Rest Easy Ministries Blog

75 Verses That State "Do Not Be Afraid"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 18:01:00 +0000

Genesis 15:1

[ The Lord’s Covenant With Abram ] After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

Genesis 15:1-3 (in Context) Genesis 15 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Genesis 21:17

God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.

Genesis 21:16-18 (in Context) Genesis 21 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Genesis 26:24

That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

Genesis 26:23-25 (in Context) Genesis 26 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Genesis 46:3

“I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.

Genesis 46:2-4 (in Context) Genesis 46 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Exodus 14:13

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.

Exodus 14:12-14 (in Context) Exodus 14 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Exodus 20:20

Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

Exodus 20:19-21 (in Context) Exodus 20 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Leviticus 26:6

“‘I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.

Leviticus 26:5-7 (in Context) Leviticus 26 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Numbers 14:9

Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

Numbers 14:8-10 (in Context) Numbers 14 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Numbers 21:34

The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.”

Numbers 21:33-35 (in Context) Numbers 21 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 1:17

Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgmentbelongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.”

Deuteronomy 1:16-18 (in Context) Deuteronomy 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 1:21

See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 1:20-22 (in Context) Deuteronomy 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 1:29

Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them.

Deuteronomy 1:28-30 (in Context) Deuteronomy 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 3:2

The Lord said to me, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.”

Deuteronomy 3:1-3 (in Context) Deuteronomy 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 3:22

Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.”

Deuteronomy 3:21-23 (in Context) Deuteronomy 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 7:18

But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.

Deuteronomy 7:17-19 (in Context) Deuteronomy 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 20:1

[ Going to War ] When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.

Deuteronomy 20:1-3 (in Context) Deuteronomy 20 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 20:3

He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted orafraid; do not panic or be terrified by them.

Deuteronomy 20:2-4 (in Context) Deuteronomy 20 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:5-7 (in Context) Deuteronomy 31 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid;do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:7-9 (in Context) Deuteronomy 31 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lordyour God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:8-10 (in Context) Joshua 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Joshua 8:1

[ Ai Destroyed ] Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land.

Joshua 8:1-3 (in Context) Joshua 8 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Joshua 10:8

The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will beable to withstand you.”

Joshua 10:7-9 (in Context) Joshua 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Joshua 10:25

Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lordwill do to all the enemies you are going to fight.”

Joshua 10:24-26 (in Context) Joshua 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Joshua 11:6

The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.”

Joshua 11:5-7 (in Context) Joshua 11 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Judges 6:23

But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”

Judges 6:22-24 (in Context) Judges 6 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

1 Samuel 12:20

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.

1 Samuel 12:19-21 (in Context) 1 Samuel 12 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
1 Samuel 23:17

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will besecond to you. Even my father Saul knows this.”

1 Samuel 23:16-18 (in Context) 1 Samuel 23 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Kings 1:15

The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and wentdown with him to the king.

2 Kings 1:14-16 (in Context) 2 Kings 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Kings 19:6

Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

2 Kings 19:5-7 (in Context) 2 Kings 19 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Kings 25:24

Gedaliah took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid of the Babylonian officials,” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.”

2 Kings 25:23-25 (in Context) 2 Kings 25 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
1 Chronicles 22:13

Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave Moses for Israel.Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

1 Chronicles 22:12-14 (in Context) 1 Chronicles 22 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
1 Chronicles 28:20

David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.

1 Chronicles 28:19-21 (in Context) 1 Chronicles 28 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Chronicles 20:15

He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Donot be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

2 Chronicles 20:14-16 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 20 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Chronicles 20:17

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lordwill be with you.’”

2 Chronicles 20:16-18 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 20 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2 Chronicles 32:7

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.

2 Chronicles 32:6-8 (in Context) 2 Chronicles 32 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Nehemiah 2:2

so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.” I was very much afraid,

Nehemiah 2:1-3 (in Context) Nehemiah 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Psalm 118:6

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 118:5-7 (in Context) Psalm 118 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Proverbs 3:24

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Proverbs 3:23-25 (in Context) Proverbs 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 7:4

Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.

Isaiah 7:3-5 (in Context) Isaiah 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 10:24

Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says: “My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did.

