Worry, Fear, Anxiety

Worry. Fear. Anxiety.

These are all emotions that are normal.  I have felt them all.  If I am completely honest, I still battle these emotions.

But Jesus has clearly said in His Word in several places...
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God."  John 14:1
"Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
"I tell you do not worry about your life..." Matthew 6:25
"Do not be anxious about anything..."Philippians 4:6

Don't worry. Don't Fear. Don't be anxious.
Jesus COMMANDS us to NOT fear, worry or be anxious.

"If you love me you will obey my commands." John 14:15.
It is a command from Jesus, and I want to obey this command.
But it is oh so hard.  I can do well, for a while. But then something happens and those feelings creep in and I find myself at battle. I find myself trying to find a way to win and obey and NOT worry, fear, be anxious.  I have a daughter who is struggling with this issue right now.  It is hard.  You can be successful for awhile and then all of a sudden it is back and so hard.

One of the principles in John 14
The only true remedy for fear and anxiety is to turn your eyes upon Jesus.

The disciples were filled with fear.  Jesus had just told them he was about to return to His Father.

Jesus' command was "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God."  John 14:1
Jesus' command shows WORRY IS A CHOICE.
Jesus told them to:
*choose to stop being troubled
*choose to replace worry with trust in God
*choose to continue to trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord

The notes continue to say:
Do anxious thoughts fill your mind?
A strong will, positive thoughts, peaceful music, or perfect circumstances can NEVER give you complete peace.
Only the choice to trust God produces peace.

When I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not fear.What can man do to me? 
Psalms 56:3-4

Trust in Jesus.  He is the Human One who personally knows your temptations and fears.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who is tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin." Heb 4:15

He is the Divine One who has all power to make His promises to you true.  Fully God and fully Human, Jesus never turns away the weary and burdened who come to Him for rest.

So I know worry, fear, anxiety are all choices.  I know I am commanded to not worry, fear, feel anxious.  I am to trust in Jesus. I is still sometimes a struggle.  But I am trying, I am learning, I am praying that the Lord will teach me how to fully put my trust in Jesus so worry, fear and anxiety will not have a hold on me.

Here are some of my favorite verses I have found that help me when I struggle:

1. Genesis 15:1 – After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.’
2. Genesis 26:24 – That night the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.’
3. Genesis 50:21 – ‘So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. 
4. Exodus 14:13 – Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.’
5. Exodus 20:20 – Moses said to the people ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’
6. Deuteronomy 1:17 – Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraidof anyone, for judgment belongs to God.
7. Deuteronomy 3:22 – Do not be afraid of them; the Lord you God himself will fight for you.
8. Deuteronomy 7:18 – But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.
9. Deuteronomy 20:3 – He shall say: ‘Hear, Israel: today you are going into battle against your enemies.Do not be faint-hearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them.’
10. Deuteronomy 31:6 – ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.’
11. Deuteronomy 31:8 – ‘The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.’
12. Joshua 1:9 – ‘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.’
13. Joshua 10:25 – Joshua said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.’
14. ii Kings 6:16 –  ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’
15. I Chronicles 22:13 – Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave to Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. 
16. I chronicles 28:20 – David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the tempe of the Lord is finished.’
17. II Chronicles 20:15 – He said: ‘Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s”’
18. II Chronicles 20:17 – “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. God out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.”
19. II Chronicles 32:7 – ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.’
20. Nehemiah 4:14 – After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.’
21. Job 5:21 – You will be protected from the last of the tongue, and need not fear when destruction comes.
22. Job 11:15 – then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear.
23. Job 21:9 – Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them.
24. Psalm 3:6 – I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.
25. Psalm 4:8 – In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
26.  Psalm 16:7-9 I will praise the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.
27. Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.
28.  Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? 
29. Psalm 27:3 – Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
30. Psalm 29:11 – The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. 
31. Psalm 46:2 – Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.
32. Psalm 49:16 – Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendour of their houses increases;
33.  Psalm 56: 3-4 – When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise – in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 
34. Psalm 56:11 – in God I trust and not afraid. What can man do to me? 
35. Psalm 78:53 – He guided them safely, so they were unafraid; but the sea engulfed their enemies.
36. Psalm 91:5 – You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
37. Psalm 94:19 – When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.
38. Psalm 118:6 – The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
39. Psalm 119:165 – Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them strumble. 
40. Proverbs 3:24 – When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
41. Proverbs 3:25 – Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked
42. Ecclesiastes 11:10 – So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigour are meaningless. 
43. Isaiah 12:2 – Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.’
44. Isaiah 26:3 – You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. 
45. Isaiah 35:4 – say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.’
46. Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 
47. Isaiah 41:13 – For I am the Lord you God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’ 
48. Isaiah 41:14 – ‘Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you’ declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
49. Isaiah 43:1 – But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’
50. Isaiah 43:5 – Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
51. Isaiah 44:2 – This is what the Lord says – he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
52. Isaiah 44:8 – Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.’
53. Isaiah 51:7 – ‘Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have taken my instruction to heart:do not fear the reproach of mere mortals or be terrified by their insults’
54. Isaiah 54:4 – ‘Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.’
55. Isaiah 54:14 – In righteousness you will be established: tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you.
56. Jeremiah 1:8 – ‘Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord
57. Jeremiah 10:5 – Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do you no harm nor can they do any good.’
58. Jeremiah 17:8 – They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’
59. Jeremiah 46:27 – ‘Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.’
60. Jeremiah 46:28 – Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you; declares the Lord. ‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’
61. Jeremiah 51:46 – Do not lose heart or be afraid when rumours are heard in the land; one rumour comes this year, another the next, rumours of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler. 
62. Lamentations 3:57 – You came near when I called you and you said. ‘Do not fear.’
63. Ezekiel 3:9 – I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.
64. Daniel 10:12 – Then he continued, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.’
65. Daniel 10:19 – ‘Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,’ he said. ‘Peace! Be strong now; be strong;’ When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, ‘Speak , my lord, since you have given me strength.’
66. Joel 2:21-22 – Do not be afraid, land of Judah; be glad and rejoice. Surely the Lord has done great things!Do not be afraid, you wild animals, for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig-tree and the vine yield their riches.
67. Haggai 2:5 – “This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.”
68. Zechariah 8:13 – ‘Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.’
69. Matthew 6:25-34 – Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes: Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grown. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith? So do not worry, saying “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness , and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 
70. Matthew 10:19 – But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say.
71. Matthew 10:26 – ‘So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.’
72. Matthew 10:28 – Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 
73. Matthew 10:31 – So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
74. Matthew 14:27 – But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’
75. Matthew 17:7 – But Jesus came and touched them. ‘Get up,’ he said. ‘Don’t be afraid.’
76. Matthew 28:10 – Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to to go Galilee; there they will see me.’
77. Mark 5:36 – Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’
78. Mark 6:50 – because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’
79. Mark 13:11 – Whenever you are arrested and brought to trail, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 
80.  Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.’
81. Luke 12:4 – ‘I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.’
82. Luke 12:7 – Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
83. Luke 12:11 – When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,
84. Luke 12:32 – ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for your  Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.’
85. John 6:20 – But he said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’
86. ohn 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
87. John 16:33 – ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’
88. Acts 18:9 – One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.’
89. Acts 20:10 – Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms round him. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ he said, ‘He’s alive!’
90. Acts 27:24 – and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.”
91. Romans 5:1 – Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
92. Hebrews 13:6 – So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’
93. Philipppians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
94. I Peter 3:6 – like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
95. I Peter 3:14 – But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’
96.  1 Peter 5:7 – Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
97. 1 John 4:18 – There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 
98. Revelation 1:17 – When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.’
99. Revelation 2:10 – Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. 

John 13

In the study of Revelation, I learned many things.  I learned my salvation is secure.  I learned what the full wrath of God poured out as judgement on sin looked like, it was terrifying.  I learned because I am marked by the blood of Christ, God has no more wrath to pour out on my sin because He poured it all out on Jesus at the cross.  I gained a greater understanding of the depth of Christ's love for me.  I learned God does reveal his knowledge and understanding to His people.

