I am anxious. I feel it in my body. I let my mind wander back, seeking to trace its cause, and hear again in my head the squeaky grind of my Prius brakes. Ah, that’s the trigger: finances.
Sometimes I can be maniacally driven by fear. Currently, the fight of my life is refusing to seek easy comfort for my distress, a soothing anesthetic to numb the pain, which is actually just some sort of slow-acting poison. Some call it sin. We all have our preferred poisons, I suppose, and some are perhaps faster-acting than others, but all poisons kill eventually, if unaddressed.
While suffering can result from the poor quality of our choices, it’s also from living in a shadow world where evil is threatening its original goodness. Our collective rejection of God results in suffering and eventual death—for us and the world we were given to care for. Yet suffering and death are also what God uses to bring us back to wholeness.
The power of death has been broken! The Word came into the very world that He brought into existence! His life was so potent that death itself became a life-giving force in Him. The very thing which separated us from God—death—now brings us to the fullness of life in Him.
Now to live (in the fullest sense), we have to let that old self die—the one driven by fear and seeking comfort in all the wrong places—so we can receive a different kind of life. The Word became human to teach us how to be authentic humans.
When my fears and sins have led the day, I have felt less myself. Only in drawing near to Jesus do we feel most real and alive.
Bad things still happen. My brake pads really could be shot. I could run out of money. Yet in these challenging moments, God can work to bring us more of His life by using it to test and refine our faith. We can’t always see how He is going to provide, but God’s action isn’t contingent on our own imaginative or conceptual capacities. We are not in control. We can only rest in the God who is.
God, over and again, has shown Himself trustworthy. I can honestly say that goodness has followed me, and He has taken care of me kindly. It is not often in the ways I would have chosen, but Jesus in Gethsemane wouldn’t have chosen to die; I’m thankful He instead said, “Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:29).
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80 thoughts on "From Our Fears and Sins Release Us Day 10"
Lord heal and cover in the name of Jesus!
I am free because of the Lord! Thank you God!
I have found that if I pray each morning for God to deliver me from whatever it is that has me bound, He is ALWAYS faithful to deliver me! And once I feel His hand working in my life, it is so much easier to avoid that sin! I will be praying for you.
Praying today for you to have strength, victory, and joy. May the Holy Spirit lead you to things that will bring peace and healing.
Always seek Him first! I love how Aurora said” suffering can result from poor choices we make” that is so true. May I seek our amazing God , our creator , our savior Jesus in all things.
woo!
It is not my will but Gods will instead ❤️
I appreciate this reminder. I often seek comfort in all the wrong places. It is so hard to stay focused on God when I’m allowing myself to seek immediate but momentary comfort.
I am so grateful that the Lord will always provide. The exercise of looking back on how he has truly been there is something I don’t do enough.
Rest in him!
This is amazing. Thank you Aurora. God spoke to me through your beautiful words❤️
I’ve been searching for comfort in the wrong places and have yet again been reminded that true comfort can ONLY come from the Lord❤️
Just prayed for you. May the Lord give you strength and provide the next faithful step and sustain you. I too have kiddos and understand your fear. You are not alone.
Letting go of our poison and letting God instead is so difficult. Praying for you to have strength and comfort as you lean on God. I pray you have a blessed Christmas as well!
These readings and this devotional is exactly what I needed today. I have fear and anxiety, mostly focused around my children; I want their lives to be perfect, and I want them to be happy always; I have a really hard time with seeing them sick or sad, or when they face hard situations (which we all do in life!); I also have a huge fear of losing them, as I know many people who have children that have passed and I had friends/schoolmates that passed when I was younger. Anyway, I too seek easy comfort, mostly with alcohol… it makes me sad to say it… and just yesterday I decided that I am going to stop drinking for good, not even in moderation. I will have to deal with any and all situations and feelings that arise, and I know that this will be hard, but I don’t want this “poison” to lead to my death. Please pray for me for strength in this season, and for help with my anxiety. I am someone who always wants to be in control of situations, and I’m still learning that God is the one in control not me; still such a hard lesson for me to learn.
Aurora: “His life was so potent that death itself became a life-giving force” —- wow!! Amen!!
So good
Death brought Life! Amen
powerful study tonight!
