Sunday, September 7, 2014

Kicking Fear to the Curb (Week 3)




Week 3: Replacing Fear with Faith


Hi Ladies! It’s Missy here. I’m so glad you are here.

Overcoming our fears is no easy task. This week let’s keep moving forward by focusing on replacing our fear with faith.

 There are many Hebrew words for fear. When studying them, I found that I identified with one in particular, more than the others. Arat means to tremble with a sense of terror.  It is often used to reference a fear of man. I’ll speak for myself here, friends, it’s awfully easy to allow that kind of fear to take me to the deepest darkest places where it likes to hide, and pretend that God can’t reach it there.  

 Here’s the thing I’m learning though – God will keep shining the light of His truth into those places. As we continue to learn to trust Him, He will continue to banish our fears circumstanceby circumstance.

 All we need to do is bring them to Him!

 Do you know what fills me with fear? The thought that someone might view some task I’ve accomplished as lacking. That I might be seen as inadequate. This fear often keeps me from trying in the first place. Can you relate?

Throughout this study, God's making it abundantly clear I am to continually bring my fear to His feet. Psalm 55:22 encourages us to: “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” (NIV) Don’t you just love that?  Even when we are tempted to shake in our boots He is mighty to sustain us. This promise goes a long way to banishing my fear!

Each time I bring a fear to His feet, in obedience, He lovingly tells me, "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, NIV). Did you catch that?  He will help us!  We do not have to replace these fears with faith in our own might.  God will help you and me when we are afraid!

And, I find that each time I lay my fears at God’s feet, or write verses on my bathroom mirror or on an index card, my fear is replaced with a greater faith!

 Are you feeling encouraged? I hope so!  Let’s dig deeper into God’s Word and get to work trading our fears for deeper faith in the One who conquers each and every one of them. And He holds our hand while doing it!


Free Tools: (clickable links)

Assignment #1:

According to Webster’s Dictionary, fear means: “to…expect with alarm.” I think this definition encapsulates it so much better: False Evidence Appearing Real, especially since statistics prove that the vast majority of what we fear never becomes reality. False evidence, indeed!  
Today, identify a fear that plagues your heart, then:
  1. Use the free tools provided to do a search to see what verses in the Bible deal with your fear.
  2. At the top of a page in your journal, or on an index card, write the name of your fear.Inadequacy would be mine. Underneath it write out three of the verses you found during your search. (Feel free to write each verse from different Bible translations.)
  3. Then, write a prayer and picture yourself laying this fear at the feet of God.  Use the Bible verses that you found to help you pray God’s Word to Him.  There is such power in praying God’s Word! Here is an example: Lord, You promise me that You will not leave me or forsake me.  Thank You, God! Thank You for holding my hand and sustaining meas I attempt to complete this task for which I feel completely inadequate.  I lay the fear of being inadequate at Your feet, Lord. Please take my efforts and make them shine for Yourglory.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

Assignment #2:

When I keep my eyes focused on Christ, I am able walk in victory above my fears.  When I don’t, like Peter, I begin to sink, doing what He’s asked me to do.
Read Matthew 14:22-33.
  1. In your own words describe what happened in verse 30?  Has this ever happened to you?  How were you able to refocus?
  2. Read 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 8:4, and Matthew 10:30-31.  What do these verses reveal to you about God?
  3. How can you use what you’ve learned today to help you replace your fear with greater faith?

Assignment #3:

When my feelings of inadequacy threaten my confidence I must run to God’s Word. There I am reminded of the truth found in verses such as Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (NKJV)
  1. What keeps you from running to God in faith? Read Luke 17:5 and Mark 9:24.  How can these two verses help you overcome your fear?
  2. At what point do you falter in replacing fear with faith? Practice mentally giving God all of your fears and allowing Him to strengthen and increase your faith.

Blog Hop Topics


  1. On Monday, Missy gave us a great assignment to work through. Take one of the verses from step 2 and verse map it. Share your photo and the what you learned from your verse mapping.
  2. As our study comes to a close, reflect on what you have learned from this study. How will you take what you have learned and apply it?
  3. At times our fear overruns our faith. What Scripture verses did you discover during our time together that can help you make a u-turn and run to God?
Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Kicking Fear to the Curb (Week 2)



Week 2: Victors Over Fear


Hi Beautiful Gap Girls!

