By Paula Williamson, guest writer Fear is an emotion, a feeling, and often not even real. Whether it is fear of the dark, fear of failure, or my own personal one, June bugs! They are so scary, right? They do not sting or bite. They are not poisonous, but the sight of one flying across my line of sight instantly strikes fear and panic into my heart. Insane, right? As a child, one flew right into my very long hair and buzzed by my ear, absolutely terrifying me. I could not get it out. My sisters tried to help while screaming, and those feelings surround me every time I see one. That’s ridiculous, I know, but is your fear imagined? It Is Written PSALM 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. No Fear What would life be like if we did not give in to fear? What would life be like if we laughed in fear’s face? What would we try? Where would we go? What kind of story would we be able to tell after conquering our fears? What kind of victory would we feel? I don’t know about you, but I want to go out fighting the good fight! Living fully alive until I die! The good news is that we do not face it alone. Prayer Lord, I do not want to live robbed of anything, especially fear! How could I be afraid when I know You are with me? I trust You. You are with me always! Takeaway You are with me. I can do this!

By Paula Willaimson, guest writer We wouldn’t run to the butcher shop for flowers or to the hardware store for groceries. Soul restoration requires us to go to the place where our soul can be restored. Scripture points us there. It Is Written PSALM 23:3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Our Restorer Psalm 23 tells us of a good shepherd, one who cares for us, leads us to green pastures and still waters, and restores our souls. It tells of one who leads us along a good path, a place without fear, a place of comfort and plenty. Are you longing for such a place? Prayer Lord, You are my shepherd; I shall not want. You make me lie down in green pastures and lead me beside still waters. You restore my soul. Before You, I stop, I wait, I bow. Bathe me in the beauty of Your presence in this glorious place. I wait; I rest. Takeaway Whatever my need, He is my source.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Anxiety has been a regular guest in my family line. No one really invited him. He has always just been there. I suppose he is the reason my mom yelled at us every day. He was the reason we bit our fingernails and lived in fear. The older I get and the more I allow my mind to meditate on the words of God, the further away he has moved. We do not have to entertain him by thinking anxious thoughts. What if they are NOT true? It Is Written PHILIPPIANS 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. PSALM 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. Anxiety & Fear Are Thieves These two uninvited companions are not our friends. They rob us of life. They are the opposite of faith. Faith trusts in a trustworthy God. Faith believes what it cannot see. So do fear and anxiety! If you weigh the pros and cons on a scale, faith wins. I’d rather put my faith in God and His promises, which have not been proven wrong for over three thousand years, than be robbed of each day by anxiety and fear. Prayer Lord, I come out in agreement against anxiety and fear in the name of Jesus Christ! I send them an eviction notice today. They are no longer welcome to hang out around me. You did not give me a spirit of fear but power, love, and a sound mind. I place all my trust in You and choose to meditate on Your promises. Takeaway Peace for my soul lies in the Lord my God .

