"Hope,Courage & Faith "

DON'T GIVE UP!

We sometimes brake down and fall

Those who stand above us

Can make us seem so small

We tremble under the weight

Of the problems that hold us down

And when we start to collapse

There seems to be no one around

We try to fight in this world

That always seems to fight back

Sometimes we’re not strong enough though

There are too many things we lack

We’ll hide away in corners

Put upon ourselves pain

But there’s no escape from this life

We all must suffer the same

But although we may struggle

And yes we all do fall

I’ll stand by your side

I’ll stay with you through it all

And if you start to tremble

Or even brake down

I’m your shoulder to cry on

I’ll always be around

We all have our faults

Are up and are downs

We cant always smile all the time

Everyone has to frown

No, no ones perfect

And no one is the same

We’re in this world together

We all play the same game

If we stick together

No matter what’s to come

With a little faith and hope

Anything can be done

We all get those bad times

Each and every one of us

But I promise it will get better

Just don’t you give up

But when you feel like you want too

Please just remember this

You can die at any time

But it takes a strong person to live

This poem is dedicated to you all.

For we all suffer sometimes in our lives.
Some of us suffer loss, others from the feeling of being different,
there are so many things that bring us down.....
Some sit in their rooms and just cry and pray for a better life,
some of us can’t handle things and reach for the knife.....
Whatever makes you depressed, no matter how down you feel,
how close to giving up you get, don’t!!!

Hold on, be strong, there is always someone out there who cares for you.

Life has it’s up and downs, and one day, it’ll look up for you too

If you need someone turn too, I'm here, for anyone who needs me.

"Strength vs Courage"

Inner thoughts on 'Strength vs Courage'. I thought it's deep so I'd like to share it with ya'll and it goes a little something like this....

It takes strength to be firm. It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to stand guard. It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to conquer. It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain. It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in. It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend's pain. It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide your own pain. It takes courage to show them.

It takes strength to endure abuse. It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone. It takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love. It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive. It takes courage to live.

"Spiritual Upliftment"

EMERGENCY PHONES

Emergency Telephone Numbers These are more effective than 911

When- You are sad, phone John 14

You have sinned, phone Psalm 51

You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91

People have failed you, phone Psalm 27

It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139

Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11

You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23

You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34

You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13

You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18

You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39

You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30

It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90

You need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30

You are leaving home for a trip , phone Psalm 121

You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87

You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1

Inflation's and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31

You are depressive, phone Psalm 27

Your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37

You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13

It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15

You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126

You feel the world is small compared to you, phone Psalm 19

You want to carry fruit, phone John 15

Paul's secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17

With big opportunity/ discovery, phone Isaiah 55

To get along with other people, phone Romans 12

ALTERNATE NUMBERS For dealing with fear, call Psalm 47

For security, call Psalm 121:3

For assurance, call Mark 8:35

For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18

ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY. NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY. ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY. FEED YOUR FAITH, AND DOUBT WILL STARVE TO DEATH.

"Restore Courage Within You"

Discovering the Courage Within


Christopher Columbus needed courage. So did Lance Armstrong when he defeated cancer and captured the Tour de France in 1999. History is littered with courageous acts and courageous people.

You don't have to be a world-class explorer or professional cyclist to have courage. Everybody needs it, but how do you get it, especially when you're like the lion before he discovered the Wizard of Oz?

As the lion had to learn, courage exists inside of you. You just have to dredge it up after years of burying it behind your safety zones.

The Inborn Courage in You

Everyone was born with courage. You may not remember learning how to walk, but you know you fell hundreds of times before you stood on your own. Learning to walk took courage. And you succeeded because you had little fear or doubt.

Eventually, that changed. Parents and other caregivers told you to be careful, to avoid dangers. Society, after all, values comfort over fulfillment. "We've been exposed to a barrage of messages that discourage us from being courageous," says Harold Bloomfield, MD, a Yale-trained psychiatrist and author of Making Peace With Your Past .

Your Adversity Quotient

As you grew up, you patterned your response to adversity on how people around you responded to difficulty. Paul G. Stoltz, PhD, president/CEO of Peak Learning International and author of Adversity Quotient , defines this reaction to adversity as the adversity quotient (AQ).
As a baby, your AQ is untested. By the time you're 12, thanks to your environment and situations you've faced, you've developed your AQ. "The higher your AQ," Stoltz says, "the better you're able to summon courage and tap your greatness in times of need."

