November 1, 2022
Can You Really Count on God?
Mary Southerland
Today's Truth
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).
Friend To Friend
We do a lot of laundry at the Southerland house. There always seems to be a load in the washer that needs to go in the dryer, a load in the dryer that needs to be folded and a load of dirty laundry waiting to begin the process all over again.
Our washer and dryer have numerous settings for everything from hand washables and fine delicates to cotton and permanent press. After a few loads that yielded pink male underwear and sweaters shrunk to fit Barbie dolls, we decided to wash everything on one setting. Heaven help anyone who dares to change that setting.
When a life crisis comes, we generally have an automatic setting of fear and anxiety. The good news is that we can change that setting to peace and joy! How? By counting on God.
Count on God to be with you. We battle stress every day, but God is faithful, and we can count on Him to be with us. Worry is trying to fix tomorrow’s problems with today’s resources. God gives grace in daily doses.
"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you" (Isaiah 43:2 NLT).
Count on God for direction. Life can easily spin out of control in a whirlwind of confusion. God offers clear direction and guidance through His word, through His people and through the Holy Spirit.
"I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you" (Psalm 32:8 NLT).
Count on God for provision. God goes before us in every area of life. Nothing that happens to us will ever surprise God. We must be careful to stay away from that age old scenario sickness of “What if.” There are no “what ifs” when we choose to trust God for every need.
"I will provide their needs before they ask, and I will help them while
they are still asking for help" (Isaiah 65:24 NCV).
Count on God for protection. God will fight for us when we are attacked. When we follow God’s agenda, God fights for us. But when we follow our agenda, we are on our own.
"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14 NIV).
I recently saw a bumper sticker that read, “If God is your Co-Pilot, switch seats!” Great advice! When God is in control, we will have peace – not fear.
“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).
In this verse, “sound mind” means strong judgment and personal discipline, abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind, and self-control. We try to work up these qualities but fail. Why? Because we simply cannot produce these capabilities on our own. They come from God alone.
We have good reason to be afraid when we are in control. Fear feeds stress. Stress thrives in an atmosphere of fear and doubt when our hand is on the steering wheel of life. We need to move over, surrender control to God, and find the peace only He can offer.
Let's Pray
Father, my heart is filled with fear. I am drowning in the uncertainties of my life. Lord, help me surrender my fears to You. Strengthen me to face each one, knowing You are with me. I choose to trust You and doubt my fears. I choose against stress and for peace. I choose You, Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
When the tough times come, where do you usually turn first? What are your greatest fears? Make a list and surrender each one to God. Share your list with a close friend.
More from the Girlfriends
We often turn to God as a last resort, as if we have tried everything else and since we have no options left, we might as well give God a shot at it! The next time fear assaults you, turn to God and let His peace fight the battle for you.
And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.
Need prayer? Email our Prayer Team Director, Ginger Meador. We would love to pray for you!
© 2022 by Mary Southerland. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Tuesday, 01 November 2022.
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