YES to GOD study~CH. 2: Fear Factor

WELCOME to

I really love Tuesday's. This format has been such a blessing for me. God just knew hosting a study in my home would make me less godly than I already am in front of my family and so He has blessed me with being able to still have a study in my home, but on line. Still ungodly most of the time, but at least my children are spared of having to listen to Mom scream to get the house cleaned up for her Bible study pals!

This last year of hosting YES to GOD studies has been such a wonderful experience for me. I cried and praised God this week when I read Carol's post as God gave her such a breakthrough after 30 years...and that was just after reading chapter one!! I can't wait to see how He works in each of our lives over these next 11 weeks.

Okay...let's begin our discussion. If you are joining us for the 1st time, we meet here every Tuesday to discuss a book. Last week we started reading and discussing Micca Campbell's book

This week chapter 2 and so on. Come as you are. Post your own thoughts of the chaper on your blog if you want to. Read what God is showing women and doing in their lives as they share what they learn each week. Get to know your sisters in Christ. All are welcome...bloggers, non-bloggers, just come as you are and join in at anytime. You will not only be a blessing you will be blessed.

CHAPTER 2: The Fear Factor

Anything in blue is a quote from the book.

In spite of my fear, I chose to believe what I couldn't understand.

Micca was referring to the death of her first husband Porter and how she begged God to save Him, but how Porter's death not the continuation of his life on earth was in God's plan instead. Even though life was not going her way, she made the choice at the age of 21 to trust God's purpose.

I loved how she pointed out that the phrase "fear not" is stated in God's Word 366 times! One for every day she said and an extra for the bad days.

Micca teaches us that we are not created to live in fear, but instead we are created to live by faith, and in God, we have all the power we need for a faith that is stronger than all our fears.

Last year on April 3rd my husband Gene had a 6 hour back surgery. This last year has been victorious and hard at the same time. The back pain finally left him, but leg pain and numbness took its place. He has been in 24/7 pain for quite some time now. Very miserable and desperate for some normalcy. Last year he had the 2 lower discs fused together and we thought we had more time before the disc above it had to be taken care of, but that is not the case. Monday, April 6th Gene will undergo a 5 hour surgery to fuse the next disc up. Last night he asked me, "Do you think we're doing the right thing?" This is a man who can only get relief from his pain by taking a prescription drug that is so strong he becomes almost comatose and he is asking me if we are doing the right thing. Fear. What if this surgery has complications? What if I will have to live in pain the rest of my life? What if? What if? What if?...

When family or friends are going through something isn't it so easy to throw verses at them and tell them to rely on God no matter what? But then life throws you a curve ball and all of a sudden no matter how hard you swing the bat, you can't make contact with the ball for anything.

It takes faith to battle fear and put to death our anxieties as we learn to live with assurance in a God we can bank on. Without faith, fear robs us of our peace, our abilities, our hopes, and our dreams.

So how do we do what Peter did and walk on water? How do we stay focused on the One that death couldn't even conquer? It's so much easier to stay in our comfort zone, but what are we missing out on? Sadly, most people stay in the safety of the boat their entire lives and wonder why life seems so empty, miserable, and dull. Those who live with anxiety are living below the mark of what they were created to be.

Relying on our faith allows us to live fearlessly.

Okay Micca, but HOW? How do we not focus on our circumstances that engulf us? When our husband loses his job how do we not allow ourselves to get consumed with worry? When our teenagers act out how do we not live in fear of their next choice? When a loved one dies suddenly how do we not think the worst every time we are unable to contact our loved ones still living?

Here's her response from living it out first....

1.) I've learned that trusting God with one fear doesn't give me automatic faith for the next one.

2.) God wants me to trust Him and allow His power to work through me to accomplish all He's called me to do.

3.) Realizing that with God anything is possible.

I loved when she said It would be easy to give in to my fear and allow Satan to stop me.

I wonder how many times I've halted God's plans for my life because I have given in to believing the lies of the enemy. When we do that, God's plan of action continues to be played out in our lives.

So we need to admit that we need God's grace and know that He wants our trust.

There was so much richness in this chapter that I definitely need to read it again to make sure it sinks into my head. Which is very thick at times.

Micca showed us that when we believe in the things Satan feeds us we have

False

Evidence

Appearing

Real

The Father of lies specializes in false advertisement. He's good at making our fears---based on lies---look real when they are not.

At the end of the chapter we are shown the difference between good fear and bad fear.

Good fear: godly fear~To fear God is to reverence Him; it's to stand in awe of Him.

Bad fear: Fear that steals our peace and rest, lacking in the fear of God.

I know that I lack a healthy fear of God. I'm striving for it, but I need to have more of it. Micca says One of the hardest things to do is to give up control and trust someone other than ourselves.

Watching my husband being pushed into the operating room is so tough. I feel out of control and last year I did not pass any test that God may have been giving me. This time around I just want to trust Him into the arms of my Savior. I want to trust that God is going to guide the hands of the surgeon and his team. And when he comes to, I want to love on him and support him like I'm supposed to.

MC was quick to point out to us that it's not about giving up, it's about gaining the power and presence of God living His life through us.

OH my goodness...don't we all just want that? WHY is it so hard to just trust that God knows what He is doing? I interfere so much and I believe I cause my family and myself to miss out on the blessings God has just for us because I "come to the rescue". Ugggh!

We wouldn't dare admit that we are in over our heads. We want to appear in control. But God never meant for you and me to be strong in and of ourselves. We were meant to show His strength in our weakness as He provides our needs. We were created to live like little children, dependent on the care of our heavenly Father.

If you have something to share on your own blog, please do so in a post and putting your blog address below in Mr. Linky. If you have questions on how to do this you can email me at chealey5@yahoo.com

OH...the winner of Jennifer Rothschild's book, Self Talk, Soul Talk is....JEANIE!!

Congrats Jeanie! You will love this book and the author! E-mail me your address so Jennifer can send her book your way. This was the book we did on our last YES to GOD study and you can find the posts for that on the bottom of my sidebar. It was an incredible time of growth for many. Thank you Jennifer for donating this book to us for the giveaway...may God bless you in a mighty way!

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Next Tuesday I will be blogging from Gene's hospital room an hour away from our kids. Please pray that all goes both at home and in Omaha. Also, that we will choose to believe God instead of buying into the lies of fear from Satan, the Prince of Darkness.

Take a moment to listen to this song about fear by Mandisa called Victorious. It's on her newest CD called Freedom and my girl Alivia and I cannot get enough of it. Be blessed as you listen closely to the words and the truth in them. I thought this song went hand in hand with the chapter.

~Many Blessings~

Next week...Tuesday, April 5th chapter 3: Fashioned for Faith--Not Fear