Wow, I am so thankful for God’s Word!

In the Bible, God gives us examples not only of what to do, but of what not to do in life. In God’s wisdom, He encourages us to choose the path that leads to success by showing us the good steps, and the missteps others have made before us. We understand from this contrast that when we allow our steps to be guided by His Wordand His Spirit we can live victorious, godly and purpose-filled lives.

We had an interesting week following the path that led the Israelites and King Saul to failure. What a sad journey! Each one lost out with God in a big way when their steps of unbelief, doubt and fear led them to wrong actions and failure.

We’ve learned what steps NOT to take: steps of unbelief, doubt, fear, wrong actions and failure. (I hope you’re taking notes or keeping a journal so you can capture the precepts you’re learning and use them as you make decisions in your every-day life.)

This week, we’ll learn what steps we can take to help us gain victory over fear. We’ll read the accounts of some biblical examples of victors who overcame their fears andsee how God led them to a successful destiny. Our path to success begins when we believe God and move in faith on His promises; it continues as we face our difficulties and fears with courage. It flourishes as we take the right action-steps toward fulfilling our God-given purpose.

Some of my best memories as a teen are of my friend, Mary, and I walking. We didn’t have a particular destination in mind most of the time; we simply enjoyed the journey. As we walked, we talked through our problems, laughed at our flaws, and cooed over the cuteneighborhood boys. On some days our steps were guided by our adventurous nature. We would take a turn and walk down a road we weren’t familiar with, even if it seemed a little scary. On other days we dared not venture too far from home for fear of what or of whom we would encounter.

The path we take makes the difference. Just like the poet making the choice to take the road less traveled, we choose our journey to failure or success by whether wewalk in unbelief and fear, or whether we walk in belief and faith.

Sometimes the path of belief and faith looks scary because few people have traveled it. But when we choose to trust God and not the circumstances, the scary path leads to abundant life in Him.

This week we’re using an awesome method of Bible study called Verse Mapping. It helps me draw truth from the scriptures and I trust it will help you, too.

Click Here for some great instructions on how to verse map.

In our assignments, we’ll first learn about Abraham, who left his home and family to go to a land God prepared for him. Next, we’ll read about Joshua, who followed God’s directions to victory when he led the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Lastly, we’ll uncover David’s courage as he faced the giant, Goliath, in battle.

As you read through the verses from our daily assignments, I encourage you to incorporate verse mapping into your study.

Free Tools: (clickable links)


Assignment #1:

Abraham, known as the Father of our faith, heard the voice of the Lord and struck out not knowing where he was going or why. He simply heard the Lord calling him and he obeyed. In his sermon Abraham Believed God,A.B. Simpson, a Presbyterian pastor and founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance writes:

”Taking [God] at His word, he stepped out from all that he knew and loved and went forth upon an unknown pathway with none but God.”

Read Genesis 12:1-7, Hebrews 11:8 and James 2:23, then consider the following:


  1. Did God tell Abraham where He was leading Him in Genesis 12:1? What action did Abraham take showing he believed God? How do you imagine it feltfor Abraham and Sarah to leave home, not knowing exactly where they would be going?
  2. If you were in their shoes, how would you react if God asked you to leave your home, friends or career to goto an unfamiliar place among unfamiliar people? What quality do you think guided Abraham as he movedaway from his home and his people?
  3. From the passages you read, did Abraham ever find a permanent dwelling in Canaan? Have you sunk deep roots into your current life situation? Do you think you would follow the example of Abraham if God asked you to pull up those roots and follow where He leads?According to Hebrews 11:10 where did Abraham see his resting place, the place he planted his roots, to be?
  4. In James 2:23 what term is used to describe Abraham and God’s relationship? What qualities do you look for in a friend? What qualities do you think God looks for?
  5. In Genesis 12:2-3 what promises did God make to Abraham? According to Hebrews 11:8-12 do you think God kept His promise? What promises has God made to you? Are you fearful in following God’s leading?Has God has asked you to change jobs and your finances say, “No”? Is He leading you to become involved in a community of believers, but you’re fearful of leaving the friends you’ve worshipped with for years? Is He desiring to work in the hearts of your husband or children, but you keep getting in the way because you’re worried you might lose them? What would you do differently if you fully believed God will keep His promises to you?

