Creator Comforts, Christian

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Oct.04.06: Light for the Day - "Creator Comforts" (Viet) (C) (S) (F)

   Though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us
   we will not fear for God has willed His truth to triumph through us.
   -- Martin Luther

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-- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
   the Father of Compassion and the God of all Comfort,
4 Who Comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can
   Comfort those in any trouble with the Comfort
   we ourselves have received from God.

-- John 14:27
   Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.
   I do not give to you as the world gives.
   Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

-- John 16:33
   I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.
   In this world you will have trouble.
   But take heart! I have overcome the world.

-- Psalms 23:1
   The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

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Shadows shifting unpredictably in an already-dark room. Footfalls
echoing behind you in a long dimly lit alleyway. The sudden slamming of
a door in an empty house. Are you afraid? Hollywood would like you to be.
Movies love to prey on people’s fears. And for some reason, people like
to be scared. Perhaps that’s because, in a movie theater, everyone
knows instinctively that the danger isn’t real. It’s a safe place to be afraid.

Life outside the theater, however, isn’t always safe. People do hurt other
people. Safety is never really fully assured, no matter what measures are
taken to protect you. And there are other fears. Fear of heights. Fear of
flying. Fear of the dark. All these are real fears too. The list is long.

Fear can be a good thing. It can force you to move cautiously. It can help
you to stay focused and can clue you in to the inherent danger of a given
situation. But if fear starts to run your life, it becomes a bad thing. When
fear grips you and won’t let go, you are immobilized. Life can’t continue
as normal because there is no normal.

There is good news. You don’t have to be ruled by fear. You have a
powerful ally – the Creator of the universe. Throughout the Bible,
God’s people struggled with being afraid. While in captivity in Egypt,
the Israelites feared for their lives knowing the Egyptian army followed
close behind. The ever present threat of war kept fear in their hearts for
centuries. Yet through all of these times, God promised to be near.

God is still near. As the writer of Hebrews pointed out in the quote from
Psalm 118:6, God is also your helper. Mere men cannot match His power.
This truth is the cornerstone for overcoming fear. God is greater than
the enemy – whether that enemy lives in the real world or in the mind.

Prayer is one of the greatest weapons against fear. In prayer, you connect
with God’s power and presence. Sometimes all it takes is a simple prayer
of “Help” or “Calm me” to overcome fear. Other times, fervent prayer can
help you discover a different answer to your fear. Learn to live each day
with an attitude of prayer. This constant, wherever-you-are connection with
God can help to thwart the possibility of fear as you come to know
God’s nearness in all of life’s circumstances.

God’s Word is also an excellent place to turn when you’re scared.
The Bible is packed with Scriptures of comfort. If it is possible, carry a
small Bible with you. That way you can flip open to reassuring passages
when faced with fear. Memorize a few of your favorite calming passages
so they’ll be on the tip of your tongue when trepidation shows up.

Know that God is in control even when the lights are out. Fear is really all
about darkness and unknown. But no matter how little you know about any
given situation, God can see the whole thing. He is more powerful than any
evil you might face. That doesn’t mean you’ll never suffer at the hands of
evil or the object of your fear – but it does mean that God won’t leave you
alone in fear.

Look beyond the situation whenever possible. Most times of fearfulness
are temporary. Can you see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel?
Look down the road past the point of dread and draw strength from a
soon-to-come moment that will be free from fear.

Seek comfort and support from others. Fear that is kept in isolation can
grow bigger than it really is. Invite close friends to help you with your fears.
Ask them to stand beside you. With their words of wisdom and
encouragement, you can knock your fear down to a manageable size or
even destroy it.

Face your fears with confidence. God conquered death and will defeat
evil too. Justice will come. Faithfulness will be rewarded.
Trust God’s greater plan and move courageously through life.

-- Cheklist4Life

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-- Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
   petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
   will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

-- 2 Corinthians 1:5-7
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives,
   so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
6 So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit
   and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn,
   can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure
   the same things we suffer.
7 We are confident that as you share in suffering,
   you will also share God’s comfort.

-- Matthew 10:26-33 (28)
26 So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will
     not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight;
     what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
     Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall
     to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
32 Whoever acknowledges Me before men,
     I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
33 But whoever disowns Me before men,
     I will disown him before My Father in heaven.

-- Revelation 2:10
   Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put
   some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for 'ten days.'
   Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

-- Acts 18:9
   One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid;
   keep on speaking, do not be silent."

-- John 20:21-22
21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me,
     I am sending you."
22 And with that He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

-- Colossians 3:15
   Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of
   one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

-- Romans 15:13
   May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him,
   so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

-- 1 Corinthians 1:3
    Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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-- Psalms 119:50, 52, 76, 105
50 Your Promise revives me; It comforts me in all my troubles.
52 I meditate on Your age-old Laws; O LORD, They comfort me.
76 Now let your unfailing Love comfort me,
      just as You Promised me, your servant.
105 Your Word is a Lamp to my feet and a Light for my path.

-- Isaiah 49:13
   Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing,
   O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people,
   And will have mercy on His afflicted.

-- Genesis 15:1
   After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
   "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."

-- Deuteronomy 3:22
   Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God Himself will fight for you.

-- Deuteronomy 31:6
   Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them,
   For the LORD your God goes with you;
   He will never leave you nor forsake you.

-- Joshua 1:9
   Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.
   Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
   for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

-- Isaiah 41:10, 13
10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
      I will strengthen you and help you;
      I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and
     says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

-- Isaiah 12:2
   Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD,
   the LORD, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.

-- Psalms 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
   He leads me beside quiet waters,
3 He restores my soul.
   He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
4 Even 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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
   You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
   and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

-- Psalms 27:1, 4-5
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear?
   The LORD is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid?
4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in
   the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of
   the LORD and to seek Him in His temple.
5 For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will
   hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.

-- Psalms 46:1-3
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and
   the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

-- Psalms 29:11
   The LORD gives strength to His people;
   The LORD blesses His people with peace.