Good morning, and welcome to His Encouragement Thursday! I don’t know about you, but Thursdays are my struggle day of the week. By Thursday, I have already been working hard at school and at home, and I just wish it would hurry up and be Friday already. LOL! I definitely need a little extra Jesus time on Thursdays.
Trisha, my blogger friend at Joy of Reading, and I decided on calling this post “His Encouragement” because our real source of peace, strength, and security can only come from Jesus Christ. He, and He alone, is our constant! We pray and hope that these Thursday posts become a real encouragement to you and help you end your week strong in God’s love and purpose for you. God bless!
Today’s Thursday Encouragement comes from:
Isaiah 8:13 (CSB)
You are to regard only the Lord of Armies as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be held in awe.
It is SO easy to take our eyes off God and get sucked in by all that is happening in our world. There is so much fighting, so much anger, so much pain and suffering.
In Isaiah’s day, there was great upheaval. The king of Israel was defeated by the Assyrians, Israeli captives were taken, and the Northern Kingdom was destroyed. King Hezekiah, the king of Judah, was terrified the Assyrians were going to take over Judah next. There was a lot of fear in Isaiah’s day. But was it the right kind of fear?
I don’t like pain of any kind, and I fear being hurt. I fear anything being done to me against my will. I fear for my child and her safety. What humans are capable of doing to another person without feeling bad scares me to my core. What happens to people to make them hate so badly, want power so badly, that they are able to viciously hurt another without a care? Don’t they fear God? And, this is the crux of my fear — men and women who don’t fear the Lord. Without fear of the Lord, people lose their moral compass, and that terrifies me. This is the same kind of fear Hezekiah had, too.
In Isaiah 8:12, God tells Isaiah to tell His people “to not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.” You see, God’s children in Judah were starting to take their eyes off God, and were beginning to believe the things they heard on the news! They were beginning to distrust God’s omnipotence and might. The Assyrians were some pretty rough guys … they were downright scary actually. But in Isaiah 8:13, God reminds His children to refocus. God, the Lord of Armies, is the only One to be feared. God reminds His children that He is the Father and He will take care of the bad guys. Fear the Lord, do not fear man. Focus on God and hold Him in awe.
This is a really excellent reminder for me today. When I turn on the news, or when someone I consider a friend says something completely against God, I have to remember that things are not falling apart, but rather they are falling into place. God has not lost control. I do not need to fear the things of this world. I simply need to keep my eyes focused on God and fear Him! He truly is the only One deserving of awe.
NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN!
WHAT BIBLICAL VERSE IS ENCOURAGING YOU TODAY?
Check out more Thursday Encouragement from my fellow blogger friends:
Trisha @ Joy of Reading
Jacquelyn @ A Heavenly Home
Jessica @ A Baker’s Perspective
Becca @ The Becca Files
Jenny @ Author Jenny Lynn
Gina @ Stories by Gina!
If you would like to join us: please contact Trisha or Nicole
The Christian Fiction Girl 
I love your illustrated verse; it has encouraged me today. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad! Thanks for checking my post out today. Really glad it was encouraging. Blessings, Vickie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What Vicklea said. I really enjoyed today’s post. Thanks so much for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad you liked it! Makes my heart happy. Hope you have a great day!
LikeLike
“I have to remember that things are not falling apart, but rather they are falling into place. God has not lost control. I do not need to fear the things of this world.”
Perfect. Thank you for sharing this. When faced with overwhelming or frightening circumstances, I often remind myself that although I did not see them coming, God did. He knew about this and, as any loving Father would, prepared me for this in His infinite wisdom. He has a plan for me – a plan made in love and a plan for good. Regardless of whether I can understand or see the why or the how, He can. I must trust in His sovereign power, His unfailing wisdom, and His unconditional love.
1 Peter 1:8-9 Are the verses encouraging me today. They remind me that my joy and my strength come from Him – not myself or my circumstances. I can have peace in all things because He is in control and works all things for good.
LikeLike
Thank you so much for commenting today, Kathleen. I appreciate that I’m not the only one who feels this way. I often have to remind myself that I need to trust God’s sovereignty. and His plan. And, that He is prepared for everything! Blessings to you, Kathleen!
LikeLiked by 1 person
God has plans for us. Plans of prosper and of hope! We have nothing to fear. God is on our side! This is something I need to hear often. It’s easy to see the disasters going on and start to feel the fear creeping in. But, we don’t need to be worried or afraid. God is in control.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! God is in control. And, He is on our side!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“When I turn on the news, or when someone I consider a friend says something completely against God, I have to remember that things are not falling apart, but rather they are falling into place. God has not lost control. I do not need to fear the things of this world. I simply need to keep my eyes focused on God and fear Him! He truly is the only One deserving of awe.” So true! It can be difficult seeing the state of the world and where it seems to be heading, but nothing comes as a surprise to our Heavenly Father and He is still in control.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen!!! 😀
LikeLike