Assignment #2:

There are times when God may ask us to take on a taskwe feel unequipped to handle. We may be asked to teach a Bible study, or speak to a stranger about Jesus, or take in a child who has no family. God called Joshua to step into the shoes of a man who spoke with God face-to-face, Moses.

Moses saw God bring plagues against the Egyptians and then move the entire nation of Israel across the Red Sea on dry land. Yet later on, because of his unbelief, Moses never entered the Promise Land. He only viewed it from a distance. (See Deuteronomy 32:48-52.)}

Forty years after Moses led the Israelites to the brink of the Promised Land, God asked Joshua to lead them in. Read Joshua chapter 1, then 5:13-6:27.


  1. From Joshua 1:1-9, write out the verses where God tells Joshua to be of “good courage.” What instructions followed those verses?
  2. What did Joshua tell the Israelites in Joshua 1:13 and Joshua 3:5? How does that correlate with what God told Joshua about being of “good courage” in Joshua 1:6-7?
  3. Look at Joshua 6:10. Why do you think God hadJoshua command the Israelites not to say anything until they were told to shout? Do you think our words are important in overcoming fear? What are some words we may say that fuel our fears? What are some words we may use that feed our faith?
  4. How can you use these passages to prepare your heart to conquer your fears?
  5. This week note the times you use fearful, doubtful, or worrisome words in your conversations or thoughts.Then use the Bible study techniques we’ve learned so far to find passages in scripture that refute those thoughts or conversations.

Assignment #3:

In 1 Samuel 17, we find David about to face the giant, Goliath. Goliath was huge! Sometimes our fears seem huge and we quake in their presence. Fears like losing someone we love, failing as a parent, missing God’s calling and facing rejection. Our fears mock us as they hold us hostage to their abuse.

Sometimes our response to fear is like the Israelites’response to Goliath. The soldiers were shaking in their boots as Goliath mocked them and their God. But when David heard Goliath’s bold speech, he fearlessly asked in verse 26, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Read 1 Samuel 17:1-24, 32-37, and 45-51. Let’s discoverthe source of David’s courage.



  1. According to verse 37, who does David credit for delivering him from the lion and bear? What was David assured of if he faced Goliath in battle?
  2. When David faced Goliath on the battlefield, what did he say to the giant? Do you think David’s confidencewas in his ability to defeat the giant?
  3. From these passages we sense David knew his God. What are some truths you know about your God? Make a list of these truths. Where are these truths found in scripture? Explain how you rely on these truths when you’re facing your fears?
  4. Verse map Psalm 139:5, Deuteronomy 3:22, Deuteronomy 33:26, and/or Psalm 33:20. How do these verses help you? Make a list of the giants(fears) you face.
  5. Going through your list and using God’s word and the truths you’ve learned about Him as weapons, what can you say to your giants to remind you God is fighting for you? What passages have you found tohelp build your confidence and give you strength to overcome your giants?

Blog Hop Topics

  1. Looking back at the faith heroes from this week, what tool did Abraham, Joshua or David use that would be beneficial to you?
  2. Joshua was instructed by God several times to "be of good courage." What can you do to become a woman of "good courage?"  
  3. Choose a verse from Assignment 3 to verse map and share a photo of your verse map and what you learned from using that Bible study tool.

Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Kicking Fear to the Curb (Week 1)


Week 1: Overcoming Fear


Hi Sweet Gap Girls! I’m excited to be sharing this study with you! 

My name is Carla Pollard and I’ve been working with Missy Pettigrew to bring you some insights and Bible study assignments to help you identify and work through your fears.

Here is a video from Carla.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fLnDS-apMA&feature=youtu.be#!

Here is a video from Missy.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qAC9VTbgcA

  I (Carla) will be sharing with you on weeks one and two. Missy will share with you on week three. At the end of this study, we’ll be able to take the tools we’ve learned and kick our fears to the curb.

In our struggle with fear, it’s important to understand we’re not alone. We all face this struggle at some point in our lives. Fear shows up in many different forms like fear of rejection, fear of public speaking, fear of death or fear of financial loss. I’ve found the enemy of our soul desires to use fear to bring us into bondage. But the truth is, the things we fear the most we typically never have to face.