Isaiah 10:23-25 (in Context) Isaiah 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 37:6

Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

Isaiah 37:5-7 (in Context) Isaiah 37 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 40:9

You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!”

Isaiah 40:8-10 (in Context) Isaiah 40 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 41:14

Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 41:13-15 (in Context) Isaiah 41 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 43:5

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

Isaiah 43:4-6 (in Context) Isaiah 43 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 44:2

This is what the Lord says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not beafraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

Isaiah 44:1-3 (in Context) Isaiah 44 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 44:8

Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

Isaiah 44:7-9 (in Context) Isaiah 44 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Isaiah 54:4

“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

Isaiah 54:3-5 (in Context) Isaiah 54 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Jeremiah 1:8

Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 1:7-9 (in Context) Jeremiah 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Jeremiah 30:10

“‘So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.

Jeremiah 30:9-11 (in Context) Jeremiah 30 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Jeremiah 40:9

Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians,” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.

Jeremiah 40:8-10 (in Context) Jeremiah 40 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Jeremiah 42:11

Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the Lord, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands.

Jeremiah 42:10-12 (in Context) Jeremiah 42 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Jeremiah 46:27

“Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make himafraid.

Jeremiah 46:26-28 (in Context) Jeremiah 46 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Jeremiah 46:28

Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the Lord. “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”

Jeremiah 46:27-28 (in Context) Jeremiah 46 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Jeremiah 51:46

Do not lose heart or be afraid when rumors are heard in the land; one rumor comes this year, another the next, rumors of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler.

Jeremiah 51:45-47 (in Context) Jeremiah 51 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Ezekiel 2:6

And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.

Ezekiel 2:5-7 (in Context) Ezekiel 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Ezekiel 3:9

I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”

Ezekiel 3:8-10 (in Context) Ezekiel 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Daniel 10:12

Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

Daniel 10:11-13 (in Context) Daniel 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Daniel 10:19

“Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”

Daniel 10:18-20 (in Context) Daniel 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Joel 2:21

Do not be afraid, land of Judah; be glad and rejoice. Surely the Lord has done great things!

Joel 2:20-22 (in Context) Joel 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Joel 2:22

Do not be afraid, you wild animals, for the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.

Joel 2:21-23 (in Context) Joel 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Zephaniah 3:13

They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”

Zephaniah 3:12-14 (in Context) Zephaniah 3 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Zechariah 8:13

Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”

Zechariah 8:12-14 (in Context) Zechariah 8 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Zechariah 8:15

“so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid.

Zechariah 8:14-16 (in Context) Zechariah 8 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Matthew 1:20

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David,do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 1:19-21 (in Context) Matthew 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Matthew 10:26

“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not bemade known.

Matthew 10:25-27 (in Context) Matthew 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Matthew 10:28

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:27-29 (in Context) Matthew 10 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Matthew 28:5

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

Matthew 28:4-6 (in Context) Matthew 28 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Matthew 28:10

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Matthew 28:9-11 (in Context) Matthew 28 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Luke 1:13

But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth willbear you a son, and you are to call him John.

Luke 1:12-14 (in Context) Luke 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Luke 1:30

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.

Luke 1:29-31 (in Context) Luke 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Luke 2:10

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Luke 2:9-11 (in Context) Luke 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Luke 12:4

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.

Luke 12:3-5 (in Context) Luke 12 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
Luke 12:32

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:31-33 (in Context) Luke 12 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
John 12:15

“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

John 12:14-16 (in Context) John 12 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:26-28 (in Context) John 14 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations

Amazing Encouragement! What The Lord and His messengers say after the statement "Do Not Fear"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 18:32:00 +0000

Statements God and His messengers made after the phrase "Do Not Fear"

Do not Fear

I am your shield, your very great reward."

God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.

I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."
I will make you into a great nation there.

Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.

God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."

I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land.

Judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it."

the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you.

I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land.

The Lord your God himself will fight for you."

Remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.

The Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.

The Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land.

I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you."

Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight."

By this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots."
but serve the Lord with all your heart.

My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will besecond to you. Even my father Saul knows this."

The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So Elijah got up and wentdown with him to the king.

Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you."

Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave Moses for Israel.Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.

Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.
Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.'"

there is a greater power with us than with him.

Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose I myself will help you," declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

I am with you and will rescue you,

I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile.

"Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.

Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

you who are highly esteemed," he said. "Peace! Be strong now; be strong." be glad and rejoice. Surely the Lord has done great things!

the pastures in the wilderness are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.

let your hands be strong."

take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not bemade known.

I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth willmbear you a son, and you are to call him John.

You have found favor with God.

I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt."

God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.'

I am the First and the Last.

Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown.

your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."

. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I will help you.

for I myself will help you," declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

you will not be put to shame.you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one whofears is not made perfect in love.

Why Trials?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 02:09:00 +0000

^"2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." From James 1

I am sure that all of you can relate to trials. They certainly are not fun. At times, they can be downright painful. Have you ever asked yourself.."Why do I have to go through this? It makes no sense to me. Will these trials ever end?"

As it says in James, trials PRODUCE something. They aren't done in vain. There's an old saying "No Pain, no gain." When you go through a trial, the Lord wants to use it to give you something in return. Sometimes it's strength, Sometimes it's healing. Sometimes it's because He is preparing you for something greater down the road.

The best way I can relate to the purposes of trails is by looking at something similar here on Earth. And in my quiet time, the Lord used my exercise and weight training programs as an example.

For example, let's say you have a goal get your body fat percentage down to 10%...and right now, you are at 23%. To get to 10%, that means you have to exercise and work out. And what does that entail? It entails cardio, working out, stretching, dieting, and having to discipline yourself to follwo thorugh. You will wake up sore. You will often times sweat profusely, wear yourself out, have to resist cravings to reach your goal. It's not exactly fun. But, all that hard work will eventually get you results. You will be trimmer, healthier, have more energy, etc.

As you can see, all the hard work that happens during a workout produces results. You put your body through pain, through hard work, but you get results. I think it's the same way when you go through trials.

I can give an example. One of the things that I have always struggled with is money. I hate spending money. And it seems, for as long as I can remember, I have had to try and surrender to God my fear of losing money. I had to get to a point where I could trust that He would take care of me, no matter what. I was constantly dealing with anxiety and fear.

last year, my apartment had gotten burglarized. I wasn't home when it happend. The burglars stole about $2500 worth of stuff, including my keyboard and my TV. My placed was completely trashed. On top of that, the deductable to cover my losses was $1000..and I didn't have that much money in my account to begin with. I was geting panicky..and having to deal with the emotional upheaval that burglary caused.

I spent time in prayer, and Lord told me something, and I'll never forget.."now you are going to see what I can do." Well, long story short,The Lord took care of me. The deductable was more than covered, and all of my stuff was replaced. All this within a week. This was a horrible trial to go through. But because of that trial, it took me one step closer to being able to trust that the Lord really was going to take care of me, and that He would provide. And I also received so much love and support during that time..it changed my life. And there have been more times since then where i had to deal with money issues, but the Lord again took care of me. Now, my money worries have decreased tremendously, and those trials have helped me to let go of those worries and fears and put my trust in God. In short, the testing of my faith has produced perseverance in that area.
----------
News! Resteasyministries.org is now online!

I jsut finished building a new website for resteasyministries. It is located at http://www.resteasyministries.org.

You will find music devotionals, audio Bible meditations, piano music, and more. :) The purpose is to allow the Lrod to bring rest to people through the tools that are available.

Blessings!

Norm

Where To Find God

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 06:48:00 +0000

Not too long ago I was doing my quiet time and the Lord showed me something profound.

I am one that struggles with worry and fear. As a result, my mind tends to focus on those things. I'm sure alot of the reasons come from old, unhealed wounds, but I'm sure another reason is that I tend to look at the circumstances, rather than the one in control of the circumstances. I have to constantly surrender my fears to God and seek His encouragement.

One day, I came across this verse from 1 Kings 19:

"...a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹²After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

The Lord asked me to draw a map. On the map, a drew a road that had three paths connected to it. You could either take those paths, or continue straight to the destination. The road represented the mind..and the paths represented the choices of the direction we could take it.

One path led to the earthquake. The earthquake represented trials that can shake your faith. Usually they are very devastating.

The second path led to the wind. The wind represented the circumstances, and how the enemy will use them to confuse you. Typically questions like "What if?" or thoughts like "You'll never get the money you need, you'll never this, you'll never that." It basically churns up all these thoughts that can really discourage you.

