Dec 14 2024

Afternoon Bible Verse

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Afternoon Bible study

The word fear has sometimes been used as an acronym for "false evidence appearing real." Although many of our fears exist only in our minds, they can still play out in our lives. Fear can be crippling, and cause us to see a reality that doesn't exist.

Fear is a lie because it keeps us from seeing God's truth. Some of our greatest fears may have taken root in our hearts when we were very young. We might not even understand why they exist. When we confront the fears that are holding us captive, we expose their lies and take away their power. Fear can only have a place in our lives if we allow it to be there.

Fear is irrational. When it takes hold of us, something small can be magnified to the extent that it overwhelms us. We can choose to live in fear or allow God's grace and love to push it out of our lives.

Fear has a significant effect on us. We might be afraid to fail, so we never try. We might fear being rejected by others, so we keep people from getting to know us. Maybe it's the fear of letting others down, so we don't make commitments or promises.

We need to rest in God's peace and trust Him to meet us in the insecurities of our lives. When we listen to His voice, it can become louder than everything else that is happening around us.

Because God is with us, there is nothing in life we should fear—nothing.

Afternoon Prayer

Father, there have been times when I believed the fear in my life more than the truth that is in you. Today, I am wholeheartedly choosing to follow you instead of living in fear. I am turning every fear that I have ever experienced over to you. I refuse to allow the things that scare me to control me. I realize that I can miss out on what you have in store for me if I am held captive by my fears. Please help me to trust in you and take away the fear that is inside me. In Jesus' name, amen.

Dec 13 2024

Yesterday Afternoon's Bible Verse

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. :

Yesterday Afternoon's Bible study

The first time new teenage drivers are given a set of car keys, they feel like they have been handed the world. They can go where they want, when they want, and do whatever they wish to do—as long as they have permission from their parents.

Although these teens have been given a new kind of freedom, it comes with limitations. If they should misuse their freedom, they can suffer consequences or have their freedom taken away. Why? Because their parents love them and know that they could suffer more painful consequences down the road if they don't learn to operate within the boundaries they have been given.

As followers of Jesus, we have been called unto liberty. God paid the price of our freedom with the life of Jesus. His sacrifice on the cross enabled us to break free from a life of sin. This liberty is given to set us free from the effects of sin in our lives. We can live in that freedom, or we can fool ourselves into believing that our liberty gives us permission to sin.

We have been freed from sin, so we can have a relationship with God—not so we can misuse our freedom to keep sinning. Instead, we can live in God's love and goodness so that we can serve others. The depth of our love for God can be seen in how willing we are to meet other people's needs.

Because Christ has set us free, we don't serve each other out of obligation, but as a reflection of the life of service that Jesus lived on Earth. Our life was never meant to be about us and what we want because that isn't the example Jesus set for us. Everything we have been given, including salvation, has been given to us so we can give it away. When God sets us free, we are completely free. Let us choose to remain that way so that we can serve others.

Yesterday Afternoon's Prayer

God, I am so grateful for the freedom you have given to me. It wasn't your plan that I would ever be separated from you by the sin in my life. Help me to understand the liberty that comes from living for you, so that I can serve others. Always let my motivation be to live my life in the same way Jesus lived His—thinking of others first. It's not easy for me to set aside my pride and humble myself. I need you to show me how to live this way because it isn't natural to me. But through you, I can do all things. In Jesus' name, amen.
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