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Did you ever get lost as a little child? I got lost at the State Fair of Texas as a little girl. One minute I was surrounded by family, the next by strangers. It’s a horrible, frightening feeling until you are found by that familiar face again. That’s how it is with God. It Is Written MATTHEW 18:12 “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one that is lost? PSALM 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He Knows Me Whether you believe in Christ or not, He knows you. He knows exactly where you are and loves you unconditionally. He leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one who is lost. When we call out, He hears and is always ready to scoop us up in His arms. What a safe place to rest. Have you lost your way today? Just call out to Him. Prayer Lord, I call out to You today. There is no time in my life when I don’t need You. I believe Your word that says You leave the ninety-nine to search for the one who is lost. Come find me, pick me up, and place me in the safety of Your arms. Takeaway He searches for the one who is lost.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Recently, I asked God to do something in someone’s life so amazing, so miraculous, so unbelievable, so extraordinary, so immutable that they would know without a doubt that He did it. The next thought floated into my mind like a feather, “I already did.” The weight of that statement hit me like a ton of bricks. It Is Written EPHESIANS 1:17 -18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might. He Already Did The Creator of the Universe clothed Himself in humanity, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, washed feet, was falsely accused, slandered, beaten, and betrayed, and willingly laid down His life, dying in our place, a criminal’s death on the cross. He drew His last breath and said, “It is finished.” Three days later He rose from the dead, defeating death and giving everything for those who believe in Him. My prayer was answered years ago when God stepped off His throne and came to earth as a baby. It was answered again when He rose from the dead. What more does He need to do? Prayer Lord, thank You for what You have already done. Thank You for the amazing, miraculous, unbelievable, extraordinary, and immutable things You have already accomplished. Thank You that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead now dwells in those who believe. We place our hope and trust in You because You are trustworthy. We may not always understand what is happening around us, but we can trust that Your plans are good and rooted in deep, unconditional love. Takeaway It is finished!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer I am not sure whether believers in Christ truly know who they are and Whose they are. Rarely in my life do I encounter people who are walking in victory. Rarely do I encounter one whose countenance is filled with love, joy, and peace. Rare is the day when I hear encouragement from others. Why? It Is Written ROMANS 8:11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. We Have This Treasure Resurrection power resides in the life of a believer. One need only spend a day watching us to see what we truly believe. Most of us live to serve ourselves, with little concern for others. A follower of Christ should stand out from the world, not to draw attention to oneself but to Christ, the One who dwells within us and whom we follow. Prayer Lord, we bow our hearts and will to You, the One who has already done indescribable, miraculous, unfathomable, immutable, and amazing things for us. You are the God who came in human form and laid down Your life so that the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead would dwell in us, forgiving our faults and failures and redeeming and restoring our hearts from trauma and shame. May we walk in a manner worthy of You and glorify You in all that we do. Takeaway Everything we need is in Him! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer We live in an imperfect world with imperfect people, and we are one of them. That means life is going to get messy at times. On those days, I remind myself of who I am and whose I am. Even then, I have a good, good Father who loves me and watches over His Word to carry it out. It Is Written JOHN 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Straighten Up That Crown Recall all that the Lord has done for You. Count your blessings. Shift your focus. Extend to others the grace the Father has shown You. We are all doing our best, and we all need love and encouragement. Prayer Lord, help me remember that through Christ I am more than a conqueror, that no one is beneath Your love, mercy, and grace, and that the world is a better place when Your love flows from heaven to earth. None of us deserves it yet, we thank You for it. Takeaway I have all the power I need, with Christ in me! We've got this!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Some of us were raised in such drama and chaos that it became our normal, and we unknowingly create it. We also live in a world where things just happen, but we can say no to drama. When it comes knocking, we don’t have to answer the door. We choose what or whom we allow to enter. In recent days, I stop myself mid-sentence when my thoughts start to rationalize some injustice done to me. Instead of pointing my finger, I take full responsibility for what I allowed someone else to do to me. It Is Written PHILIPPIANS 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Choose Wisely Scripture says in James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." I have made many wrong decisions in my life, driven by misguided motives. God promises wisdom to those who ask. Nowadays, I do not trust my own understanding. I ask for God’s wisdom first in all things. Am I supposed to get involved here? Do You want me to do this, Lord? What direction are You leading? Amazingly, when we allow God to take the wheel of our lives, the outcome is different. Do I still make mistakes? Yes. But life is becoming much less chaotic when I pause for wisdom. Prayer Lord, I need Your wisdom to rule every part of my life. Your ways are higher than mine, and my understanding is limited. You are the creator of the universe, and You know all things. I ask that You and Your wisdom guide and direct every detail of my life. Takeaway A download of God’s wisdom is available for the asking.