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Mindy, I never had boyfriends growing up and my testimony is too long to get into here but I did marry and it didn’t last. I wasn’t going to let God or anyone else control my life. One day I finally realized how bad I was at running my life and God in His graciousness saved me fully and changed every aspect of my life. The greatest gift is when we truly know Him and see how much HE loves us and wants for us which in turn allows us to love ourselves and then go out into this world and love everyone we meet. I’m praying you find exactly who you are in Him and then I know He will bring you the perfect man for your life. God bless and keep you and answer your prayers to your good and His glory.
Mindy, I never had boyfriends growing up and my testimony is too long to get into here but I did it marry and it didn’t last. I wasn’t going to let God or anyone else control my life. One day I finally realized how bad I was at running my life and God in His graciousness saved me fully and changed every aspect of my life. The greatest gift is when we truly know Him and see how much HE loves us and wants for us which in turn allows us to love ourselves and the. Go out into this world and love everyone we meet. I’m praying you find exactly who you are in Him and then I know He will bring you the perfect man for your life. God bless and keep you and answer your prayers to your good and His glory. He God
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Worry and fear of failure are the poisons that keep me in overdrive when I just need to rest and trust in Jesus.
Amen & Amen
wow, this was just wow! such a kind God we have, amen. thank you for this!
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My fear is being single my whole life. I’m 35 and have never had a boyfriend. This advent season has brought a new perspective to me… on how advent is about waiting… and then celebrating. I’m learning that waiting will bring good.
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I struggle daily with irrational fears. My anxiety is so horrible. I need to give it all to God!!!
My fear trigger is health. Until a couple years ago I would say I was in excellent health. I had a physical and eye exam every year and that was it. Now I’m dealing with pain and issues with an aging body Sciatic pain! Also I had surgery on the right hand last year and then surgery on the left hand almost 2 months ago. It’s a little scary thinking about the loss of the use of your hands. When I start worried I try to put on praise/ worship music to take the focus off my circumstances and put them on The God of all flesh, Is there anything to hard for him.The answer is No!
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I am speechless at the depth of this devotional. We all have triggers that cause us irrational fear. A while back the Lord told me i had the fear of man. And i was so confused. By His grace He showed me what He meant. It has been a vulnerable part of ny life that I hid- that fear/trigger that I tolerate is slow-acting poison. Please pray for my relationship with my mom, who has been the poison i tolerate most of my life for the fear of her rejection and abandonment. And she used this fear to manipulate and emotionally black mail me. And i never realize how poisonous this is. Thanks to today’s devotional and to a she who said we tried to buy someone’s love with gifts, but we cannot truly. I tried to please and give her my all. But she threatened to walk out and that was a deep down fear. Please pray for my courage to let go of this slow acting poison even if this means to let go of this relationship temporarily to create boundaries. To be set free from the fear of my mom’s rejection(fear of man). Thank you dear shes for your wisdom and truthfulness on the journey of being undone to be made whole again. Lifting the prayer requests to our Lord of Grace. Be blessed dear sisters.❤
My sin poison is worry and fear. I think that somehow by feeling fearful I can somehow control the situation. I am learning to trust God more with my fears, but it is definitely a process.
Yes!
