How do you avoid fear focus?

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"I, I'm the One comforting you. What are you afraid of-- or who? Some man or woman who'll soon be dead? Some poor wretch destined for dust? You've forgotten me, God, who made you, who unfurled the skies, who founded the earth. And here you are, quaking like an aspen before the tantrums of a tyrant who thinks he can kick down the world. But what will come of the tantrums?" (Isaiah 51:12-13, The Message)

There is a lot of fear in the world. A. LOT. It sometimes seem that fear is in the driver's seat of the world. It certainly is the center of the evening news. Wars, terrorism, violence, conspiracies, cover-ups, tyranny, contamination, drugs ... I could sit here and make the list longer for awhile. And you could add some that I missed.

And just like some people seem lost without something to complain about, others seem lost without something to be afraid of. (Yes, I know I ended a sentence with a preposition. I'm not afraid of the grammar police).

In these verses in Isaiah, God puts this fear in perspective. Have we forgotten Him? Have we forgotten who is really in the driver's seat? Do we really believe that the One who spoke this planet into existence has lost control of it?

Question: What practical ideas do you have to help others avoid a focus on fear?

Leave a comment below.  Your perspective would really benefit our community.

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He's got you in His hands

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"This is the plan, planned for the whole earth, And this is the hand that will do it, reaching into every nation. God-of-the-Angel-Armies has planned it. Who could ever cancel such plans? His is the hand that's reached out. Who could brush it aside?" (Isaiah 14:26-27, The Message)

Like many of you, I learned a song when I was a child: "He's got the whole world in His hands".

It is a little harder to believe when you are grown up and the world seems spinning out of control. Wars, earthquakes, tsunamis, vicious dictators, political gridlock, economic stresses, illness ... You get the point.

We are left to draw the conclusion that either: (1) God is not really in control or (2) God is uncaring or unkind or (3) God loves us and He is orchestrating all these things as a part of His plan for the world.

I am not satisfied with any of those options. 

So, here's my take: God loves us abundantly and the world is ultimately and completely in His hands. He has established boundaries that we cannot cross without consequences. Within those boundaries, He has given us the gift of choosing how we will respond to Him. None of our choices will ever take us beyond the reaches of His love, but they can take us to a place where He will allow us to live with the consequences of our choices. He is in control, but His purpose is not controlling us. He gives freedom to choose and desires that we would choose to live in loving and grateful obedience to Him.

Question: How will you choose to live in His hands today?

Leave a comment below.  I'd love to hear your thoughts.