Note: This first published, with some adaptations, on February 1st, 2018

Before I launch into today’s inspirational message, two invites! Have you subscribed to Faith Over Fear’s GodTube channel yet? You can do so HERE. And, my Your Daily Bible Verse team and I recently launched a GodTube channel as well on which we discuss truths presented on our podcast that week that most impacted us. Find us HERE.  

And now to today’s content. 🙂

If God were calling me to a  temporary fast, I could do it. Give up sugar? Ice cream? Television and technology? I wouldn’t forego those things easily, but I could do it. But this, what God’s calling me to release, indefinitely, feels  harder than anything He’s asked of me before. This thing cuts to the core of my hopes and dreams, triggers insecurities and fear, and ultimately, reveals in which I haven’t fully trusted God.

So what is this thing that God calls me, persistently, to relinquish?

Control.

My agenda. My time and my to-do list. Whatever I’m striving for that keeps me from saying, at each moment, “Not my will, but Yours, Lord Jesus, be done.”

When I’m sitting with my Bible, reading of His love and care, meditating on all He’s done for me, yielding to the Spirit fills me with a sense of anticipation.

But then the day begins, and pricks of selfishness, doubt, and uncertainty weaken my resolve and hinder my obedience. My prayers sound more like complaints and long-winded requests than commitments to my Savior.

Perhaps because, while stuck in my head, where all the what-ifs run amuck, I forget that, at His core, my God is good. I’m reminded of Christ’s words in Matthew 16:25, when He said, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

I know, from Scripture and history, that, sometimes, God indeed calls us to willingly give our lives in our allegiance to Him. I won’t deny that this present life can feel hard, heavy, and overwhelming. But I also know that Jesus endured the tortures of the cross for the joy set before Him. This, and everything He preserved in Scripture, tells me that all that awaits us, in Christ, will be infinitely more pleasurable and beautiful than anything we’ve ever experienced on this present earth, a thousand times over.

But I also believe the Lord leads us to filled and fulfilling life now, and we most experience that life by living it as He knows best.

I’ve discovered, If I want to be used by God and touch lives for eternity, my life must be touched first by the transforming power of God, the God who shows me how to love, and live, well.

This is the call. And it begins with a quiet, yet desperate plea, “Change me, Lord. Help me. Do whatever You need to within me to make me pliable in Your hands, a cleansed and open vessel ready to do Your will and Your will only. ”

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Let’s talk about this! Did anything resonate with you as you read today’s post? Is God asking you to lay down, or perhaps pick up, anything? What makes that hard? Share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments below, because we can all learn from each other!

How to Overcome Panic Attacks Through the Power of Praise – Faith Over Fear

Panic attacks can leave us gasping for breath, desperately praying for peace, and perpetually bracing ourselves for the next unexpected attack. If that's you, you'd probably do about anything to break free from these deeply unsettling anxiety bursts. Today's guest, Wendy Speake gets it! But Christ showed her a way out! What if something as simple as prioritizing praise could lead to lasting peace? What if, by shifting to worship, even when that feels like the last thing you want to do, invites the power and presence of God into your struggle? In today's episode, host Jennifer Slattery and guest Wendy Speake explore how to interrupt negative thought patterns, distinguish biblical praise from spiritual bypassing, and develop habits that help us focus on God's truth when our emotions tell us otherwise. Wendy also shares practical strategies from her book, A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving: 30 Days of Rejoicing in God's Goodness, including a simple gratitude practice and a different way to approach our most desperate prayers. Discover how intentionally praising God for who He is can help you persevere through difficult seasons and experience His presence even when your circumstances remain unchanged. Want to enter the giveaway drawing? Subscribe to Jennifer's faith-building newsletter here! Resource mentioned: A Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving: 30 Days of Rejoicing in God’s Goodness Scripture referenced or discussed: Psalm 23; Psalm 40:2–3; Psalm 100; Psalm 118:24; Psalm 121:1–2; Lamentations 3:22–23; Acts 16:25–26; Philippians 4:4–9; Romans 8:1; Hebrews 13:5. Connect with Wendy Speake: On her website On Facebook On Instagram Follow her writing on Amazon Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

1. How to Overcome Panic Attacks Through the Power of Praise 35:55
2. How to Experience God's Presence When You Feel a Mess (ft. Stasi Eldredge) 35:03
3. Hearing God: How to Move Forward in Confidence When You’re Unsure 34:55
4. When God Seems Silent: How to Trust He's Still Near 35:00
5. When You Fear You'll Miss God's Will: How to Hear Him with Confidence 38:03