Ask God for courage: an uncommon approach

One of the greatest ironies of life is that each of us believes we are the only person who is afraid.

Fear is a universal emotion. Some singles are terrified of many things, some frightened by just one thing, and others live in a state of constant anxiety. Yet the Bible tells us to be courageous and not be afraid.

How can we do that? We can't muster up bravery out of thin air. Where do we get the confidence we need to face life's challenges?

That's what we'll be exploring in this issue. This is something every person needs to know. If you're not facing threatening circumstances right now, believe me, you will at some point in the future.

Ready? Here's what happens when you ask God for courage.

Take courage

Everybody wants to scare us
with their tales of doom and gloom.
But all our worries ended
outside that empty tomb.

We are children of our Father,
though there's fear throughout the land.
We are under his protection.
We are safe within his hand.

So hold your head up, Pilgrim.
Keep on looking to the sky.
Remember what He told us,
"Take courage; it is I."
Take courage from the Spirit;
you can't make it on your own.
He has power in abundance
and He wants to lead you Home.

As this world begins to crumble,
and the planet falls apart,
you can see the end is coming.
You can feel it in your heart.

But there's hope for us believers;
we are on the narrow way.
We are waiting for our Savior,
and He just might come today.

~ Jack Zavada, www.inspiration-for-singles.com, 2022 ~

An exasperating truth

The best way to stay out of money trouble boils down to one simple principle: If you don't have it, don't spend it.

Ouch! That's not what we want to hear.

It's a proven strategy called living within your means, and as a financial principle, it's never been beaten. But how do you do it? How do you learn to put the brakes on spending without turning your life into a dull, miserable drag?

That's where How to Master Your Money comes in. This PDF ebook describes the simple steps to choosing peace of mind over debt. Yes, it's a radical shift in attitude, but it's an approach many millionaires have used early in their careers to get ahead.

Can you do it? It depends. How badly do you want to stop worrying about money? Are you finally ready to do something about it?

How to Master Your Money isn't for wimps or people whose whole life revolves around impressing others. It's serious stuff for serious change.

Okay, you've been warned. If you're fed up with being a slave to debt, How to Master Your Money will show you a better way, and for…what, $4.97?

Learn more.

October QOTM: Getting rid of fear

For our Quote of the Month, I turned again to Charles F. Stanley, pastor, author, and host of In Touch radio and TV programs:

God wants to cast out the fear and doubt in your life. Go before Him right now and say, "Lord, this is what I am afraid of…"

~ Charles F. Stanley (1932 - ) ~

We're all pretty good at putting on fronts. To our friends, we might act as if nothing frightens us, while inside we have great fears. The good news is we can be honest with God because he already knows the truth about us.

The thrilling part of the Christian life is when you confess your fears and doubts then watch God give you courage to get through every situation. He's just waiting to pour his power into your life.

God loves it when we're dependent on Him. He rewards our surrender with the supernatural strength we need.

What does the future hold for us?

You have to be careful with Bible prophecy. It's extremely difficult to understand, and so many "prophecy experts" like to stamp their own opinions on it and pass it off as the truth.

What you can believe, however, is that things on Planet Earth are crazy right now. Violence has surely escalated. Government has proven incapable of solving even the most basic problems. Immorality reminds me of a verse from the book of Judges: "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 17:6b, ESV)

As Christians, you and I have a Plan B that that unbelievers don't. We are protected by our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Nobody knows when the Lord will return, but until He does, here are some things to consider if you're afraid of the future.

Set the tone for your day when your alarm goes off

You don't always have control over your circumstances, but you can choose how your respond to them. In fact, you and I can bring the power of God to bear on whatever comes our way.

I've learned the hard way that Satan and his nasty helpers will attack as soon as our minds become active in the morning. He wants to ruin your day, but you're not going to let him..

Oh, and if you don't believe Satan exists, you'd do well to read Matthew 4:1-11 again.

You can't wait until a problem pops up. You need to choose your attitude for the day the moment your alarm clock goes off in the morning.

Resolve, as soon as you put your feet on the floor, to have a strong, productive day because the Holy Spirit within you is your guide and strength. The Christian life was never meant to be lived under our own strength. We can only do it through God's power within us, all day, every day.

Any Millennials out there?

I've been researching the beliefs and habits of the Millennial generation, those people born between 1984 and 2002, who make up a third of the adult population in the United States. I have a nephew who's a Millennial, complete with tattoos.

Nearly 75 percent of Millennials are still searching for their purpose in life, according to a survey conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University.

Most Millennials reject the existence of absolute moral truth, while a majority say they often feel anxious, depressed or fearful.

In the coming year, I'll be addressing some articles specifically to Millennial Inspire-O-Gram readers. I don't know how many of you are Bible-believing Christians, but I do try to offer material relevant to everyone's real world problems.

If you'd like to offer suggestions for future articles or comment on this issue, our secure contact form will forward your email directly to my personal inbox, and I'll reply to it myself within three days.

That wraps up the October newsletter, and speaking of wrapping, Christmas will be on us before we know it. Let's try not to go nutzoid from the holiday hassle and remember to give thanks to our Savior, Jesus Christ, during the season.

Thanks for reading, friend, and until November,

Jack Zavada
PS: Not a Christian? Find out how to become one!

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