The third path led to the fire. The fire represents trial that we go through. As it says in James: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." But that is very often hard to do sometimes. It's like your world is being challenged and stretched, and it hurts. I know for myself, I tend to get depressed.

And finally, the raod itself led to the whisper. It is here, where God and His presence reside. And what is in God's presence? What is in a whisper? Peace. Quiet. Rest. Tranquility. Encouragement. Stregth. Hope. Joy. And faith.

You see, when we look to God, we don't look to our circumstances. We look to the one who is greater than they are. When we look to God, we use faith. Faith will beat out worry every time. It's in God's presnce you hear "Everything is going to be okay." "You will get through this, and you will grow as a result." "I am with you always."

I look at it like the eye of a hurricane. There is a strom raging all around, but in the eye, it's peaceful. Even though you are surrounded by a hurricane, in the eye, you are still. And that's where God wants us. He doesn't want us to worry. He doesn't want us to be afraid. He simply wants us. He is your Heavenly father...the best father there is.

So when things happen and you start to worry, remember this. You ahve control of where your mind goes. It does not have control of you. Focus on God...run to the whisper. That is where peace resides, and the fire, wind, and earthquakes can't touch you.

Condemnation Vs. Conviction

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 03:55:00 +0000

Condemnation versus Conviction

A lot of believers hear condemning thoughts, and some believers even think it's God telling them these things. My friend, nothing could be further from the truth! God NEVER tells you what a loser you are. Jesus said He came not to condemn the world, but to save it (John 12:47)!

What is condemnation?
Condemnation comes from Satan and is meant to tear you down. Condemnation continually points out what a failure you are, and how badly you've messed up. Condemnation is showing you the problem, but avoiding the solution.
Jesus did NOT come to condemn the world (John 12:47). There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Satan on the other hand is KNOWN for accusing the brethren (Rev 12:10).
Why won't you ever hear God telling you what a failure you are? Because Jesus said, "I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." (John 12:47)

What is conviction?
Conviction is known in the Bible as Godly sorrow. God's Word tells us that Godly sorrow is what leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). Condemnation tells you, "You are such a failure! Look at what you did!" while conviction tells you, "Come to me... and I will forgive you!"
Not only is God willing to forgive your sins, but He longs (deeply desires) to do so! Isaiah 30:18, "Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him." (NASB)
1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness."
Romans 2:4, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
Conviction shows you the answer to your problem. Conviction shows you the blood of Jesus that wipes away your sins.

What is the difference?
Conviction shows you the answer (the Blood of Jesus, which washes away sin), while condemnation shows you the problem (the sin, the past and your failures). Condemnation shows you the problem, but conviction shows you the answer.
Condemnation shouts, "Your past! Your sins! You loser!" But conviction shouts, "The Blood of Jesus washes away sins. Come to Jesus and be forgiven of your sins. You can be forgiven. Your sins and past don't have to be a part of you anymore."

Understanding the nature of God's forgiveness
It's so important to understand the nature of God's forgiveness and His desire to wash us clean from our pasts. The Forgiveness of Sins is a great teaching that will show you the nature of God's forgiveness.

Easy Yoke, Light Burden

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 06:11:00 +0000

^"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30

Many of us have heard this verse..it's one of the most encouraging verses in the Bible. But it can also be one of the hardest ones to follow when troubles hit..and fear and worry start pounding away.

One of the things that helps me is when the Lord gives me pictures, or describes a scene in terms that are easy for me to understand. Here's one for this verse.

The easy yoke
You may remember scenes of a farmer plowing his field, or putting a yoke around an animal and guiding it to plow a field. Very hard work either way. If I recall, there are some yokes that will attach to two animals.

Imagine yourself in one of those two sided yokes. It's only you. Now imagine that you are having to walk forward with this yoke on your back..and attached to the yoke are your worries, your fears, your trials, your struggles, your fears, your sickness. It doesn't take too long until you body starts to crumble under the weight of having to drag this yoke across this unplowed field, under the hot sun. That's how it is when we allow the enemy to attack our minds.

