Your FEARS, FANTASIES, FAILURES and Your FUTURE
Hey Friend,
God has a word for you. In today’s technologically advanced society, when people and things are so dependent on and bound to technology, God is calling us to depend on Him fully.
I was recently reading about the prophet Elijah in the book of I Kings 19:2-5.
So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!”.
He is threatened by queen Jezebel; she vows to take his life. The prophet who had just a few days before brought fire and rain from heaven, whose prayer had brought manifest evidence that the Lord was God, was intimidated by a woman. He whose cry had opened the heavens, now trembled before a mortal being.
Even today the spirit of Jezebel is seen in the lives of many, intimidating them. It is the reason for their fear, rejection, depression and suicidal thoughts. One day Elijah brought down fire from heaven, the next day he was depressed, afraid and prone to suicidal thoughts.
The youth of today are the same. One day they are standing strong for Jesus, believing that God could do anything for them and in the next, they are down in the dumps. One phone call, one sms, one email, an they under their blankets crying, downcast, afraid, not wanting to come out of their rooms.
God has a word for such people who are being oppressed by the spirit of Jezebel that’s threatening and holding them back from accomplishing God’s plan for their lives.
YOUR FEARS ARE FALSE.
Elijah was so afraid that he ran for his life. He knew he could not commit suicide. So he asks God to do it for him! He wants Godly suicide, prayed for God to take His life (Vs 4). He feels like he is a good-for-nothing, lonely and isolated. He fears that there is no other prophet left to serve God, however, God tells him in 1 Kings 19:18, Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”
He was afraid for nothing; his fears were false! This maybe your story too. In some way, the spirit of this world is causing unwanted fears in your mind. You may be feeling that you’re useless, that no one loves you, no one is there for you or cares for you and that your future is finished. All these are unwanted fears, not from God. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Tim. 1:7).
If there is one fear that you should have, it is the fear of God. Proverbs 8:13 says All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.
Again, as a child of God you must remember that
YOUR FANTASIES ARE FAKE.
We read about Lot in Genesis 13:10,11 Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram.
Looks are deceptive. The world today offers a lot of fantasies. Fantasies come in the form of women who talk sweet, men who act caring, companies that offer credit cards, housing loans etc. It will just take you a matter of time before you realize that these fantasies are fake. Lot had the choice but he did not look to God for help to decide. He made his choice based on looks. It looked good on the outside but it was just a fantasy and he had to run out of it. It was not a good place after all.
Remember to take time to always look deeper, take every matter to God for all these fantasies that the world offers are not real. The looks of it may be good but it only leads to trouble. Base everything on the solid and true word of God then you will never be shaken in the hard times.
Then child of God, remember that your
FAILURES ARE NOT FINAL
In the life of David we see that He was a great king. But he fell into a terrible sin. One sin led to another and he was in a mess. But he did not give up. He rose up. He spoke to God. He shook of the dust of guilt, asked forgiveness and Holy Spirit to remain in him and continued to do great things for God.
You may have committed a terrible sin but it is not the end. Don’t let the guilt keep you down. Your failure is not final. As long as Jesus is Alive, we have a High priest in heaven “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Heb 4:15,16.
No matter how many times you have failed in sin, in work, in education, it is not the end. He can lift you up once again and like David He will still call you a man after His own heart.
Finally, child of God remember that your
FUTURE IS GOING TO BE FANTASTIC
In the life of Job, we see the many troubles He faced. All his friends gave up on Him. His wife asked him to curse God and die, yet we read in Job 42:12. So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning.
Remember no matter how many troubles and trials your facing now, your future will be fantastic. In Jeremiah 29:11, “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
His thoughts towards you are great. No plan of God for your life can be thwarted by the devil or any human being because the God who made the universe will perfect that which concerns you. So be assured you have a fantastic future ahead of you.
So stay strong my friend, let not depression, rejection, suicidal thoughts bog you down. Remember that you worship a true and living God who will never let go of you no matter what. God bless you. Stay blessed.
Merilyn Jemimah Amirtharaj.
