{"id":12436,"date":"2013-06-10T01:00:19","date_gmt":"2013-06-10T05:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=12436"},"modified":"2013-06-09T22:23:25","modified_gmt":"2013-06-10T02:23:25","slug":"girls-with-swords-chapter-12-sword-of-silence-pgs-175-180","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/06\/10\/girls-with-swords-chapter-12-sword-of-silence-pgs-175-180\/","title":{"rendered":"Girls with Swords: Chapter 12 \u2013 \u201cSword of Silence\u201d (pgs 175-180)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever noticed those people who stay calm in the face of major trauma?\u00a0 Some of us are \u201cbasket cases\u201d<\/span> and some of us are \u201ccool cucumbers.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0 God made us with a \u2018Fight or Flight\u2019 mechanism in our brains for protection.\u00a0 We need them both to survive, but we can learn to control our reactions to the fearful stimuli.\u00a0 It is not a sin to be afraid, but how we act and react to that fear can be sinful.<\/p>\n

Over and over the Scriptures tell us, \u201cFear not\u201d<\/span> and \u201cDo not be afraid<\/span>.\u201d\u00a0 Our God knows we have fear when we face the unknown in our lives.\u00a0 He knows our first reaction to hard times, both mentally and physically will be to have fear and He asks us to NOT be afraid.\u00a0 If God asks us to NOT be afraid, then it must be possible<\/em> to control the fear inside and perform anyway.\u00a0 If you are one of those \u201cbasket cases<\/span>\u201d and need to work on being a \u201c<\/span>cool cucumber,\u201d<\/span> then there is HOPE for you as you lean on the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

In most cases, fear immobilizes us.\u00a0 We freeze, stop thinking clearly, and look for the flight path.\u00a0 When we give up rational control of our thoughts, we tend to make bad decisions for ourselves and those around us.\u00a0 If fear is normal, then how do we function when bad things happen?\u00a0 If fear is normal, why can a trauma nurse or surgeon treat critically injured patients and not freeze up or be physically ill?\u00a0 How can a police officer remain calm at the scene of an accident?\u00a0 How can a mom care for her child who is broken or bleeding or heartsick?\u00a0 How would we be able to live without those people???<\/em><\/p>\n

A very familiar quote by Gen. Douglas MacArthur says, \u201cIf bravery is a quality which knows not fear, then I have never seen a brave man. For the courageous man is the man who, in spite of his fear, forces himself to carry on.\u201d\u00a0 Courage is learned.\u00a0 Courage is practiced.\u00a0 Courage is controlled strength of character<\/em>.\u00a0 If it were not possible to control our fear, the Scriptures would not ask us over and over to \u201c<\/span>Not be AFRAID.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"FEAR\"<\/a><\/p>\n

When looking at persevering through fear, I found this quote by Dave Grossi:\u00a0 \u201cDo warriors experience fear? You bet they do. The only difference is a warrior is trained to overcome that fear and forge ahead. He fights through it, and gets the job done. The untrained fall victim to it.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Warriors have fear, but they train to learn to control that fear and overcome it.\u00a0 As we learn to control the fear that sometimes rules our lives, we need to look to Jesus\u2019 example.<\/p>\n

It took great strength, courage, and character for Jesus to control his anger, fear, and words when being confronted with the sinful people attempting to stop Him from accomplishing His mission.\u00a0 The message of Jesus is about finding the balance of seeking God, growth, and maturity—and\u00a0resulting actions.\u00a0 When directly faced\u00a0by Satan, Jesus did not \u2018take the bait\u2019 and engage in a verbal war.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t prove Satan wrong by showing him how powerful HE was.\u00a0 When all was said and done, Satan was defeated by the Truth in the Scriptures.\u00a0 Jesus said, \u201cIt is written\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/span> <\/strong>and the devil fled.<\/p>\n

Many people think Jesus was \u201cborn\u201d knowing all the Scripture He used when He ministered.\u00a0 Jesus was taught just like all the other good Jewish boys\u2026and just like us<\/em> if we apply ourselves to study.\u00a0 There is not one bit of Scripture Jesus knew that we are not able to also know.\u00a0 The only difference is the amount of time and conviction we are willing to put into our relationship with God, the Father.<\/p>\n

