How You Can Be Fully Alive Today Without the Fear of Death

Many people let the fear of death control where they go and what they do. That ain't no way to live. With a different perspective, we can live a better way. #Fear #Unafraid #Faith #Blessings

Have you ever wondered what it must have been like for the Children of Israel when an illness or plague swept over them and thousands died? Their fear of death must have been unimaginable.

Yet, in the past year and a half, we’ve had a bit of a sample as to what they may have felt considering the people we’ve watched let their fear of illness and death dictate where they go and what they do.

Most of us don’t want to think about dying and from what we’re observing in the world around us—many deeply fear it.

But as followers of Jesus, you and I can have a different perspective . . . a spiritually healthy perspective. God’s Word tells us why:

That is why he [Jesus] is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.
Hebrews 9:15

As God’s children, you and I can live each day knowing that we are going to live forever. Death is just something that will open the doorway between this dark sinful world and the glories of heaven.

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:27–28

The promise to everyone who knows, trusts, and follows Jesus, is that their forever home in heaven is established and assured.

Jesus promised:

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
John 14:1–3

We don’t need to fear death. Jesus has promised that when the time is right He will come and personally take us Home.

A Prayer to Live Fully Alive Right Now
and No Longer Fear Death

Father, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for His sacrifice that takes away our sins. Thank you for Your promises of a rich and satisfying life now and a beautiful future with You in heaven.

Please forgive me for letting fear take root in my life. Forgive me for listening to the lies that rob me of the joy You want for me now and the peace You want me to have about my future. “Lord, I believe. Please help me overcome my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

You give me everything I need to know, trust, and follow You. You come to me through Your Spirit and Your Word. You invite me to come to You in prayer. Please prompt me to compare the messages of this world with the truth of Your Word. Help me focus my heart and mind on who You are and on what You are able to do. Help me experience the peace that passes understanding and give me everything I need to stand up to fear with the truth of Your promises . . . the sword of the Spirit.

By Your grace, please help me live fully alive with hope and joy. Remove my fear of death and prompt my heart and mind to remember that it is just the door to Your glorious presence and my home that will last forever. May I serve You today and every day overflowing with the joy of living full of faith, hope, and love.

I ask this in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus. Amen.

You and I don’t have to give in for fear of any kind . . . even fear of death.

Jesus is with us and within us. And although we can’t physically see Him right now, He has promised that He will come and take us Home to Heaven where we will live without fear or tears or pain or anything else that threatens to rob our joy and happiness.

So, when the enemy comes knocking on your door with messages that frighten you, fight back with the sword of the Spirit and tell him…

God has not given [me] a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

The Lord is by my side. I am not afraid. Psalm 118:6

Even when I walk through the valley of death, I will not be afraid. God is with me. Psalm 23:4

I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Jesus has won the victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil. We have everything we need to live without the fear of dying.

On today’s note write:

Because of Jesus, I can live today without the fear of death.

May God fill you with His peace today and give you everything you need to live in faith without fear.

Click here to read the rest of Hebrews 9.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

I would love it if you would subscribe to Counting My Blessings and join more than 15,000 of us as we apply God’s Word together. I’ll share a short post and prayer every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday that I pray will bless you with God’s peace and fill you with the hope of His promises.

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How God Will Give You the Hope that Removes Fear Forever

8 / 5 / 218 / 5 / 21

When life's aches and pains result in fear, you can trust God's promises to give you the hope you need to remove fear by giving you an eternal perspective. #HopeinJesus #Heaven #Eternity #Blessings

I have to admit, I smiled when I read Paul’s words today:

While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh…
2 Corinthians 5:4a

It seems like there’s always plenty to groan and sigh about. Aches and pains are part of life for so many of us. I don’t think I know anyone who can get up every morning and live throughout the day without some form of discomfort and irritation. And pain often leads to fear.

Fear of illness and for many . . . fear of death.