Fortunately, your AQ can be strengthened.

Courage as a Necessity

Why do you need courage? Because courage will help you live your life the way you want. "Courage is learning to overcome fear," says Dr. Bloomfield, "and when you do that, you grow."

Today, courage is needed more than ever before. In polls that Stoltz conducted, 98% of people predicted more difficulty, chaos and uncertainty in their lives in the future. Stoltz says that 10 years ago, the average number of challenges people faced in a day was seven. Today, that number has risen to 23.

Linda Larsen, author of True Power , knows firsthand the power of courage. Over 20 years ago, she was kidnapped, raped and held hostage for over five hours. She summoned courage she didn't know she had and escaped. "My courage didn't let me down," she says. "Once you know courage is always in you, you can start learning to act more courageously in life."

Obstacles to Becoming Braver

There are, though, things that stand between you and your courageous self. Dr. Bloomfield lists the following obstacles:

Fear of change .

Learning how to be less controlled by your fears is one key to becoming more courageous.

Either-or-thinking .

You may think of yourself as a wimp and others as courageous, but there has to be a middle ground. You can live in a comfort zone, but you have to be willing to be courageous when it counts.

Fear of failure .

Failure is an important part of success, and being courageous involves being willing to fail at times.

Lack of faith .

Identify your self doubt so that you can act more courageously.

Personal fears .

These are fears such as fear of taking responsibility for your life; fear of self-discovery; fear of losing control; fear of moving forward; and fear of making the wrong decision. Know that you are bigger than your fears. Follow your instincts, and if doubts emerge, shove them aside.

Finding Courage in Times of Need

Stoltz says you draw courage from what matters to you. "The changes you're willing to make are the ones that have the greatest significance," he says. For example, if you've been offered a job that will force you to move across the country but you don't care about the job, you'll have a hard time finding courage to make the move.

Once you've decided what matters, then follow these suggestions for becoming more courageous.

Recall previous times when you acted courageously.

Did you move as a child and have to make new friends? Did you go away to college? "Focusing on times when you acted courageously will instill more courage in you," Larsen says, adding that you should also applaud yourself for showing courage.

Shift your focus.

Don't worry about failing or disappointing other people, Larsen says. Worry instead about failing yourself.

Eliminate the words "wish," "hope" and "maybe" from your vocabulary.

"These words erode your courage by filling you with doubt, fear or hesitation," says Dr. Bloomfield.

Do your homework.

If appropriate, know the obstacles you might encounter. Talk with other people who were once in your shoes. But remember that no matter how much you analyze the situation, you'll still have unknown answers.

"Courage doesn't mean waiting to act until you have no fear," explains Dr. Bloomfield.

"Courage means living with heart and doing what you want when you're scared."
Surround yourself with courageous people

There will always be people who say never. Find people who support and believe in you.

Imagine what life will be like when your challenge has passed.

"Courage can come from seeing past adversity and knowing that although it may be horrible now, it'll get better sometime," Stoltz says.

Give it your all but don't expect perfection , says Dr. Bloomfield. Don't give only 50%; then you can say later that you didn't succeed because you weren't trying that hard. To find courage, you must be willing to give 100%.

Once you've acted with courage, assess your response , Larsen says. Did acting with courage move you forward?

If not, figure out how you would behave differently next time. If so, then bottle that courage, reward yourself, and always remember this time when you acted with courage in spite of your fears.

"In Life,What Really Matters?"

What really matter most?

They say what matters is not how good we are in keeping ourselves out of trouble but how well we get out of trouble after we have unwittingly gotten into it. I agree.

After all, there can’t possibly be any one who can manage not to ever get into trouble. I believe that at some points in our lives, we find ourselves in situations we never dreamed of ever getting into — situations which we’d rather watch from a safe distance than be involved in.

At one point or another, we would succumb to temptations, commit mistakes, make wrong moves, and yes — fail. And very soon we find ourselves caught in a tangled web whose ending and beginning we can no longer pinpoint, and from which liberating ourselves seems impossible.