Hello Dear Shes. An Advent admission. Prompted by today’s devotional. Shopping. Eating. Replaying old tapes in my head. (Yep! OLD “tapes”; the kind we used to manually rewind!) MY preferred poisons. Like Aurora said: “some perhaps faster acting than others, but all poisons eventually kill eventually, if unaddressed”. Spending money on others trying to buy their love (Even if, grandchildren!). Spending on myself (Even shopping merch in the SRT Store online!) more stuff to stash in closets & cabinets already stuffed. Overindulging in sweets ( Especially Christmas cookies, but spiked egg nog counts too!) Revisiting ghosts of Christmas past; A Christmas Carol of failures & faults; remorse & regrets. I know, I know…The only way I can hope to defeat & destroy underlying fears & sins is by & through faithful adherence to Him. But, I fall. I falter. I grasp at control. A control I can never master. Because control belongs only to the Master. Help me, the One who saves & secures my needful soul. May I find lasting Comfort & Joy in You, Lord Christ. O Come, O Come Emmanuel, and ransom this captive soul. Amen & Amen
Love the devotional today! Really resonated with me
What a powerful and meaningful devotion. When Aurora wrote, “We can’t always see how He is going to provide, but God’s action isn’t contingent on our own imaginative or conceptual capacities.”, it reminded me of when I was married and my husband, two sons and I had just moved down to Kentucky. We didn’t have a whole lot of money and neither one of us had a job (please don’t ask why we did that, I look back now and realize that was a bad decision), we lived in a couple of tents in a campground — we were lucky in that it was April and May and for the most part the weather was nice. My ex-husband was able to find a job first because I was waiting on my Kentucky nursing license to be granted. The job he found was at a fishing lodge that also had a diner, he was a dishwasher there. When he applied for the job my boys and I were in the car. The owners noticed us and every day he worked they would send home what they said was extra food. I would have never thought of God providing in this way but He did and I’m so grateful. This experience as also made me realize many things one of which is not to take for granted the things you have even the little things because there are those who are worse off than you. Between that experience and the loss of my older son my faith in the Almighty, Christ and the Holy Spirit are so strong.
Almighty Father, Ruler of All the Universe, I thank You for all You have provided for me. I know at times I may seem ungrateful but Lord I apologize for that. I also thank You for sending Your Only Son Christ to die for me and my sins so I might have eternal life. You King of kings are the One who has been by my side in the good times and the bad times and I THANK YOU for that. As I worship Your Son in this holiday season I will remember how wonderful it is to give than to receive. In Christ’s name, amen.
Be blessed and remember God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are with you ALWAYS.
Sorry about the rambling.
Yes that caught my eye also
Good morning She’s!
Could I ask for some prayers for my chronic back pain that has been really bad the last month or so?! I am a person that likes to be active but lots of pain is getting me down, especially in this joyous season with lots to do! Last night was really off the charts, which is surprising because I have had pain for 18 years post spinal fusion. It is worrisome. Thank you.
Prayers for Steve @gramsiesue, love ya!
Amen
For several days now the Lord has impressed on me that this is not my home. He’s spoken through various preachers, devotions and songs all with this same thought. I’m not to get comfortable here nor complacent nor irritated when things don’t go my way. This is all just a way station. The final destination is ahead and it is beyond my imagination in its joy and peace. There’s no need to fear because my ticket has been bought and paid for. He’s holding my place for me. Lord, help me to live here with my heart there. It is well with my soul.
Excellent!!!!
Thank you Father for Your Son who came to this world and died in the cross for my sins. Now I can live life in freedom through You and have a relationship with You!❤️
Good Morning BEAUTIFUL sisters! ONCE, again this devo resonates with me. Lately I’ve been asking you all to pray regarding several life situations and recently for finances. I believe I even mentioned about not having gifts under the tree (even though my kids are older, 16 and 21), My friend G and I just prayed about this yesterday! And prayer was answered in withing 24 hours! My kiddos WILL have something under the tree! As hard as it sometimes I put my trust in GOD who ALWAYS provides. Today’s devo hit home! Its exactly what I need to hear and be reminded. I chuckled a little when Aurora mentions brakes. Sigh…..I know I’m needing them too. I’m trusting my GOD, will provide for that as well.
THIS: 27 “Now my soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.”
My soul is troubled- but that isn’t cause to give up or misunderstand my difficult circumstances as “in the wrong place/mistaken”. So often when times get tough, my first thought is “ah! I’m doing it wrong… I missed His memo, I’ve stepped outside of His will..!!” But for discomfort to be a sign of being out of His will and plans for my life- then someone explain the cross bc I think we all agree it was very apart of the plan. And yet it was painful and difficult.
I’m practicing praying the Lord’s Prayer each morning, but personalizing it each day…
Instead of just “My Father in Heaven…” I will name what “parts/names” of Him I’m experiencing in this season: “My comforter in Heaven, my Friend in Heaven, my Teacher in Heaven, my Counselor in Heaven…”. Then is the practice of following Jesus’ words and action of submitting to His will over my own, allowing His Kingdom to be experienced on earth the way He conducts it in Heaven.