President Roosevelt once said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” And he was right. So often it’s not the circumstances we face, but our fear within the circumstances that defeats us. We fall victim to fear when we fail to trust God and face our difficulties with courage. God doesn’t want this to happen. As God’s word reminds us:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9 (NIV).

This week in our daily assignments, we're going to discover Biblical examples of victims of fear. We’ll dig into the scriptures and discover what led these men down the path of fear and how we can avoid it. Just as God had promised Israel that they were able to go possess the Promised Land, we’re able to go in the promises of God and conquer our fears.

We start by remembering we can take God at His word. When unbelief raises its ugly voice in the “What if’s” of life,we can stand firm on God’s word, “Even when” we feel afraid.

You might be thinking, “I have giant fears and I’m not sure I can overcome them.” I am right there with you, sweet friend!

Thankfully, I’ve come to realize that with God’s help, we can indeed overcome our unhealthy fears. Take a moment and with a prayerful heart reflect on this verse:

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and he helps me” (Psalm 28:7, NIV).

God has called us to be victors, not victims! Fear is something that holds us in bondage. God is a God of faith, love and freedom. In Him, we can go, do, see and live in freedom knowing He’s with us. With God’s help, we’re going to kick our fears to the curb.

As you read through the daily assignments, try to identify the pivotal point when each victim steps onto the path of unbelief and fear. That path looks like this:

I don’t believe what God has promised will come to pass. My unbelief sends me further down the path to doubt what He will do. Doubt leads me to fear what will happen to me. Fear guides me to wrong actions in order to deliver myself. My wrong actions end in failure because I have not done what God called me to do.
Free Tools: (clickable links)

Assignment #1

Today, let’s focus on the path the Israelites took when God brought them out of Egypt to the brink of the Promised Land.

God has a way of bringing us to that fork in the road where we have to make a decision whether we’ll trust what He tells us or whether we’ll believe what we see or what others say. When the circumstances appear scary and dangerous the Israelites, like most of us, decided to take what they thought was the easy way out. But it wasn’treally. The path they chose eventually led to that generation’s demise.

Read Numbers chapter 13, then chapter 14 verse 11, and 30-33.

  1. Describe the promise God makes to Moses for Israel in Exodus 3:7-8.
  2. How does God describe the land He promises to the Israelites?
  3. How did the leaders describe that land in Numbers 13:27?
  4. Contrast the account of the leaders in Numbers 13:28, 31-33 with Caleb’s account in verse 30. Do you believe the leaders trusted God’s promise? If not, what did they trust? Do you think they believed God would fight their battles? In what or whom did Caleb trust? Have you ever looked at your circumstances and felt defeated before you stepped onto the battle field? Which report did the people believe?
  5. In Numbers 14:7-9 Joshua zeroes in on the children of Israel’s underlying problem. Describe this problem and Joshua’s advice to them on how to overcome it.How did the Israelites choose doubt and fear over trust and faith? What did it cost them? (Numbers 14:30-33). Is it easier for you to believe the promises of God when others believe it? What quality do you think Caleb and Joshua had that enabled them to stand against the majority?
  6. Why is God angry with the children of Israel and how does He describe their behavior (Number 14: 10-11).

Assignment #2


Today we’re chatting about Israel’s first king, Saul.



He stepped onto the path of fear and doubt when he repeatedly refused to follow God’s instructions and forged ahead with his own plans. Saul was left on slippery ground. His last years were spent in fear as he traveled throughout Israel trying to kill God’s next anointed leader. That path ended in utter failure because he trusted himself more than he trusted God.



Read 1 Samuel chapter 15 & 18:1-16.



  1. What was Saul’s reason for not trusting God enough to follow His instructions in 1 Samuel 15:24? What were the results of Saul’s actions? Have you ever been afraid to do or not do something right because of what others may say or want? Jot down your thoughts about that time. What, if anything, would youdo differently?
  2. In 1 Samuel 18 who was gaining popularity among the people and in Saul’s court? What was Saul’s reaction to David’s success? Describe a time in your life when you succeeded in your personal or professional life and others reacted jealously. How did this make you feel? Have you ever reacted jealously to a friend or family member’s accomplishments? Read and reflect on 1 Peter 5:5-7. 
  3. According to verses 12-15, what emotion was the driving force behind Saul’s anger and jealousy? Do you think Saul believed David could take his throne away?
  4. Based on earlier reading in 1 Samuel 15, who really dethroned Saul? Do you think Saul loved his position more than he loved God?