Then we realize that getting out of our predicaments can be very difficult, and that not all of us have the courage, the determination and the will to get out of sorrow’s clasps. Move over, it seems that not everyone of those who might have them (courage, determination and will) can actually make it — some do succeed, often after having been badly scathed with all their struggles; but some would fail and succumb to destruction.

What’s worse is that, even those who might manage to escape from the abyss they’ve been thrown into might, in their struggles, lose something of themselves, so that, although they will still be the same persons who have gotten into and out of the maze, they will no longer be their old selves. Somehow, they will be changed.

So while our ability to get out of the trouble we have gotten ourselves into matters more than our ability to keep out of it, far more important is the person we would become after everything we went through. If, after all that we’ve put up with, we would still have our conscience to help us discern what is right and wrong, and the willingness and ability to heed the dictates of that conscience, then we know we’ve succeeded in clinching that which really matters.

"Strenghts of a mother..."

Mother

They carry children, they carry hardships,
they carry burdens but they hold
happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when the are happy and laugh
when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up for justice.

They don't take NO for an answer when
they believe there is a better solution.

They go without new shoes so their children
can have them. They go to the
doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel and
cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a
birth or a new marriage.

Their heart breaks when a friend dies.

They have sorrow at the loss of a family
member, yet they are strong when
they think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and kiss can heal
a broken heart. Mothers come in all
sizes, in all colors and shapes.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or Email you
to show how much they care about
YOU. The heart of a mother is what makes
the world spin! Mothers do more than
just give birth. They bring joy and hope.

They give compassion and ideals.
They give moral support to their family &
friends. Mothers have a lot to say
and a lot to give.

"Strength Within Will Make You Through"

.....Live your Life Meaningful.....Life is nOt what it Seems. Obstacles May not be ObstacLes.

Pains may noT be undesirable. Seeming difficulties may be your friends.

For it the overall objective of human life, according to the Divine will, is evolutioN,

ProGress towards Perfection, Then everything that Comes your wAy shouLd

Have it in the Potential for Helping yOU in this pRocesS.

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow,
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Courage is about doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared before you do it.

It is your attitude at the beginning of a task that determines success or failure.

Don't wait until people are dead to give them flowers.

Don't let your pride or lack of courage stand in the way of saying you're sorry.

Never stop doing your best just because someone doesn't give you credit.

It doesn't take strength to hold a grudge; it takes strength to let go of one.
I would rather make my name than inherit it.

Measure your days by how the corners of your mouth turn.

The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.

I've been trying to find the word that says what I need to be in life.

"Brave' is the only word. It's the only thing that I ask myself to be."

"EVERYTHING HAS IT'S OWN LIMIT"

There are so many questions that we ordinarily ask ourselves. We deal with different experiences everyday, meet different types of people with different backgrounds. Sometimes, we play as preys for predators. Some people prey on those who are innocent of something they are not even aware of. But why do these things happen?

I believe it happens for a reason. And that reason may be known or unknown to the prey. But in our search for the truth, we must be ready to face the challenges or trials that will come ahead.

Some people kept on running away from their problems and lack the courage to face and deal with those by doing something that will neutralize the situation. Instead, they rely on their feelings of revenge and even plan to victimize some innocents around them. Is this considered fair? It is quite obvious that it isn't but the innocent need to undergo this situation in order to learn from another experience and learn a valuable lesson in his/her development. We do not only gain suffering from our experiences but also virtues that we should have applied from the start. It makes us stronger and better persons. Some people do have insecurities and tend to do more bad things because of their frustrations. Some people already think that it's normal to blame people for their sufferings but I guess they have made it worse if they were not able to resolve it by applying good things. If somebody did something bad, the victims should not return the favor and instead do something good to make the predators realize their mistakes. And for that, all innocents should be ready for any repercussions.

Some people long for something that they have not achieved and thus became their frustrations. Aren't these frustrations just part of ordinary life? I think frustrations are normal and should not be hindrances to achieving people's ultimate goal, to be happy. Happiness comes with so many sacrifices but those are needed to make it happen.