I personalize the entire prayer and I’m finding it opening my eyes to all sorts of places in my heart that I don’t fully submit to Him, or places I THINK I’m trusting, but honestly I’m not. It is also revealing in how much time I tend to spend talking/asking for myself versus giving appropriate praise and recognition of His great majesty.
To say the least, I’m in a tough spot. Have even started waking up with anxiety and stress being the first things I physically and emotionally feel. Praying He will help me take these things captive under His authority and claim peace regardless of circumstances each day.
Also? SEA MONSTERS IN THE BIBLE?! HOW have I MISSED this for my whole life?! NUTSO!!!
(Ps 74:13- seriously google it for more commentary/info)
“Suffering and death are what God uses to bring us back to wholeness” BAM that hit like a ton of bricks- so much truth. Lord I ask that in the midst of suffering I too can produce fruit for your glory!! Amen
I am such a coward. Jesus came knowing what he had to do. To make atonement for our sins. I’m afraid to talk about Jesus to some because I feel I won’t have the words to back up what I’m trying to say. I’m not eloquent with words. I pray the way I try to live with show God’s love.
Prayers would be appreciated today, please.
Yesterday we got results from Steve’s blood work that were very concerning. Today he will have an MRI, and tomorrow we meet with his neuro oncologist. This journey is scary and difficult but God is with us.
But God….
Yes is saw that, Tina.
But God…
We don’t know what tomorrow holds but God does and He will never leave us.
Blessings to all ❤️
Wow! That devotional was so good! It really tied everything together and it was a good reminder that God ALWAYS shows up. So good!
Todays devo really resonated with me. I’m going through a season right now where I find myself questioning everything. The part that got me was when it said that bad things will happen. That hit me so hard! I have to remember that bad things are going to happen, but Jesus is right there in the thick of it with me. I am not alone.
Aurora today’s devotional was absolutely beautiful. He has taken good care of us up until now and will continue to do so. All he demands is our trust. Blessings to you all on this Tuesday and praying for requests.
Especially love the final paragraph of today’s devotion. Jesus probably would not have chosen death as the resolution. God doesn’t always respond as we would like or believe best. But He always loves and protects. And His solutions are perfect for His children. ❤️
Thinking of how God becoming man freed us from sin, death and the enemy:
Jesus overcame our flesh by becoming it and then having complete control over it. We struggle with trying to please our flesh and not offend God, but our flesh’s desire, our earthly body, has no conception of heaven. It has been corrupted by sin and cannot fathom the treasures of the eternal.
So by Jesus overcoming and controlling this body-that decays and dies, we have an example, a hope of also having control over the flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is possible to please God and overcome sin because the one who over came no lives in and empowers us! Hallelujah!
9 It will be said on that day,
“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” – Isaiah 25:9
A few quotes I am pondering with the study book prompts: The Lord has become everything for you, and you must become everything for the Lord.
St John of Kronstadt
The whole man would not have been saved, unless he had taken upon himself the whole man.
Origen
A marvellous wonder has this day come to pass:
Nature is made new, and God becomes man.
That which he was, he has remained;
And that which he was not, he has taken on himself
While suffering neither confusion nor division.
How shall I tell of this great mystery?
He who is without flesh becomes incarnate;
The Word puts on a body;
The Invisible is seen;
He whom no hand can touch is handled;
And he who has no beginning now begins to be.
The Son of God becomes the Son of man:
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and for ever.
From Vespers on Christmas Day
Whom have we, Lord, like you—
The Great One who became small, the Wakeful who slept,
The Pure One who was baptized, the Living One who died,
The King who abased himself to ensure honour for all.
Blessed is your honour!
It is right that man should acknowledge your divinity,
It is right for heavenly beings to worship your humanity.
The heavenly beings were amazed to see how small you became,
And earthly ones to see how exalted.
St Ephrem the Syrian
Loving that we are focusing on “from our fears and sins release us”. So thankful that we can have a relationship with the One (our ever loving God) who can do just that! Amen and amen!
Loving that we are focusing on “the one who takes
Amen
WOW! Just WOW! Thank you, Father. Thank you, Jesus. I keep getting in my own way. You keep sending a twig or a rock to help me stumble. Not my will. Your will. Your way. You have control. of the situation. Of the outcome. I need to trust You!