Now imagine that Jesus is on the yoke next to you. You are on one side, he is on the other. YOu say, Lord, I can't drag this yoke. It's too heavy." To which Jesus says "Nothing is too heavy for me to carry! If you give me control of this yoke, I'll drag it for you..all you have to do is walk alongside me. with that, Jesus starts to walk, and the yoke effortlessly starts to plow the ground. Jesus smiles and encourages you to walk with him. You barely, if at all..fell any of the weight of the yoke that is behind you. You are essentially walking alongside Jesus, who is effortlessly dragging the yoke on his side, while on your side, you are simply walking with the yoke around your neck..but it's effortless, since Jesus has taken the yoke upon himself.

The easy burden

What is it that burdens you? Is it fear? Doubt? There are many burdens that we deal with, sometimes on a daily basis. But Jesus wants to take those burdens from you as well!

Imagine yourself walking down a sidewalk with a backpack. It weighs about 200 pounds. Quite heavy! That's how our burdens are..they weigh us down, they depress. YOu hear the enemy screaming hopelessness in your ear. Suddenly Jesus approaches you with a backpack of his own. You say, "lord, I can't carry this backpack of burdens. It's too much for me." Jesus says"My burden is light! Trade me!" So you and Jesus exchange backpacks, and you notice that the backpack weighs only 3 pounds. Your back start to feel better, your muscles start to relax.

Jesus smiles and strap the backpack with your burdens on, and says "Walk with me. you don't have to carry these burdens. I got them. anytime you need me to take your burdens and give you peace and rest, just call to me. I am greater than your burdens, I am greater than your fears. Walk with me in peace. I'll handle the rest."

So the next time a burden gets dropped on you, give it to Jesus and receive His peace. He will take care of you..through all things.

A Relationship With God

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 06:15:00 +0000

One of the things I have been working on is my relationship with God. When one accepts Jesus Christ, they receive access to a relationship with God. I have struggled in the area of relationships in some areas, because I tended to follow religiosity. I am getting better. Today in my quiet time, I felt compelled to look up what makes a strong relationship work between a couple (which is somthing I would love to have). They are:
Honesty
Trust
Respect
Communication
Attention
Intimacy
Commitment

These are the things that God desires me to have with Him. A relationship. I wrote a few things down, and here is what I felt the Lord say:
Honesty: It is okay to tell me how you feel. You don't have to worry that I'll be angry with you. I want you to share with me your fears and worries, and let me encourage you. You are safe with me.

Trust: You can trust me in all things. I am not out to harm you. I have plans, a hope, and a future for you. You can trust me in ALL THINGS. You are free to bring your concerns to Me. If you make mistakes, come confess them to me and I will forgive you and help you.

Respect: I am the Lord. I love you. Just remember that I am GOD and am holy.

Communication: I am available 24/7 for you. When you talk, I will listen, but also remember to listen as well. In my presence, there are presents. There is encouragement, counselng, direction, and so many other things. As you come to me in worship, I will return blessing to you.

Attention: In all relationships, people need to make time for each other. It's the same with us. Make time for Me. I desire to spend time with you. The Word is one way. Prayer is another. Worship is another. Let's make time together to spend so our relationship can build.

Intimacy: I desire to know the deepest parts about you...fears, struggles, etc. I already know them. I desire for you to know the deepest parts of Me as well. You don't have to put walls up with Me. You can be vulnerable to Me. I am for you not against you.

Commitment: Like any other relationship, I am in it for the long haul. Through thick and thin, good times and bad times, highs and lows..i am always here for you. If you stay in relationship with me, you will ALWAYS have what you need.

This isn't religion. It's something far, far beyond religion. It's a relationship.

David (Faith) Vs Goliath (Fear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:38:00 +0000

Many of you know the story of David and Goliath in the Bible. Today I want to share with you and encouraging word that deals with this story..it's about dealing with fear.

One of the statements that is in the Bible repeatedly is "Do not be afraid." Fear is something we all deal with. We could be low on money. We may be uncertain about the future. Our country is not doing so great. Many things. I also know as well, that Satan will use our fears against us. I know for myslef, he loves to take any unhealed issues I have and just provoke them to the point where what I think is happening is not happening at all.

Anyway, this is Goliath..aka fear.