In life, there should be no tries, it should either be do's or dont's. We should be capable of forgiving and learn how to let go. Holding on to something that we know we can't have will not make us happy. It is just making a fool out of ourselves. We should not make fictions but face reality. Let go of the past and be concerned about the future. If you already did a mistake in the past which resulted to losing a friend, then don't make that mistake again as it should have taught you a valuable lesson. Friends should be cherished and treated sensitively. Friends are not just substitutes for things or experiences that we lack. Friends are important people in our lives but we should not try to dictate our ideas or feelings to them. The main lesson here is acceptance and understanding but abuse should not be tolerated.

"Everything has its own limit."

"Be Fearless,Be Brave"

Be Fearless :
Be not afraid of anything. You will do marvelous work. The moment you fear, you are nobody. It is fear that is the greatest of all superstitions. It is fear that is the cause of our woes, and it is fearlessness that brings heaven even in a moment. Therefore, 'Aries, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached'
Stand and die in your own strength: if there is any sin in the world, it is weakness: avoid all weakness, for weakness is sin, weakness is death.

Strength of Character :
Neither money pays, nor name, nor fame, nor learning: it is CHARACTER that can cleave through adamantine walls of difficulties.
If wealth is lost nothing is lost; if health is lost something is lost, but if character is lost everything is lost.

Success :
Take up one idea, make that one idea your life; think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is way to success.

Love :
Love opens the most impossible gates; love is the gate to all the secrets of the universe. Every step that has been really gained in the world has been gained by love.

Hard work :
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety nine percent perspiration.

Communication :
It is only few that understand the language of brain, but everyone understands the language that comes from heart.

"Go After Your Dreams"

"You're good, but you're going to be great............. "
"You're the best, but you're going to get better..............."
Sometimes the paths we take are long and hard, but remember: those are always the ones that lead to the most beautiful views.

Challenges come along inevitably: how you respond to them determines who you are - deep down inside - and everything you're going to be.

Increase the chances of reaching your goals by working at them gradually. The very best you can do is all that is asked of you.

Realize that you are capable of working miracles of your own making. Remember that opportunities have a reason for knocking on your door, and the right ones are there for the taking.

You don't always have to win, but you do need to know what it takes to be a winner.
It's up to you to find the key that unlocks the door to a more fulfilling life.

Understand that increased difficulty brings you nearer to the truth of how to survive it - and get beyond it.

Cross your bridges.
Meet your challenges.

Reach out for your dreams, and bring them closer and closer to your heart.
Get rid of the "if only's" and get on with whatever you need to do to get things right.

"Go after what you want in life, with all the blessings of all the people who care about you. And find out what making your wishes come true really feels like."

"DARE TO DREAM"

Let nothing hold you back from exploring your wildest fantasies,wishes, and aspirations.
Don't be afraid to dream big and to follow your dreams wherever they may lead you.

"Open your eyes to their beauty;"

"Open your mind to their magic;"

"Open your heart to their possibilities."

"Dare to dream."

Whether they are in color or in black and white,
whether they are big or small,easily attainable or almost impossible,look to your dreams,and make them become reality.
Wishes and hopes are nothing until you take the first step towards making them something!

Don't be afraid,be brave!"Dare to dream"

Because only by dreaming,will you ever discover who you are, what you want, and what you can do.

Don't be afraid to take risks,to become involved,to make commitment.

Do whatever it takes to make your dreams come true.

Always believe in miracles,and always believe in you!

"DREAM TO LIVE"

"BELIEVE IN YOURSELF"


















Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others,
It is because we are different that each of us is special.
Don't set your goals by what other people deem important,
Only you know what is best for you.
Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart
Cling to that as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.
Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or the future.
By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.
Don't give up when you still have something to give
Nothing is really over … until the moment you stop trying.
Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect,
It is the fragile thread that binds us to each other.
Don't be afraid to encounter risks,
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.
The fastest way to lose love is to hold on too tightly,
And the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
Don't dismiss your Dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope.
To be without hope is to be without purpose.
Don't run through life so fast that you forget where you've been,
But also know where you're going.
Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored every step of the way.

Face your fears,have courage...fear is only in the mind

"Everyone Has Their Own Fears... Not Just You "

To be a burden to anyoneI'm not sure if it's because I don't have the guts to put anyone in any kind of discomfort or that I am just too stubborn to depend on anyone. Either way, I don't want to…

To lose someone that I loveI know a lot of people share this sentiment but it makes me think sometimes, are we really afraid to lose these people or are we just afraid of the pain we are going to go through? Either way, I don't want to…

To die youngI am too selfish because I still want to experience and see so much or I know that I still have a lot of things to do for everyone, especially to those I owe my life to.

