Daily Encouragement (1/4/22) "A No-Fear Year"
Published: Tue, 01/04/22
A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.
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Tuesday, January 4, 2022
"A No-Fear Year"
Message summary: As we mature in our love for God (and others), we come to realize that we have nothing to fear, for our Father has everything under control. We should not be driven by fear, rather we must drive out fear and God's perfect love will do just that.
Listen to this message on your audio player.
"When I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" (Psalm 56:3). "There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love" (1 John 4:18). An Axios|Momentive Poll showed the outlook people have at the end of the year, which is not really surprising. More than half of U.S. adults say they’re fearful for what the year 2022 holds in store. In addition adults have less hope for themselves. 30% say they’re more fearful about what 2022 holds in store for themselves.
Steve is a longtime reader who now lives in Iowa but grew up on the south side of Chicago. He calls his theme for 2022, "A no-fear year". Steve recently wrote an interesting story about a traumatic life lesson he learned about fear when he was eight years old. He was accidentally left behind by his family after a 1964 New Years Watchnight
service at a church on the south side. He stepped out the door of the church which locked behind him and realized no one was there to get him home. After thinking of possible solutions to his dilemma he decided to walk home, about a mile and a half!
He concludes,
"What’s the lesson of this story? If you and I could sit down with an eight-year-old boy exactly fifty-eight years ago, he’d tell us not to be afraid. Young Stephen would recount the events of the night before, that he wasn’t frightened by the cold or darkness or loneliness or some mischievous boys. He’d recite the words of the Psalmist that his mother often quoted by heart... “I sought the
Lord and he delivered me from all my fears.”
We put a link to his entire testimony below.
Zach Williams has written a thought-provoking song with the interesting title, "Fear Is A Liar". We consider those whom we presently seek to encourage and uplift who are gripped by fear due to the uncertainties of life. Many are allowing fear to diminish their hope.
We encourage memorization of today's texts. You can draw on them when fear rises within and find peace and assurance. We need grace in so many forms, but today we ask for grace to trust Him more. Or as a line in the song "Battle Belongs" says, "Every fear I lay at Your feet". As we grow in the love of Christ, we cease to be fearful of God using His power to harm us and have an assurance that all things are ultimately under His control and will work out for the good for those who love Him (see Romans 8:28). But this is something we often need to be reminded of and to remind ourselves of! Although a no-fear year is a laudable goal, for many of us our prayer is an infusion of trust in God whenever fear-inducing situations arise. As we mature in our love for God we come to realize that we have nothing to fear, for our Father has everything under control. We should not be driven by fear, rather we must drive out fear and God's perfect love will do just that. Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
![]() Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Fear Is a Liar" Video Zach Williams
Fear is a Liar - Jessica's Story Video Watch Jessica share about how God has helped her overcome fear in her life.
"Speak To The Mountains" Video Chris McClarney
"Battle Belongs" Video Shane & Shane "Every fear I lay at Your feet"
Steve Ephraim's "No Fear Year" testimony Steve has such a colorful way of describing his family life as one of nine children growing up in the sixties, which of course we both identify with. Though we gave away the punch line of his story in our message, since we know not all readers take the time to read all our
supplemental resources, his testimony is worth the few minutes it takes to read and will bless you, especially if you grew up in that era.
Yesterday we shared about how Earl Martin, a retired preacher, shared an annual verse in church at the beginning of each year. Earl's son, Galen, son responded to our message informing us that this last Sunday he stood up in the same church and shared his annual verse with the congregation, Ephesians 6:19,20, "Pray also for me, that whenever I
speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."
Axios article: Exclusive poll: America's fears rise for 2022
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." © Copyright 2022 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
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