Assignment #3

For today’s lesson, let’s use a technique of Bible study called word study. If you’ve never done a word study, don’t worry, we’re here to guide you!

First you’ll need your Bible, pens, a simple notebook orjournal, a dictionary, and some sort of concordance. YourBible may have a short concordance in the back. A concordance lists words in alphabetical order and shows you where that word is found in the scriptures. I useStrong’s Exhaustive Concordance. It is a monster book but it lists every word in the Bible and every verse where that word is used. (Someone once said Strong’s called it Exhaustive because he was exhausted when he finished writing it.) 

Here are your key words for this assignment:

Fear
Faith
Success
Doubt
Courage
Trust
Believe/belief
Unbelief
  • Look up the key word in a concordance and write down the references (book, chapter, verse).
  • Look up the verses. You may want to use an online tool for this and I reccomend www.biblegateway. It's a great resource.
  • Jot down those verses that speak to you in your notebook or journal.
After you’ve researched the key words, answer the following:
  1. Look for the ways these terms tie together. What connections have you found so far?
  2. Did you discover clarification from these verses for your life? Does this change the way you look at your own fears?
  3. Did you feel God speaking to you about your fear through these verses? What is at least one scripture you found to help you overcome fear?
  4. What is one thing you’re going to do differently this week as a result of the Scriptures you’ve reviewed?

Blog Hop Topics

  1. What fear are you facing? What control does it have on you? Does it affect your relationship with others and God? If so, how?
  2. In Assignment #3 this week, Carla introduced us to word study. What word spoke to you the most? Why? How will the verses you read for that word help you kick your fear?
  3. Have you tried to conquer this fear before and how does it affect your relationship with God? Has God spoken to you about your fear?
Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Kicking Fear to the Curb {Week 3}

Week 3 - Replacing Fear with Faith 

Hello ladies! Erin here with you this week. Can you believe it's already week 3 of Kicking Fear to the Curb! We have some powerful truths planned this week to help you replace the fear in your life.

As we've talked about previously, fear of things in this world come easy. Fear of what could happen to my family, fear of burglars and fear of failing are just a few of my fears. 
In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul tells Timothy:
  
"God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.”

What a powerful verse! If we have a spirit of fear and timidity, we need to rid our lives of them and replace fear and timidity with power, love and self-discipline. And to do this we need to dig deeper into what fearing The Lord means.

Proverbs 9:10 says:

"The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

What is fear of The Lord? Does it come easy? For most of us it is probably easier to fear the things of this world than to fear The Lord. But why is that? Is it because in our daily lives, we feel like fear is a negative word? Fear of The Lord is the only healthy fear we can have, but yet so few have a good grasp on what that actually means.

Fear in the negative sense brings timidity.  Fear of the Lord brings wisdom and understanding.
These verses are going to be our plan for replacing the fear in our life this week. We need to take our eyes off the things of this world that we fear and focus on the One True God.

By the end of this week, you will have the tools to rid your life of fear, replace it with faith in The Lord and keep it away!

Free Tools: (clickable links)


Assignments 

Assignment 1

1.What is one fear in your life that you can go to God with this week? Got it? Great! Now do a topical search using our free Bible tools to help you find out if the Bible has anything specific to say about that fear.

2.Did you find any specific promises that God gives to help overcome that fear?

3.In 2 Timothy 1:7 we see power, love and self-discipline as replacements for worldly fear.   Read 1 Acts 1:8, 1 John 4:18, 2 Peter 1:2-7.  How are power, love and self-control connected?

4.What is the opposite of fear?

Assignment 2

 1. What do you think fearing The Lord means?

 2. Do you believe that you truly have fear of The Lord?

  3.  God has many names that can give better understanding of who He is, which will help you in conquering your fears.  The Blue Letter Bible's lists of the "Names of God in the Old Testament" and "Our God is...We are..." are fabulous resources!   Find at least one that speaks to you specifically in regards to the fear you are tackling this week. 

