Overcoming Fear – Part 2

My word of the year is dwell (or abide).

I was just thinking a couple of weeks ago about where I dwell, or more importantly, in Whom I dwell.

My dwelling place is a Rock, a solid Rock.

Not just a small rock that can be picked up and skipped across the lake.

My dwelling place, my Rock, is humongous and immovable.

My Rock is a place of safety and peace.

100_2560

My true Dwelling Place is not my country or my house.

It is not even my husband, family, or friends, though I love them dearly.

My trust is not in people or their causes.

It is not in a church or any kind of agency.

None of these:

  • People,
  • Places,
  • Causes, or
  • Agencies,

none of them provide the peace and stability that my soul needs to dwell securely.

  • People die or fail us,
  • Places are subject to the forces of nature,
  • Causes morph or fail, even good ones, and
  • Agencies are only as good as the fallible mortals at their helms.

But my trust is in the LORD.

“I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!'” 

“For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence.  He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge (“flee for protection” – Strong’s Concordance); His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. 

You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand,  but it shall not approach you.  You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.

For you have made the LORD, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.”  Psalm 91:2-9  NASB

It’s not that I am totally oblivious to what is happening in the world around me.  I just know that I can bring every concern to God in prayer and trust Him to do great things, even miraculous things, to answer my prayers.  I don’t have to dwell in the problems and in the fear and anxiety that they cause.

I am dwelling in Him who is the problem solver.

And even if He doesn’t solve the problems the way I want Him to, I am still safe dwelling in His warm embrace, in His love, trusting confidently in His

  • ability,
  • power,
  • authority, and
  • plan.

He’s got it all under control.

He has the checkmate move against the enemy.  Why are we so surprised?!

Do you want to join me in my effort to overcome fear?

Join me in my Dwelling Place.

He has room for everyone who will come humbly to Him for safety.

100_0758

Linking up at:

Sitting Among Friends

Coffee for your Heart

Writer Wednesday

Faith Filled Friday,  Faith ‘n Friends

Fresh Market Friday,  Spiritual Sundays

Tune In Thursday

Heart Encouragement Thursday

Tell His Story

Testimony Tuesday,  Ra Ra Linkup

Monday’s Musings

Moments of Hope,  Glimpses

Soul Survival

24 thoughts on “Overcoming Fear – Part 2”

  1. He’s got it all under control! I’ve also found it is really important for me to actually name what I’m afraid of. So I can let God tame it. I’m currently serving on a church plant team and Fortress is the name we’ve decided on! Such strength and comfort in that idea! Blessings!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Liz!
      That’s a great name! I looked up the word in Psalm 91:4 translated “seek refuge” in the NIV and “trust” in KJV. It means “flee for protection”. Definitely a picture of how strong God is and how open He is to receive us into His protective care.

      I like that idea of naming your fears. I think it helps us be more specific in our prayers for God’s help and helps us recognize His answers more specifically as well. 🙂
      Blessings!

      Like

    1. Amen, Trudy. This reminds me of a few lines from an old hymn by Robert Robinson (1735-90), Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing:
      “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;
      Prone to leave the God I love.
      Here’s my heart, oh, take and seal it,
      Seal it for Thy courts above.”
      Praise God for His grace, that even when we have not honored Him as our first and utmost Source of the help, He is ready and willing to forgive us when we ask Him to. I think that is a part of His being our Place of Safety, that He receives His beloved child in spite of, and not because of.
      Love and hugs to you as well! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Ruth,

    I love the image of the castle fortress and the reminder that we dwell IN Him. I wrote about that in my journal this morning as I was studying Psalm 139. In verses 7-9 the Psalmist asks where can we go that God is not? And in reality, when we abide and dwell IN HIM, wherever we are…He IS. So grateful for that image!
    Blessings,
    Dawn

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Yes, Dawn, He gives us so many wonderful images to help us have just a little bit of an understanding of who He is, a great and wonderful God that we will never, ever fully understand. He is amazing, and we are so blessed by Him to be able to come to know Him through Christ Jesus. What a privilege to know Him and dwell in Him, so close to His heart all the time! He is wonderful! May the Lord forgive us for letting our focus drift elsewhere, when He is all we need.
    Thanks for sharing what God is teaching you. As always, I’ve enjoyed your visit!

    Like

  5. One of the lessons He has reminded me of is working less and abiding more. I enjoyed your post because it reminded me of how we abide- in Him, our Rock, our Fortress and Strong Tower. Thanks for reminding us how fallible “man” is and that only God is worthy of our hope❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Gretchen. I used to have so much trouble figuring out what in the world Jesus meant when He told us to abide in Him. But eventually, I found the parallel passages about God being my dwelling place. When I was able to put the two together, the light went on. I’m so glad He welcomes us and even encourages us to dwell in Him, He being the Holy God and we being sinners, saved by grace alone.

      Like

    1. Thank you for your visit, Linda! Yes, He is Sovereign, and He is in control. You can be sure that the enemy of our souls would like to make us forget that, but we have the obligation and the privilege to meditate on God’s words and let them soak into our souls like a summer rain into the thirsty earth.
      I pray that these words will bring you great joy as you continue to walk with our beloved Lord.
      Isaiah 55:10-12

      Like

    1. I love these passages! There is such Peace dwelling in Him!
      “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
      That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
      To behold the beauty of the Lord…”
      “One thing” says it’s extremely important. “Seek” says it’s worth the effort. To what? Dwell with the Lord. For how long? Every day. What will I see? His beauty.
      Wow! So much packed in this verse!
      Thanks for the linkup, Debbie!

      Like

  9. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. I John 4:18- visiting from Counting my Blessings link up

    Like

  11. My anchor verse for my life is Eph 4:6… God is over all, through all, and in all. Since that is true, we can see Him in everything if we will only look for Him. Thanks for sharing your story of seeing Him!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. When the stakes are high, we must think high. You are so right that He is the Rock of our salvation. He is unmovable, His words never change, His promises are true, and just, and His love never fails.

    Thank you for this reminder of the Rock of My Salvation.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Such an encouraging message of hope, strength and faith! God is indeed our dwelling place – at all times! Your post spoke deeply to my spirit! Yes, I will join you in dwelling with the LORD! Thank you for sharing!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Patricia! I’m so glad you dropped by and that the Lord used this word to speak to your heart! Welcome, sister!
      The Lord keeps speaking to me this morning as I try to dwell in Him, “Bless the Lord, O my soul,
      And forget none of His benefits;” Psalm 103:2
      May the Lord give you grace and peace as you dwell in Him, remembering to thank Him for all the wonderful things He has done for you.

      Like

Welcome to the conversation! I'd love to hear what you have to say about this!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.