Intentional Encouragement

     Fear is a powerful foe. It comes in varying forms and different degrees. Fear often takes what could be and treats it as though it is what will be.      Some people are more fearful by nature than others. Some struggle with genuine disorders related to fear like panic attacks. Others have had a difficult experience in their past that affects them deeply whenever a similar situation arises in the future. Fears vary between men and women. Here are some common fears that people experience: Public speaking Spiders Terrorism Snakes Failure Flying      For you it may be several of these. Or it may be a whole new list. The topic of fear is so large that a simple post such as this can never hope to address all aspects of it.      I would like to suggest a verse of Scripture and a few thoughts that can help us as we face some of the more "daily" sorts of fears. I'm speaking about things like the fear of the future...

     I saw the title of this article on a Facebook post this morning as I was getting my day in gear.  Actually the whole phrase was "worrying is temporary atheism."      That really has me thinking.  All of us who claim belief in God would deny the charge of atheist.  But when we worry and get anxious over our circumstances or our tomorrows, aren't we acting like God is, at the very least, unaware or uninvolved?  Aren't we functioning at that moment like he either isn't there or at least doesn't matter?      That's pretty harsh, but the more I mull it over; the more accurate it seems to me.      As Jesus gave what we call the sermon on the mount (recorded in Matthew 6), he took a few minutes to remind the people of the importance of setting aside worry.  He challenges anxiety on several counts. It over emphasizes things that God says are less important (25-26) It is ineffective at acco...