So as I began the study of John this year, I committed myself to really spend time in doing my homiletics.  I must admit, in the many years I have been in BSF leadership and been required to do homiletics, very rarely have I looked forward to it.  But this year it has been different.  My attitude has been different.  And while how I approach it each week may differ, the result has been the same, God has revealed Himself to me and I have gained a greater understanding of who He is.  It has been such a blessing.

I never really know at what part of my study God will reveal something new, something deep, something personal about Himself through His Word.  Sometimes it is in homiletics, or as I do my questions, or as I listen to the chapter on my ipad (Thank you Connie Washburn or Vicki Harris who shared that habit), or in leader's meeting on Monday morning, or on class day or in my car as I am thinking about the chapter for the week.  But one thing is for certain, when I spend time marinating on His Word, He shows up and He reveals Himself.  It is wonderful and I look forward in anticipation  each week to see what He will reveal next.

Last week, we had a deep discussion in my group on #11 - Explain John 12:40-41 in your own words.  I had written down:  Because they would not believe, God made it so they could not believe.
The responses given by the group prompted the question about man's free will vs God's Sovereignty and the hardening of the heart by God. One girl talked specifically about a brother in law she and her husband pray for but really are not sure of the condition of his heart.  It was a good discussion. One I thought about several times over the week and as I did lesson 17.

This week God gave me a greater understanding of hardening of the heart through my study in John 13. Judas.  I thought about Judas all week.  He was one of the 12 chosen.  He was in the inner circle.  He spent a lot of time with Jesus, like a lot! He witnessed countless miracles.  I thought of the last words in the book of John, "Jesus did many other things as well.  If everyone of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written."  How many miracles did Judas witness? He spent time with 11 other men who truly believed the Light among them was the Son of God, the promised Messiah! These 11 were his friends.  His close friends.  His relationship with Jesus was close, intimate, personal.  He saw Jesus up close, personal and in a way only 11 other people on the face of the earth did. And yet......Judas did not believe.

How in the world did he not believe?  Some many people claim if they saw Jesus for themselves, if they saw the miracles Jesus did, if they lived during the time Jesus walked on earth, they would have believed.  If, if, if.  But Judas did. Surely he believed.  Even the demons believe and shudder.  After all that time, all those miracles, all the evidence surely he knew Jesus was the Son of God. He doesn't fall into the category of those who didn't know, unaware, never taught, never exposed, never had the chance.  Judas had zero excuse, Judas had so much Light, more Light than almost everyone else on the face of the earth.  Judas knew, there is no way Judas did not believe.  Judas believed but chose to reject Jesus.

It seems unfathomable. How could someone who had such a close, personal, intimate relationship with Jesus reject Him?  If we were in his shoes, we would be different, right?


Judas is an example of the downward spiral of sin written about in Romans 2.

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be know about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorifies him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  They became fools...Therefore God gave them over to the sinful desire of their hearts...They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, ...Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.  They have become filled with every kind of evil, wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity.  They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice... they are gossips, slanders, God haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless...  Although they know God's decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 2:18-32

The first question for John 13 was:  Describe Jesus' love for His own. What impresses you about the way He displayed His love to the disciples? Then it followed up with Why is Jesus' action so surprising? What do you learn about humility and serving? And culminates with looking at how the Scripture fulfills Psalms 41:9 " Even my close friend, whom I  trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his hell against me." and how the fulfillment gives us confidence to trust Jesus, especially when we experience painful circumstances?

Jesus knew Judas' heart when he chose him to be one of His 12 disciples. He knew Judas would never accept Him as his Lord and Savior.  He knew Judas would be the one to fulfill scripture and betray Him.  Yet, Jesus LOVED Judas to the very end.  Judas was a close friend.  He only showed Judas love, ever!  And the night before His betrayal, Jesus washed Judas' feet and handed him the bread that is given to the guest of honor.  To the end Jesus only showed love.  Judas could never say Jesus didn't love him.  Jesus never did anything that would have pushed Judas to reject Jesus, in fact it was the opposite.  Everything Jesus did showed His great love for Judas, to the very end. Which is our example of how we are to love the Judas' in our own life.  Never giving them a reason to reject Jesus because of our actions towards them.  How am I loving the Judas' God has placed in my life?