But Paul went on to give us the hope that is able to remove fear…

… it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:4b–5

In the midst of all of life’s aches and pains that result in groaning, I want to remember that this achy body is temporary and a beautiful promise is waiting for us.

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.
2 Corinthians 5:1–3

I believe God wants us to live a rich and satisfying life right now! Jesus said:

I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
John 10:10 (MSG)

Not just eternal life far off in the distance following a death that is feared but…

By God’s grace through Jesus, a rich, real, and satisfying life right now because we are living each day with an eternal perspective.

We don’t have to fear death because we have God’s promise…

God himself will be with them.He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Revelations 21:3b–4

So, let’s pray and ask God to help us hold on to the eternal perspective that gives us the hope that removes fear.

A Prayer for the Hope that Removes Fear

Father, thank you for Your Word . . . for promises that give me hope for today, for my future on earth, and for my forever future in heaven. Thank you that eternal life became my future the moment Jesus entered my heart. Thank you that the life You give is one filled with forgiveness and love. Thank you that the life You give turns fear into the faith that gives peace and hope.

By Your grace and with Your help, I am able to endure today’s aches and pains, frustrations and frailties, uncertainties and unknowns trusting that You are with me always. (Matthew 28:20) You are my hope. (Romans 5:5) You are King of kings and Lord of lords. (1 Timothy 6:15) You are the promise I can rely upon forever. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Lord, I ask that when life is painful and fear creeps in You will fill my heart and mind, and give me the eternal perspective I need. Please give me the hope that defeats every doubt, that lasts, and that removes fear forever. Your grace is an amazing gift . . . it gives me victory today, tomorrow, and forever. In Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen.

When you feel those aches and pains today. When you are tempted by the enemy to give in to fear. Pause and remember that Jesus is your hope. He wants to remove your fear and He is able to do it.

I lived for far too long overwhelmed by fear. I believed in Jesus for my eternal future but I didn’t trust Him to give me the courage and strength I needed each day.

Please trust me when I tell you that was a lie straight from the pits of hell.

Jesus is greater than our greatest fears. He is able to give us everything we need right now—not just in some far-off distant future.

And if He is able to give me the hope that removes fear . . . I promise you, He is able to give it to you as well.

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

On today’s note write:

Jesus is the hope that removes fear.

May God bless you today as He gives you an eternal perspective and meets your every need through Jesus.

Click here to read the rest of 2 Corinthians 5.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

You can also…

Leave a prayer request on the
Blessing Counters Prayer Page…

and take a moment to pray for someone else.

If you’d like to read and study the New Testament
in just 5 minutes a day this year head over to
5 Min. A Day N. T. Devotions

And check out our new Facebook Page/Group –
#WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory.
We’d love for you to join the movement!

Always remember – I LOVE hearing from you!
So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ by leaving a comment.

If this article blessed or helped you today — would you please share it with someone? Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

5 Things You Need to Know about the Way Fear Lies to You

7 / 19 / 177 / 15 / 17

Welcome to another post in The Summer Sizzle Blog Hop Series.

It is an absolute blessing to introduce you to my friend, Valerie Murray. I am so very thankful God brought her into my life.

If you’ve been visiting Counting My Blessings for a while, you know I’ve had a long hard journey through decades filled with fear. You know that quote of C. S. Lewis that says,“Friendship … is born at the moment when one man says to another “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .”? That was my experience meeting Valerie.

One of the many things I love about Valerie is that she’s a fighter. She’s fighting her fear with faith and she’s a beautiful kind caring encourager who will inspire you to fight your fear as well.

Please make her feel welcome and take a few extra minutes to visit her at Cord of 6 and on social media listed below.

5 Things You Need to Know about the Way Fear Lies to You

I wouldn’t do that if I were you. What if something bad happens? What if? How would you live with that kind of gut-wrenching pain? It’s WAY too risky. Someone could get hurt. You’ll look stupid. Make a fool of yourself. People just aren’t going to like you. Who do you think you are?

Lies!