A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.[a] 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels[b]; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.[c] His shield bearer went ahead of him.
8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

So here is what Goliath had
1. Tremendous height
2. Experience
3. Bronze scale armor
4. Bronze greaves
5. Bronze javelin
6. Spear shaft with iron tip
7. A shield bearer
8. Bronze helmet
9. His gods

Fear works the same way. When we deal with fear, we deal with somthing that is much bigger that us. It can make us shudder in terror sometimes. It makes us worry, it makes us doubt. You'll also notice that Goliath challenges the Israleites, and the big thing...he defied God's army, and God himself.

now, let's look at David

David was a mere shepherd boy, about 14 years of age. He had fought off lions and bears. When he came to Goliath, it says "Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine."

So this is what David had

1) Sling
2)Stone
3) Sheperd's staff
4) God

You'll notice there is quite a difference is battle gear here.

continuing on..

Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come AGAINST YOU IN THE NAME OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

What did David come agasint Goliath with? God. And Goliath was defeated by a mere stone, despite all his armor, experience, and height.

The lesson here is that David faced fear with God. All he needed was a stone and a sling, and God took care of the rest. David had faith. And that is what will defeat fear. This is what will allow God to help us through whatever we are facing. This is what will help us to defeat the giants in our lives.

Check out this verse:
Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

The mustard seed in this case represents the stone David threw. It was all he needed to take down the giant. The mountains represent the obstacles Satan throws at us. My encouragement..all you need is a stone to take down your giants. Come agaisnt them the same way David came agaisnt goliath..An example..

“You come against me with fear and worry and sickness, but I come AGAINST YOU IN THE NAME OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head."

If you come against the enemy with God , the enemy cannot win. He never will.

The Eye Of The Storm

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:38:00 +0000

I remember a while back vacationing in Destin, FL. However, when we got there, we heard that a tropical storm was going to be coming through, with winds around 70 miles an hour. The storm hit later that night, and our condo was pounded by rain and wind. It was pretty creepy to say the least..hearing all these howling noises outside, no light, and rain slamming into the outer walls. However, an interesting thing happened. The eye of the storm passed over us. And for about an hour, there was no wind and no rain. I could see the storm clouds hugging the outer edges of the sky, and in the middle of the sky I could see stars. The temperature was perfect. It was one of the most peaceful things I've ever experienced. Peace in the storm. The storm eventually came back however, and so we went back into the condo and rode the storm out.

When I think of this, I think of the story in the Bible where Jesus walked on the water..from Matthew 14..

...the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
²⁵Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
²⁷But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
²⁸“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
²⁹“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But when, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
³¹Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

So here is the picture. The disciples are out in a boat during a storm. JEsus appears on the water. He invites Peter to come to him. Peter obliges, and AS HE FOCUSES ON JESUS, he is able to walk on the water. But as soon as Peter shifts his eyes from Jesus to the winds and the waves, he become afraid..and he begins to sink.

The moral of this story is this. In Jesus, there is peace. In Jesus, there is comfort. In Jesus, we receive strength. It says in Scripture.

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

When we go through trials. We have two choices. We can focus on the trials, or we can focus on Jesus. When we put our focus on Jesus, we put our faith in him that everything will be okay. We REST in him. Similar to the eye of the storm, you will be in an place of peace as the wind and the waves whip around you. You are essentially saying "Lord, there is a storm around me. But I am going to put my focus on you, because you are greater than the storm. I am going to praise you, I am going to walk with you. You are my peace through the storm. I trust that you will take care of me through this storm." If we put our focus o the one that can calm the storm, then we will be calm as well, because our hope is in HIM..not our circumstances. Conversely, if we take our eyes of Jesus and focus on the wind and the waves, we will be hit with worry, fear, and anxiety...and we'll start to sink into it's pits. But even so, we can always ask the Lord to save us, and He will reach out his hand and grab us, hold us, and reassure us.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:34:00 +0000

Rest Easy Music Ministries

www.normhastingsmusic.com

News: Jan. 16, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:34:00 +0000

Hi everyone! I hope and pray that you are all doing well. Be encouraged: The Lord has your back. he will never let the righteous fall.
Read more »

The River Vs. The Forest

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 08:14:00 +0000

Have you ever had to try to surrender something to God but had trouble doing it?
Read more »