The Promise
This week, the staff of River of Life is bringing our homes to yours! In this weekend's message of "Church on the Move," we hear from Pastor Adam Haugen.
Many people love rollercoasters— they pay a lot of money and wait in line a long time just for a minute of thrill! Here is the key difference: We love rollercoasters, when we choose it. We love the excitement BUT only when we feel like we are ultimately in control. What do you do when you find yourself on a rollercoaster in life? On a rollercoaster, for about a minute, these fears add to the thrill of the ride But in life, for a prolonged season, these fears can suck the thrill right out of life. These fears can be crippling. We begin to question the promises that God has for our situations that we face!
There was a man in the Bible that was in a similar situation to the one we find ourselves in today. In 2 Chronicles, we learn about King Hezekiah. Hezekiah took over ruling Judah from his father Ahaz who was a wicked king. He made all the right choices. He served God, turned the nation back to the Lord, cleansed the Temple, got the people to celebrate Passover again, and inspired people to give in abundance to the Lord. God wants us, even in this season, to prosper. Everything was going good for King Hezekiah until he started a new chapter. As we break down this chapter, we learn that King Hezekiah was in a rollercoaster season, similar to how many of us may feel right now! For Hezekiah, the enemy is staring him in the face and fear is beginning to seep in as he has lost control and his identity, and is threatened with death. In his rollercoaster season, Hezekiah took 4 steps to overcome his fear. When we are facing anxious and uncertain times, we can follow the steps that Hezekiah took to overcome our fear. We can choose worship. Worship gives us perspective on our predicament, and peace in our pain. We can choose honesty. In your times of prayer, tell God where you’re at! Be honest with what’s going on in your heart with Him. He can handle our anger, our fear, our frustration, or our confusion. We can choose trust. You ask Jesus for what you need! Finally, we can choose truth. Throughout the Bible, God talks about our words being seeds that produce. Our words will always produce something, and that is why it is important, especially in this season, to ground our thoughts and our words on God’s truth.
Here is your challenge for this week: One verse, one minute, one night at a time. Some of you are wondering what this year is going to hold.
In this rollercoaster of life, how can I continue to grow despite the change of circumstances around me? God has given you the plan today. God has a promise for you and he wants you to succeed. Don’t miss your opportunity. One verse, one minute, one night at a time.
Verses to Meditate On:
For Fear:
- 2 Timothy 1:7
- Hebrews 13:6
- 1 John 4:18
- John 14:27 - 28
For Addiction:
- 1 John 1:9
- John 8:36
- Romans 5:20
- Romans 13:14
For Healing:
- Jeremiah 32:17
- Isaiah 53:5
- Psalm 107:20
- Psalm 30:2
For Forgiveness:
- Ephesians 4:31 - 32
- Colossians 3:13
- Romans 12:19
For Wisdom / Guidance:
- James 1:5
- Psalm 32:8
- Isaiah 30:21
- John 16:13
For Finances:
- Hebrews 4:16
- Psalm 23:1
- Luke 12:29 - 31
For Depression:
- Psalm 34:18
- John 10:10
- Psalm 145:14
- Isaiah 61:3
For Strength:
- Isaiah 40:29
- Psalm 73:26
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 - 10