Either way, I don't want to…

To be helpless and useless(This doesn't go vis-à-vis with number 1. To be put in a situation where I can't help or be of any use to anyone not because of physical inability but due to circumstances that are beyond my control. ) Or because of the lack of self-respect it will cause me or because of the effect it will have on the people around me.

Either way, I don't want to be…

To end up either in a hospital or prisonAfraid of everything that I would have to go through in such a place or afraid because of the pain it will bring to those dear to me.

Either way, I don't want to…

To grow old aloneWhy? Because it is surely going to be bloody lonely or it's just because it's too damn boring to go to bed at night, wake up in the morning, do your stuff all by yourself.

Either way, I don't want to…

RegretI'm afraid of being in a situation thinking, "if only…" Maybe it's because I don't want to miss out on anything or maybe it's because I just don't have the courage to say no.

Either way, I don't want to…
To be fooled… yet againEither because I don't want to subject my heart and my soul to such kind of pain or I'm just afraid to lose my ability to trust.

Either way, I don't want to be…

Snakes, sharks and crocodiles.Just because I've seen too many movies and documentaries, read a lot of news about these creatures eating people like a piece of steak or just because they look pretty horrible to me.

Either way, I don't like them…

The Ocean Because its too vast, too mysterious and I know its beauty kills or because I freak out the moment my feet can't touch the ground due to the fact that I can't swim. Either way, I'm afraid of it…I am afraid of many things. I am afraid because these things are way beyond my control. I believe that there are aspects in my life that I can't do anything about. But for now, I only concentrate on things that I can do something about and leave the things that I can't to SOMEONE who can.

Overcome fear

Fear itself - What is its origin? Fear is defined as, "an unpleasant feeling of apprehension or distress caused by the presence or anticipation of danger."1 But what is the origin of this unpleasant feeling - fear itself? The ultimate basis for all fear is man's alienation from God. The first mention or manifestation of fear in the Bible was from the first man, Adam. While in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had been given a command by the Lord to refrain from eating the fruit of the tree in the midst of the Garden. The serpent, Satan, deceived them and caused them to disobey God. As a result they became afraid and hid from God. Genesis 3:8-10 shares the account, "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, 'Where are you?' He answered, 'I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.'" The root of so many fear-based thoughts is this alienation between God and man. When man sinned, he no longer enjoyed the close, intimate, loving fellowship with God as at the beginning. Fear of punishment, insecurity, dread of evil events, anticipation of loss all stem from the lost relationship to God and the covering that comes from His loving protection. Inherently, sin makes man feel that he is undeserving of any good from the hand of the Lord and is therefore vulnerable to all kinds of bad things. Rising also out of the enmity between God and man is the feeling of inadequacy that generates all kinds of fears and is a direct cause of unbelief. Faith and fear cannot be present at the same time. When we trust in the promises of God, we are not afraid. After the Children of Israel had crossed the Red Sea and continued on their journey towards the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey that God had promised to them, they came to Kadesh Barnea. Moses sent twelve spies to spy out the land of Canaan and ten of them came back with this report: Numbers 13:31 says, "But the men who had gone up with him said, 'We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are.'" Though the children of Israel had received the promise that God would give them the Land of Canaan and had led them through the Red Sea and had promised to be with them, they still feared. They felt inadequate to tackle the "giants" in the land and, rather, forfeited the promise. What was the origin of their fear? The Bible gives us a very clear answer. It was their unbelief and it caused them to fail to enter the Promised Land. Hebrews 3:19 says, "So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief." Sin and unbelief working in the life of any person will promote fear and alienation. As a result, there is torment and rebellion and the reaping of the displeasure of God. Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." 2 Timothy 1:7 states: "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 1 John 4:18 reads, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