 4.  Does knowing more about the Lord and His attributes help you to have faith in His promises? Why or why not?

 Assignment 3

 1. Look at Isaiah 43:1-21.  What does it say about believing God?  Now that you know more about the Lord and how He is aware of your fears, do you believe Him? 

 2. Read Mark 5:36.  How is believing God linked to not fearing things of the world?

 3.  Verse map Phillipians 4:6-7 and/or 1 Peter 5:7.  What actions do you need to take to be successful in living in continuous victory over your fear?

Blog Hop

Watch for the Blog Hop post on Thursday and share your blog with us if you have one.  Suggested topics for this week's Blog Hop are:
1    Share the promises God gave you through His Word to overcome your fear.  Will these verses help you kick fear to the curb once and for all?

What name(s) of God did you find that will help you conquer your fear? How will this help you have faith in God’s promises?

What did you discover about how you view the fear of the Lord? How will this help you kick fear to the curb?

What did your verse map of Philippians 4:6-7 or 1 Peter 5:7 look like? What will help you overcome your fear? 
Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Kicking Fear to the Curb {Week 2}

Week 2 – Victors over Fear

Hello fearless Gap Bible Study ladies!!! Sue here! I am so thankful to have the opportunity to study God’s Word with you this week! Last week, we looked at some victims of fear. This week, we are going to look at some victors! I love a good victory story, don’t you?!

Our faith overcomes our fear and gives us the courage to take risks for Jesus. When we face our
difficulties with courage, God leads us to our destiny. This week, we are going to be looking at three
 different victors over fear. Monday, we will look at David. Wednesday, we will look at Joshua.
 And, Friday, we will finish with the Author and Finisher of our faith, Jesus! It's going to be great seeing how they were victorious over fear and how we can apply the truths that help them to our own
lives!

We will also look at how our victors utilized the train of thought: belief-faith-courage-action-success that
 helped them be victorious.

Use the following links to help you dig into God’s Word this week:

(Monday) Assignment 1: David 

In 1 Samuel 17, we find David about to face the giant, Goliath. Goliath was huge! He was nine and a
half feet tall, and you can bet he worked out! When David heard about this giant, who threatened the
Israelite army, he asked, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the
living God?" David showed no fear. He knew God was on his side. He had seen how God had helped in
the past and knew He would help him in this situation (1 Sam 17:35-36). He faced the giant and spoke to
the giant, "The battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hands."

We, too, have giants we need to face. They may not be physically nine feet tall, but they can seem just
as insurmountable. Like David, we need to know some things before we are ready to face our giants.

What did David know? What was it that made Him so ready and EAGER even to face this giant with
certainty that he would come out victorious?

1. David knew His God. He spent many hours in the presence of the Lord. Before David was a giant
slayer, he was a harp player. He spent many hours singing and praising the Lord in the middle of the
meadow. David had a strong relationship with the Lord, which fed his confidence.

2. David knew His God was with Him and would help him. He drew confidence from past
victories. "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of
them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." (1 Samuel 17:36).

3. David knew who he was. He knew God was on his side and that he was in the army of the Living God.
We have God on our side and in comparison, all giants (fears) are small! We are victorious through Christ!

Read 1 Samuel 17. David knew his God.
1. What are some truths you know about Your God? Where are these truths found in scripture?

2. Use verse mapping and verse map Psalm 139:5, Deuteronomy 3:22, Deuteronomy 33:26, and/or Psalm 33:20. How do those verses help you?

3. Do a search on the word “help”. How does our God “help” us?

4. What is your giant (fear)? Using God’s Word as a weapon, what can you say to your giant to remind yourself of Whom is fighting for you, build up confidence and defeat the giant?

(Wednesday) Assignment 2: Joshua

Last week, we looked in the book of Numbers and saw how the Israelites feared the Canaanites instead of rightfully trusting and fearing God. Today, we will fastforward 40 years and look at Joshua.

In Joshua 1, God tells Joshua 3 times in the first 9 verses to be of “good courage”. Each of the three verses coincides with a reminder from the Lord of what is needed to help his people “be of good courage” to face their fears. What the Israelites did to prepare their hearts for belief is an example we can follow to prepare our own hearts to believe God and conquer fear.