If we really look at Jesus\u2019 example we will find He sought silence to be alone with the Father before His major battles.\u00a0 Here are seven instances where Jesus sought silence and solitude:<\/p>\n

1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0He was fasting and praying when He was confronted with Satan in the desert (Matthew 4:1-2),<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He sought silence and seclusion after the death of His best friend, John the Baptist (Matthew 14:10-13),<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After ministering to the crowds and pouring Himself out, Jesus sought solitude and quiet in the mountains (Matthew 14:23),<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus dealt with His popularity and the crowds that\u00a0accompanied it by taking times of silence to reconnect with the Father.\u00a0 By seeking silence and solitude, Jesus was able to deal with the growing demands of His ministry.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus was constantly being confronted with sick people needing His healing.\u00a0 Even when He told the healed ones NOT to tell, the crowds found out and came to Jesus for more healing. (Luke 5:15-16).<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

6)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus main purpose for being on this earth was to serve others and bring them to a relationship with God the Father through His sacrifice.\u00a0 Jesus would have experienced fear and anxiety as the day approached for His crucifixion and resurrection.\u00a0 He dealt with this fear and anxiety through quiet time with the Father\u00a0 (Matthew 17:1-3).<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

7)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Before Jesus faced his death, He went alone to pray to His Father and ask for the coming events to be taken from Him.\u00a0 If we follow Jesus\u2019 example, we will seek the Father BEFORE we get into hard and traumatic situations (Matthew 26:36).<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

There are also examples where Jesus held His tongue and did not respond in anger to those around Him.\u00a0 When questioned by the Pharisees, Jesus was controlled, reserved, and thought before He spoke.\u00a0 They were trying to trip Him up, geting Him to say things that Jesus could have been jailed and killed for.\u00a0 When Jesus appeared before Pilate, He was asked very direct questions which would cause Him to be put to death and Jesus remained silent\u00a0 (Mark 14:61).\u00a0 In holding His tongue, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah (53:7), \u201cHe was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In our reading this week, Lisa gives us many examples from the Old Testament where God wants to be our Deliver, Provider, and Protector.\u00a0 He has not changed.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 God still wants to be our Deliverer from harm, our Provider for our needs and our Protector from evil.\u00a0“Be still and KNOW that HE is God…” and He\u00a0is able to provide everything you need.<\/p>\n

This week we will begin to learn to be still, silent, and strong.\u00a0 Our strength will rise when we wait upon the Lord.\u00a0 He will fight our battles for us.\u00a0 He will go before us and be our rear guard.\u00a0 Trust God for His protection over your life.\u00a0 Give Him control and see what a beautiful life He wants to give you.\u00a0 You were meant to be courageous and brave.\u00a0 Exercise the discipline it takes to develop the strength to stand in silence while the noise goes on around you.<\/p>\n

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling. \u00a0(Zechariah 2:13)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.\u00a0 (Habakkuk 2:20)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near.\u00a0 The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. \u00a0(Zephaniah 1:7)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I want to be SILENT<\/strong> <\/span>and let GOD do His work in, and through, my life.\u00a0 Thank You, God, for loving me enough to Protect and Provide for me.\u00a0 I just have to be quiet. AMEN!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you ever noticed those people who stay calm in the face of major trauma?\u00a0 Some of us are \u201cbasket cases\u201d and some of us are \u201ccool cucumbers.\u201d\u00a0 God made us with a \u2018Fight or Flight\u2019 mechanism in our brains for protection.\u00a0 We need them both to survive, but we can learn to control our […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":12443,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[8],"tags":[425,1985,2678,1986,1632,2674,2675,2676,2677,2673,2680,1052,2679],"class_list":["post-12436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-womens","tag-girlfriends-coffee-hour","tag-girls-with-swords","tag-habakkuk-2-20","tag-lisa-bevere","tag-luke-515-16","tag-matthew-1410-13","tag-matthew-1423","tag-matthew-171-3","tag-matthew-2636","tag-matthew-41-2","tag-sephaniah-17","tag-teresa-bolme","tag-zechariah-213","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/FEAR.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p39pHp-3eA","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12436","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12436"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12445,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12436\/revisions\/12445"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}