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Fear is a phantom, apparent to the senses yet lacking substantial existence, elusive or visionary. The media has gone crazy with fearmongering, impending doom, imminent danger, conspiracy theories, wars, rumors of wars, and more. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "God did not give us a spirit of fear but power, love and a sound mind." Fear should have no place in the heart and mind of a follower of Christ. We live by a different standard. Scripture calls the person who lives in fear unstable in all our ways and categorizes us as unbelievers. Our news source is the immutable Word of God, and our anchor is Christ alone. It Is Written 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. Immutable Anchor Immutable means unchanging over time or incapable of change. It describes something that is fixed, permanent, and incapable of alteration. God’s word is secure and steadfast, standing the test of time. He watches over His word to carry it out. It is an immutable anchor that holds us in place, unable to be tossed about by any storm. Nothing in this world offers that guarantee. We need to get right with the person who holds our future. Prayer Lord, I place my trust in You and Your Word. In a world where we are uncertain whom or what to believe, filled with fear-mongering and discouraging messages, I place my trust in You. I come out in agreement with anything that does not align with Your Word. You are my anchor and steadfast hope. I surrender my life to You. Baptize me, seal me with the power of the Holy Spirit, and lead me in the everlasting way. Takeaway Jesus Christ is the immutable anchor. *For more on the subject of fear, check out “Fearless Faith Walkers,” a study of fear from a Biblical perspective at coadwordbooks.com.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer I have spent most of my life getting over myself! It was my full-time job to overcome the words of a verbally abusive parent, the fear of never being enough, the fear of what people thought or would think of me, the fear of failure, the fear of authority, and the feeling of being trapped as a victim of my emotions. It Is Written JOHN 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. The Great Exchange I surrendered my life to Jesus when I was 12 years old. I began reading the Bible daily when I was 18 years old. The great exchange came gradually as I found nuggets of scripture to commit to memory. We have the power to believe whatever we choose. I chose to exchange my old beliefs for new ones. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "God did not give me a spirit of fear but power, love and a sound mind!" 2 Corinthians 2:15 says, "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." Jesus came for so much more than for me to go through the motions of life with beliefs that keep me in bondage. Have you made the great exchange? It’s easier than ever! Google scriptures about what Jesus did for you. Prayer Lord, thank You for a better way of life! Thank You for the unchanging truths in Your word that have withstood the test of time. Thank You for the power to transform powerless victims who can barely face the day into children of the King of Kings, more than conquerors, fearless, courageous, purposeful, and comfortable in our own skin. Takeaway Jesus came so that we may have life, not merely go through the motions of life.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer God is rich in mercy, and His compassion is new every morning. His faithfulness reaches the clouds. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. He is not willing that any should perish. He is for us, not against us. It Is Written MATTHEW 25:41“Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. JOHN 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. The Great Rebellion Hell was prepared for Satan and the angels who rebelled against God alongside him. God’s plan for mankind has always been a real and personal relationship with Him. It was that way in the Garden of Eden at the beginning of time and will be at the end of time. Sometimes we ask the wrong questions. I have heard people say, “How can a good God send people to hell?” Hell was not created for people. God does not send people there. He provides a way of escape that people can accept or reject. The choice is ours. Prayer Lord, I want a personal relationship with You. I realize that Jesus Christ alone paid the way for me to have eternal life by living a perfect life and dying in my place, so His righteousness would cover me. Such an undeserved gift is beyond my understanding, yet I gratefully and humbly receive it. Help me to live in a way that honors You. Takeaway Jesus made a way for me to have eternal life.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Scripture recounts King David’s sin in 2 Samuel 11. He shirked his responsibility as king, committed adultery with one of the devoted members of his army, invited Uriah home from the battle lines to cover his sin, and when that didn’t work, he plotted to have him murdered. This is a horrible atrocity, yet God called David “A man after His own heart.” How? Most of us would have a problem with that! The difference between him and the worst of us was his heart toward God. This account gives me an inkling of God’s mercy. Did David deserve forgiveness? No! The truth is that none of us deserves forgiveness. It Is Written LUKE 15:7 There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance. Life Is Not Fair This week, the words of an eight-year-old boy to his counselor echo in my heart in an unforgettable way. He said, “If life were fair, we should all be hanging on a cross.” He is wise beyond his years. God is so rich in mercy and forgiveness toward us that He does not give any of us what we deserve. That’s mercy. He waits for us to admit our sin and surrender our hearts to Him. No one has gone too far. Forgiveness is a prayer away. Prayer Lord, I call out with the words of Isaiah 1:18, "Though my sins are like scarlet, wash them as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, make them like wool." Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." 1 John 1:8, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." The truth is that we have all sinned and need forgiveness. God, forgive me and bathe me in Your forgiveness. Takeaway Mercy is undeserved.