Fear is deceptive. The feeling of fear is so uncomfortable, it begs us to turn around and run as far away from it as possible!

I’m not referring to healthy fear that serves to protect us from harm. Instead, it’s the kind that retreats from growth, that pulls in and steps backward.

Subconsciously, it forms habits and pathways of thinking that leave permanent imprints like stamps in concrete. We start telling ourselves lies and cement them into our way of living.

Are you listening to the lies of fear or the truth of faith?

1. Fear says you’ll be safer and happier if you avoid taking risks.

It wants you to bypass anything bringing apprehensive feelings to the surface. Protect yourself through avoidance.

Faith trusts in God’s sovereignty and control.

It believes nothing happens that’s not first filtered through the hands of a loving, all-powerful God. It holds onto the hope that when tragedy strikes, God is still there, still good, still loving and still taking care of you.

Faith recognizes that joy is unearthed in the personal and spiritual efforts found in the hard work of trading fear for faith.

Faith says,”I will be ok because I have Jesus.”

He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17)

For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)

2. Fear distorts reality by magnifying the level of actual danger a certain activity has.

In my pursuit to overcome my fear of driving on freeways, I decided to look up what percentage of the US population dies in car accidents each year. Every time I drive on freeways, it feels as if I am very likely to get in a car accident.

According to statistics, I only have a 1% chance of dying while driving on the freeway. Only 1%! And yet I live as if I’m going to die every time I get on the onramp. My fear greatly distorted the amount of risk involved.

Faith chooses to believe truth and doesn’t allow feelings to control behavior. It uses a sound mind.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy: 1:7 KJB)

3. Fear gives you a false sense of control.

When I decide not to drive to the out-of-town baby shower or go the birthday party that requires traveling on 3 unknown freeways, it feels like I’m controlling my own safety. It feels like I’m preventing something bad from happening. I feel a false sense of control.

But in actuality, I’m being controlled by fear. I’m doubting God’s sovereignty that I’ll be ok, even if an accident happens. And I’m inhibiting the growth of relationships and connection to others in the process.

Faith understands there’s freedom in surrender–in opening my clenched fists and exposing the very fear that Jesus wants to remedy.

4. Fear doubts God’s love by focusing on the pain and sadness in difficult circumstances instead of the hope that’s found in Jesus.

When a child dies, a friend has a brain aneurysm, gets cancer, killed in a car accident — this is where I really get stuck. I begin to get lost in sorrow and I become afraid of living. Afraid because if that happened to me, I don’t even know how I’d be able to breathe. And what if I didn’t want to?

But Jesus always offers hope even in the most excruciating circumstances. And I’ve seen that hope when all hope should have been gone. And it’s real. That’s what we need to remember. What we have to grab hold of.

Hope is the anchor for the soul. And we need to grab onto it!

Faith takes hold of the hope found in Jesus when sorrow floods our heart.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It entered the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. (Hebrews 6:19)

5. Fear says you’ll never be able to change.

You’re stuck in your ways. The cement has dried. It’s too late for you.

Faith believes that with Jesus, all things are possible!

Faith: Jesus looked at them and said,

With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God. Matthew 19:26

God loves you enough not to let you stay in darkness. And if you decide to trade your fear for faith, He’s not going to leave you alone.

You’re not forever stuck in concrete.

With Jesus, there is a way out. It may not be an easy way to freedom. There may be some chipping away at the raw places where fear’s roots have been planted. But once the roots are loose, you will gradually be able to taste the freedom of fully trusting in God.

What fear are you struggling with today? How can you let your faith be bigger than your fears?

Valerie Murray is a wife of 21 years and a busy mom to 4 energetic children. She writes at ValerieMurray.com about keeping faith and family strong through Christ. Her heart’s desire is to offer hope to others and declare the glory of God in her life through her writing. Her mission is to offer encouragement to struggling marriages, overwhelmed moms and people striving to face their fears and know their worth. Coffee, chocolate and a good movie always makes her happy! You can find her on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Instagram & Google+.

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