I find it so amazing that God will always find a way to give you back a spark of hope when you feel discouraged. Being in the last few months of our sabbatical sometime fear starts to kick in, what shall we do next, what do You want us to do? How on earth will we do something? Am I even able to do something. And than I read this devotional from Joyce Meyer, about fear. Fear is one of the most powerful weapons the enemy uses to keep us from doing what God wants. As long as the enemy can keep us fearful, he does not have to worry as usually fear withholds us from doing anything in the first place…. I realized maybe I should start meditating on verses about fear (or against fear?). Well guess what that nights verse of the day in my YouVersion app was?
Psalm 5:11, 12 AMP "But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits. For You, Lord, will bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor)."
Pretty clear language right? Why fear is we are shielded by the Creator of the heavens and earth? Another thing I have been fearful about is starting my own ‘business’. I’ve been creating things probably ever since I was able to hold a pair of scissors. And often I’ve heard, why don’t you sell your things? And I did sell some things here and there, especially in Holland for fundraising. But also knew I would have to focus on only one art to really start a webshop. During our sabbatical I sort of found out that making stuffed animals and dolls was the thing I reallyenjoyed making the most, so that became my focus point. Starting a webshop is a big step, and these days the doubts started coming again: is it good enough? What if I don’t sell anything? How can I do this etc. you get the picture….. Seemed I already forgot the verse I had read in my devotional that morning:
Psalm 56:3 “what time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You.”
(Note the verse about fear again? Some coincidence right?). That same night a friend contacted me about the possibility of making her 20 (!) stuffed animals for a birthday party, what??!! I felt so encouraged, even if it is not going to work out, but I love it how God uses these things to let us know, “hey, don’t be discouraged, I’m here”. We just need to have our hearts, eyes and ears open to hear these whisperings of the spirit throughout our day. And than I thought, maybe I should write this down, maybe I should blog this. And than doubts came back again,but only until the moment when I read the daily verse in my app:
Isaiah 12:4, 5 AMP "And in that day you will say, Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name and by means of His name [in solemn entreaty]; declare and make known His deeds among the peoples of the earth, proclaim that His name is exalted! Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done excellent things [gloriously]; let this be made known to all the earth."
So that’s what I’m doing now: declaring His deeds (encouraging and giving hope) among the people of the earth (yay to facebook friends from all over the planet!)
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