistance and/or personally came to Him for assistance.  Of course, there was the instance of the woman at the well but she was a rare exception (See John 4:1-26, 39-42).  She did not ask Him and/or personally come to Him at first.  Nine times out of ten people normally sought Him out and asked for His help.   

That goes without saying for all of God's children.  We are only able to truly help those who are receptive to us whom God has placed in our paths.  They either need to personally ask for our help and/or personally come to us.

There have been more people than I care to think about or count on my hands that have not been receptive to me for one reason or another.  I have come to realize it more over the last several years that it is their problem and not mine though.  I cannot make people believe and receive the truth when I speak the truth in love to them (See Ephesians 4:15).  I cannot force them to make righteous choices---choices that line up with God's word, His ways, His perfect will, and His spirit within them (See Isaiah 55:8-9; Matthew 4:4; Romans 12:2).

It is really a shame that so many people prefer to learn for themselves the hard way instead of being receptive and learning from people like me who have already gained the wisdom, knowledge, insight, clarity through their own life experiences and faith journeys.

However, I have been reminded that "...fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7, NIV)."

"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."  (Proverbs 15:22, NIV)

Therefore, it behooves people to not only seek out Godly counsel but actually listen and heed the wise counsel.   

Special Note:  Now offering coaching and mentoring services through my worldwide public ministry.  Go to my ministry website (http://www.dawnfreeman.org/coaching_mentoring/) and briefly fill out a form when you are interested in those type of services.


Copyright 2016 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Getting Wisdom

Solomon was considered to be the wisest person in the world.  He was the son of King David who began his ministry as a little shepherd boy out in the fields before being promoted by Almighty and All-powerful God (See 1 Samuel 16 and 17).

David's son, Solomon, later became King of Israel.  Solomon also wrote books in the Bible including the book of Proverbs.  He wrote much about getting wisdom, knowledge, and understanding throughout this particular book in the Bible.  He actually began this specific book by introducing himself.  Then, he goes into a breakdown of the beginning of knowledge.  

Solomon encourages people to know wisdom and instruction as well as perceiving words of understanding.  He says, "A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel...(Proverbs 1:5, NKJV)."  This specific wise man later tells us that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7, NKJV)."

There are some people within the body of Jesus Christ nowadays that do not know and understand the biblical principle of getting knowledge.  Every person must first get knowledge before they get understanding and wisdom.  However, it is not necessarily just any kind of knowledge.  We all must obtain the right kind of knowledge.  More specifically, we all need biblical knowledge.

When we all first get biblical knowledge, then we will all have much more understanding and wisdom in life.  The only kind of true understanding and wisdom that we need is the kind which comes from our heavenly Father.

"For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints (Proverbs 2:6-8, NKJV)."

How do we all go about obtaining wisdom?  What's the best way to get all of that kind of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding?

In the book of James, the writer who is the half brother of Jesus Himself shares his thoughts on getting wisdom.  "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5, NKJV)."

James later continues, " But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (James 1:6-8, NKJV)."

Therefore, we all need to ask in faith for wisdom from God.  We also cannot doubt that He has heard and answered our request.  Otherwise, we will not receive what we have asked for from Him.

Solomon speaks about the beginning of wisdom.  He says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you (Proverbs 9:10-11, NKJV)."

Unfortunately, there is not much reverential fear of the Lord God these days in this world.  Part of that lack of fear is rooted in the lack of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding though.  When a person does not really know someone, they cannot truly revere that particular person.

As King Solomon states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...(Proverbs 9:10, NKJV)."  However, before people actually revere Almighty God, they must first seek Him.  How do people seek Him?  For one, they seek Him by spending time with Him.  One way to do that is by reading and studying His word---namely the Bible.  Only then will people obtain that specific wisdom which comes from Him.  Then, they will develop the reverential fear of the Lord.


Copyright 2016 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.