Jesus, being God and man, has the fullness of God’s nature dwelling bodily in Him. He was made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace He could taste death for everyone. His sacrifice was perfected through His sufferings. He shares our flesh and blood so that through His death, He was able to destroy the devil, the one who held the power of death and disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly. He triumphed over them and freed us who were held in slavery all our lives by the fear of death. Through His death, He erased the certificate of death, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and took it away by nailing it to the cross. He is the merciful and faithful High Priest who makes atonement for the sis of His people. He gives us repentance and forgiveness of sins. He sanctifies us. He opens our eyes so we may turn from darkness to light and from the power of the evil one to God. He gives us a share among those who are sanctified by faith in Him.
As Aurora Eagen says in the devotion, “The power of death has been broken! The Word came into the very world that He brought into existence! His life was so potent that death itself became a life-giving force in Him. The very thing which separated us from God—death—now brings us to the fullness of life in Him.”
Lord God thank you for destroying the one who was holding the power of death! The ultimate fear no longer need be feared because you’ve destroyed it and provided freedom. May I remember that when my other fears want to rear their heads. Thank you Lord!
I love the devotional today! Her words were so thought provoking!
I can definitely see how this season of singleness is testing my faith and will hopefully deepen my trust in God and give me the confidence to surrender to His will instead of trying to take matters into my own hands. Draw near to Jesus. I am definitely driven by fear and guilty of seeking comfort in all the wrong places. Lord, strengthen me to rest and trust in You. Over and over again, you have shown Yourself trustworthy. Amen <3
I love this and aligns with what my husband and I are studying. God puts us in tough situations to lean in closer to him. Trust in Him! ❤️
God breaks me down to rebuild me up to a stronger and more glorious follower in Him.
Father that I have faith in Your plans! Reward my faith. Forgive my doubt. Amen
“Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:29. Such a short statement. Brief. Concise. Decisive. Yet, the weight it carries is infinite!
God is always in control even…when things are going beautifully AND when everything looks bleak and disastrous.
Lord, strengthen me. Give me clarity and peace as I pray, “Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Amen.
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I heard a message saying that when a debt was paid, a notice was hung on a tree. The Scripture says: He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.z 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
Hallelujah! This is the most important of all my debts and one that would never, ever be able to be paid by me! Eternity is at stake! We sang the hymn, Nothing but the Blood of Jesus in church. How true those words are.
Then, these words are amazing! But we do see Jesus—made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace he might taste death for everyone—crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death.
10 For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, 12 saying:
I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters;
I will sing hymns to you in the congregation.
13 Again, I will trust in him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave me.
14 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devili—15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.j 16 For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring. 17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement,l for the sins of the people.m 18 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
There is so much in this Scripture! May God help me/us to dwell on this Scripture and be changed!
Thank You Jesus for erasing “the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and [taking] it away by nailing it to the cross.”
KAELA KELLY – praying the Lord will bless you with a healthy pregnancy.
DARCI MICHELLE – praying the Lord will give you wisdom in navigating the difficult releationships and give your fiance the boldness to confront and correct when necessary.
Amen!
We are not in control. We can only rest in the God who is.
“Ah, that’s the trigger: finances.”
Oh boy did I feel that. Nothing gives me pain in my stomach like finances. It’s the one area I have to work harder saying “I Trust in You”. But there’s no reason for me to doubt Him. He has been the Ultimate Provider when we had so very little to get by. I Trust in You. I Trust in You. My God You are SO GOOD AND FAITHFUL. Thank You.Amen!!
Amen
Thank you for all of your prayers yesterday. Cried when I read your messages. It is nice to know I am not alone.
The housing situation has gotten more bleak. Where I live they count the amount of kids you have against you in applying for a mortgage. My husband spoke with one loan officer yesterday. Unless if other banks have a much different criteria, one bank has reduced the amount they will loan us by more than €100,000! It is just insane. The rent we pay (and have been paying for years) is 4x the amount they say we can afford with monthly payments. Completely ridiculous!
Praying for everyone as well.
Caroline- praying for your marriage and your fears. That God would give you a peace beyond understanding, no matter what.
Amen!