1. In reading Joshua 1, what were the 3 verses where God told Joshua to “be of good courage”? What
instructions followed in those verses?

2. What did Joshua tell the Israelites in Joshua 1:13 and Joshua 3:5? How does this correlate with what God told Joshua about being of “good courage” in Joshua1:6 and Joshua 1:7?

3. Read Joshua 3 and 4, how many times do you see the Ark of the Covenant mentioned? How does that correspond with Joshua 1:9?

4. Now look at Joshua 6:10, why do you think God commanded Joshua that the Israelites should not say anything until they were told to “shout”? Do you think our words our important in overcoming fear? How do these truths apply to you?

5. How can you use these same truths to prepare your heart for belief and conquer your fears?

(Friday) Assignment 3: Jesus

The last Hero of the Bible we are going to look at this week is the King of Heroes—Jesus! We are going
to look at Jesus in the Garden and discover whether Jesus was afraid.  What do you think?  Do you think the King of Kings ever struggled with fear? 

In Matthew 26: 36-46, we find Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He said to Peter, James, and John,
“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” (Matt 26:38).

My Bible, Spirit-Filled Life Bible (New King James Verson), commentary states that the agony Jesus experienced was not caused by the fear of physical death, but by the association of His death with sin. “For He made Him who knew no sin to become sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.” (2 Cor 5:21) This is huge! Sin and God cannot be together, so this meant Jesus would be temporarily apart from the Father!  That is why on the cross, He said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt 27: 46).  Jesus trembled at the thought of being separated from the Father, and His Holy nature agonized over becoming sin, the one thing He hated.

Jesus, the One who constantly stood confident in the face of fear, is the same as God who commands
over and over again in His Word, "Do not be afraid."  He agonized over His plight and temporary suffering,
but He was not afraid. He may have been tempted to fear and He left a good example of what we
should do when tempted to fear. Jesus followed the train of thought: belief-faith-courage-action-
success. Of course He did, after all, He is Jesus. And we want to be like Jesus!

1. Read the example of Jesus in Matthew 26. Do you agree that Jesus was not afraid? Why or why not?

2. Do you think Jesus was naturally full of faith? Read Matt 4 and Matt 26, what did Jesus do in the face
of difficult circumstances and adversity?

3. Read James 5:15,16; Psalm 102:17; Matthew 21:22. How does prayer build our faith?

4. How did all three examples this week use the faith train of thought: belief-faith-
courage-action-success? How can we follow their example?

Blog Hop Topics:

Watch for the Blog Hop post on Saturday and add your links there!

1. Looking back at the faith heroes this week, what tool did Joshua, David, or Jesus use that would
 be most beneficial to you?

2. Think about God telling Joshua to “be of good courage.” Are you a woman of “good courage?”
 Why? If not, what could you do or what is holding you back?

3. Take some time and explore your doubt train. How has this train ride (wreck?) worked out for
 you?


Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Kicking Fear to the Curb {Week 1}




Week 1 - Victims of Fear

Welcome to Week 1 of Fear study! This is Erin Peters and Sue Molitor, and we have teamed up to write
this study for you. We are so glad you have joined us on this journey of digging deeper into what the Bible has to teach us about fear. This week we are going to look at being a victim of fear and bring
out some Biblical examples of those who were fearful/doubtful.

Fear is the opposite of faith and since God says that without faith it is impossible to please God, we can see how important gaining victory over fear is to God. There are over 300 times in scripture that the command "do not be afraid" appears. I think He's trying to tell us something!

We have a choice to make. We can choose one of two trains of thoughts. The one we choose will
determine our destination. One destination ends in success, the other ends in failure. Hmmm…which
train do you want to choose? Together, let’s choose the one of faith and ride it all the way to freedom
and our destiny in Christ!

The train of thought of faith: belief-faith-courage-action-success.

The train of thought of fear: Unbelief-doubt-fear-inaction-failure.

First, we wanted to share a little about why we wanted to write this study. We have both been
victims of fear in the past, and so we can relate to whatever struggle you have; we knew God would
speak not only through us, but to us as we wrote this study.  We pray that God will speak to you as you go through it.