The hardening of Judas' heart did not happen overnight, it was not sudden.  It was a slow process, that occurred over time. Each time Judas refused to submit to Jesus' authority over his life, each time a sin was revealed and he refused to confess it and repent, a little piece of his heart hardened.  Over time, piece by piece, his heart became totally hardened.  When Jesus, who was troubled in spirit, said "one of you will betray me" I think Jesus was extending once last chance for grace and mercy to Judas.  Yet Judas refused the offer and Satan entered into him.  That was the last piece, Judas' heart was fully hardened, there would be no more opportunities for grace because there was no part of his heart that was soft.   Therefore God gave Judas over to the sinful desire of his heart.

What warning do I learn from Judas---the importance of washing my feet daily, praying the Lord will give me the desire to see the sin in my life and confess it and repent DAILY!  Leaving revealed sin in my life will harden my heart and disrupt my communion with the Father. How serious am I about cleansing myself daily?

Thinking about Judas, how he lived and conducted himself in a way that deceived even his closest friends.  They had no clue.  It made me think back to the discussion in our group, a girl whose brother in law they were not sure about his salvation. Question #4 Who in this passage is clean and who is not?  Which describes you and why? So many times BSF asks am I sure of my salvation?  I am, but how can I be sure? What evidence do I have to prove it?  It made an impact on Kennedy, she came home from BSF and talked about Judas and was concerned about the certainty of her own salvation.

This is what I know to be true:
 I know my when I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit seals me and I am forever His.
"My Father who has given them to me is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's Hand." John 10:29

I know my salvation is secure.  It cannot be lost.  I know it cannot be snatched from the Lord?  I know I do not go back and forth between saved and not saved.  I am saved! But what evidence do I have to prove it to myself? I thought about Jacob, when he wrestled with God in Genesis 32

After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.  So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.  When he saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.  The man said " Let me go, for it is daybreak."  But Jacob replied, " I will not let you go unless you bless me."  The man asked him, "What is your name?"  "Jacob" he answered.  Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have  struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Genesis 32:23-28

Jacob wrestled with God and with man and he overcame.  That is our life with sin.  When sin is revealed in my life I enter the wrestling ring with God.  God's goal is for us to overcome the power of that sin in our lives here in this world.  Sometimes the match is quick, I recognize the sin and agree to confess and repent.  Oh how I wish this were the case every time God reveals a specific sin to me. Sometimes there is a sin I know I don't need in my life, I don't want it in my life, I know God doesn't want it in my life (i.e - bitterness, anger towards others), yet I find myself in the ring, for years, not wrestling just going around in circles because I don't know how to let Jesus win that match.  With the specific sin of bitterness, God showed me the way to let Jesus win was to not just pray for the sin I wanted put off, but to pray for the attribute of Jesus I wanted put on, LOVE.  When I prayed for the Lord to put on Christ's Love in place of bitterness, the match was over.  Overcoming the power of that sin is the blessing the Lord gives us when we leave the ring.

But often times the matches go long, some very long, sometimes years long because I do not want to give up that sin and I wrestle to keep it in my life for as long as possible.  When I choose to not submit and keep the sin in my life, it does harden a little piece of my heart and it does disrupt my communion with God and my ability to allow His glory to shine through me, but it DOES NOT affect my SALVATION.  I pray when God reveals a specific sin to me that I will be grieved as He is grieved.  I pray where I have allowed pieces of my heart to become hard, that He will soften those places and I will desire confess and repent of those sins.  I do want my heart to be fully His. It is a process, a life long process.

Wrestling is a sign that the Holy Spirit is at work in my life.  Wrestling is a sign that my salvation is secure, that I do not need a full bath (salvation) just a cleansing (confession and repenting of sin).  Wrestling is my assurance of salvation.  When I wrestle with God and allow Him to pin me to the mat by my full submission to Him, then I will overcome the power of that specific sin in my life.  So I expect I will be in the ring with the Lord often and for many years to come until it is my time to go home.  I welcome the ring, I welcome the matches, my prayer is that my matches will be swift, that I will recognize I am in the ring in the early rounds and have the desire to submit through confession and repentance early on.  And I welcome the blessing of overcoming the power of sin in my life here on this earth and a closer, deeper relationship with Him.