How to overcome fear - Are there steps to help me? Are there steps that may be taken to overcome fear? The first step in overcoming fear is recognizing and identifying what fear is and its origin. Fear is the response of the emotions to uncertainty of things unknown or anticipated, insecurity and guilt. The everyday things of life provide many opportunities to fear: "Will I lose my job? Will I have enough money to pay my bills? Will I, or one of my loved-ones get sick and die? Will my spouse leave me?" These thoughts originate from Satan, the enemy of our souls and cause us great anguish. While all of these questions are possibilities, there is no reason to anticipate loss and failure. Bad things as well as good things happen to all people. Satan's trick is to make us feel that we will receive an inordinate amount of "bad things" and further, and more importantly, that we will be unable to cope. He wants us to feel we will be overcome by evil. The second step in overcoming fear is to resist it by faith. Once we accept that fear is generated by the evil will of Satan who lies and accuses, we can begin to resist it. "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. . ." (1 Peter 5:8-9). Faith is not just asking and receiving, faith is acknowledging who God is and fully accepting Him. When we realize that God is our Father, that He is all powerful and that He loves us, we will realize that there is no situation in life, real or imagined, that God will not be able and willing to help us. Through the love and power of God anything can be conquered. "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father'" (Romans 8:15). Thirdly, we must sidestep the pitfall of guilt. Often we live in fear, because we accept the lie that we will have "bad things" happen to us because we have done "bad things." We believe that sickness or loss will come on us because we have sinned. The Bible lets us know that, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12). God is not seeking to punish us for our sins; He has already laid our sins upon His precious Son, Jesus and the penalty has already been paid. We have the right to rest in the knowledge that we are children of God and God will provide for us. "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread" (Psalm 37:25). Lastly, we should stand on God's Word, His promises. God is as good as His Word. He will do whatever He has promised. This is our security and anchor; we can know that whatever does come into our life does not have to shake us because of what Jesus has done. "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul. . ." (Hebrews 6:19). If fear is a problem in our lives, we can turn fully to the Lord who is always waiting to help us: "And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me" (Psalms 50:15).

Overcome Fear - My ProcessNothing in all my study of psychology helped me overcome fear. My studies had not given me anything I could use to test what was truly rational versus what was irrational-what was truth versus what was a lie. Since my early beliefs were grounded and rooted in religious doctrines, I turned to the Bible for answers. I made a decision to hold every belief to be false or corrupted until I could validate it in God's Word. First, I humbled myself and decided that in order to overcome fear, I needed God's help. 1 Peter 5:6 says, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." Second, I made the decision that I would cast all my anxieties, all my worries, all my concerns, once and for all on Him and trust Him to teach me what I needed to know to change fear into faith. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Third, I began to overcome fear when I took a stand against the devil, declaring him to be the liar while choosing to believe God, accepting everything He said as truth! 1 Peter 5:8-9 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings." When I stood, God stood with me. When I grounded myself in God's Word, I became immovable and determined through Jesus Christ. Over the years, I have continued to become established, securely grounded, and strengthened. I have determined to stay His course, to become all He created and designed me to be. I encourage you to seek God's truth, challenge every fear-based thought to find out what is really true and what is a lie. I encourage you to make the Bible your standard of truth and trust God to help you separate truth from lies. Everything you need to overcome fear is available to you through Jesus Christ and can be found by those who seek Him, who learn to put on His character as their own, and who abide in His Word.


Overcoming fears - What does it require? Many of us struggle with overcoming fears in our lives. It is helpful to realize that fear is nothing more than a voluntarily endured hardship. Here are some suggestions for overcoming fear:
Concentrate on reality - Fear can result from focusing on a challenging idea or the possibilities of the future, or from dwelling and rehashing events of the past. These ideas and possibilities do not represent reality and we should focus on our present reality.
Attack fear with faith and love. There is wonder-working power in these weapons and they have been overcoming fears throughout humanity's existence.
Discuss your fears with someone you trust.
Realize that God can take away your fear. In the Bible, 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you."The first attempt at overcoming fears was described in Genesis 3. Adam was afraid of God, so he hid from Him. This solution was not met with a great deal of success. Adam exemplified humanity's intuitive nature to run and hide when we are fearful. It is counterintuitive to turn toward God, not away from Him, in times of fear. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34). Matthew 6:26-27 explains why we should have faith rather than fear, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Overcoming our fears involves embracing a counterintuitive nature. It requires a well-armed confrontation. Most importantly, it requires God. Rather than being overwhelmed by fear, overcome your fear by being overwhelmed by God. When you make God the focus of your life, you can conquer more than fear.