If you can't see Erin's video above, click here to view it on YouTube



If you cannot view this Sue's video, click here to view it on You Tube

Now that you know a little about us and why we we're eager to do this study with you, get ready to dig
in and conquer fear and kick that bully to the curb!

Assignment 1

Fear. Just that single word can send a list of things running through your head. I don't know what your list
looks like, but I have one in my head, too. Most of my fears boil down to control. I want to control the
situation and I doubt God can really handle the situation. In the light of day, it seems ridiculous, but in
those moments of fear-soaked panic, I hold on pretty tight to being in charge.

Fear is a tool that Satan uses to try and control our lives. And control it he does. How many times have
you thought you heard a noise at night, but did not want to get out of your bed just in case a burglar
might be in your house so you hide under your covers in fear? Okay, maybe that's just me, but the point
is that fear can be something that cripples us. We can become so blind to our fears, that we cannot see
the work of God in our lives or what He wants to do. Just think of how many people suffer from the fear
of public speaking who could be sharing the work of God with others in their lives. Or how many people suffer from
the fear of rejection, so they avoid inviting their neighbor to church because they can't handle being told
no.

Free Tools: (clickable links)

Use the free tools to dig deeper into these key words:
- fear
- faith
- wisdom
- doubt
- courage
 - trust

What connections did you find between these words? Did you discover clarification on these things in your own life? Does this change the way you look at your own fears? Did you feel God speaking to you through these verses in regards to your own fears?

Assignment 2

Use verse mapping to see how God speaks to you in these verses: Proverbs 3:5-6, Philippians 4:13,
2 Timothy 1:7, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10, Deuteronomy 31:6, and then share what God showed you in one
of the verses and/or post a picture of your verse mapping!

Assignment 3

Fear is something that goes as far back as the Garden of Eden. In Genesis Chapter 3, we see the first
recorded instance of fear. The first person to experience fear was Eve. What exactly did she fear? In Genesis Chapter 3, we read about Eve being tempted and falling. God told her not to eat of that tree. Instead of trusting God, she chose to believe the lie of the enemy and feared that God was keeping something from her. The second instance of fear was when Adam took the fruit and ate.Maybe he feared losing his wife, so he followed her in sin. Then, in Genesis 3:7, we see the third instance of fear recorded. Because Adam and Eve had sinned, they hid in fear from God. Fear begets sin and sin begets fear.

Pardon my pun, but the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, because just a chapter later in Genesis 4, we
see the story of Cain and Abel. Read Genesis 4. God rejected Cain’s offering and in anger, Cain sinned
and killed his brother.

Was Cain’s sin rooted in fear? What was his motivation for not offering his best to begin with? Did he fear he would be losing his best crops and provision instead of trusting God to provide? Did he then fear further rejection from God? Fear of rejection causes us to take our eyes off of trusting God and loving others and puts them onto ourselves. Fear begets sin.

Now that we have looked at the first family in the Bible and their struggles with fear, let’s jump ahead to
another group of people who oozed with fear--the Israelites. I am fascinated with this group of people
because they saw miracles and signs and wonders that make our mouths hang open. Yet they lived in
fear and doubted God consistently.  Let’s look more closely at the Israelites and see how their lack of faith and unbelief kept them in the wilderness for 40 years and, ultimately, led to their death.

Read Numbers 13 and 14. How did the Israelites choose doubt and fear over trust and faith? What did
it cost them? (Numbers 14: 30-33).

How did Adam and Eve, Cain, and the Israelites use the fear train of thought?
Unbelief-doubt-fear-inaction-failure

What does fear cost us when we choose fear over faith in God and His Word? What is one scripture you found this week that will help you overcome fear?

However tempted I may be to judge our Old Testament friends, I am reminded that we, too, are guilty of the same. God has done so much for me and yet there are times when I find myself in fear instead of trusting God. Sweet friends, we can conquer fear and trust our God. He is good. He is faithful. We can trust in His provision. We can trust in His love and care.

Blog Hop Topics:

 Watch for the Blog Hop post on Saturday and add your links there!
1. What fear(s) are you kicking to the curb? What scares you about doing this?

2. What fear do you have? What control does it hold on you? How does it affect your relationship
with God and others?

3. What did you learn from your verse mapping this week?
 


Posted by at No comments:
Labels:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)