Get a Grip on Fear

How can fear have such a grip on our lives? How do the “what ifs?” and “what about?” take precedence in our minds? Fear of not being enough. Fear of losing face. Fear of losing control. Fear of not being enough. Fear of rejection. Fear of what may happen. Fear of not getting married. Fear of not having enough. Fear of adult children's choices. Fear of failure.

How much of your day is spent in your mind fearing something? When we’re afraid of what might happen tomorrow, or even in a few hours, we miss having joy in the moment. Can God be in those moments of future fears? God is here with us here and right now. He’s a very personal God and we’re called to take refuge in God when the future comes, but also right this very moment when the fear looms in our minds. Fear disconnects me from God. I can’t focus on my worries and God too!

What would happen in our minds if we stayed in the present? Not the future and not the past. Present thinking. I have found when I focus on living in God’s presence, in the here and now, it tends to wipe away my fears of the future. Sure, I have deadlines. Absolutely, I have things that need to get done. You bet I have a list of things to accomplish each day. Here’s the thing… living in God’s presence allows me to focus on His presence and appreciate His power. As I begin my day with prayer, I pray for those things that tend to cause me fear. I bring them up to the Lord one by one. This verse really helps give guidance for where our minds are focused:

“I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 16:7-8

Gosh, the truth is my mind is NOT capable of solving all the things that often fly through it. How does your mind spin around? Work problem? Relational struggle? Unresolved issue? Parenting challenge? When we’re focused on blessing the Lord, we can’t be struggling with fear. Instead, we listen to his counsel. We invite him to help us with our problems and fears. Bring the Lord to mind! Picture yourself setting the Lord before You. He is right there. In his presence, there is no fear. There is peace.

When we’re in Jesus’ presence, nothing else matters. I get it. We still live. We still have our “lists.” We still have our concerns in life. Instead, over and over and over, we give Him our concerns. We ask Him for help. We just don’t have to do life on our own! 

Is it possible to live in God’s presence, being fully present with Him in the moment? I believe it is. Let’s pray that God will give us more of a taste of this type of living.

Take a listen to "These Are the Days" Lauren Daigle. Such a reminder to leave your worries behind! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA8Lrtei90o

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio. 

Bandwagoner

 I hit the jackpot last Saturday when I sat down to watch college football. I just happened to turn on the TCU and Colorado game. It did not disappoint. As you may know, Coach Prime (Deion Sanders) led the Colorado Buffaloes to upset 17th-ranked TCU. The game had me glued to my seat, as the lead went back and forth throughout the game. By the 4th quarter, I was shouting like crazy, cheering my new team on to victory. Yes, I was one of the new official bandwagon fans. I’ll stay on board until further notice, even though I will always cheer for my Buckeyes.

But Coach Prime. My goodness. I watched his opening introduction when he first arrived in Colorado, notoriously known as “We’re coming.” Well, Coach Prime and his team did come and beat an impressive TCU team. His character, attitude, passion, and faith are beautiful qualities that inspire for sure. He believes in his kids. He loves his kids.

Check out Coach Prime’s halftime words at full volume in the locker room:

We’re not going to beat ourselves. We’re not going to beat ourselves. We’re going to beat them. You’re apprehensive. You didn’t really believe. But now you should. Everything we need is right in this locker room. You need to make up your mind as to how you want this story to be written. Let’s go out and be dominant. We’re going to beat them, but we’re going to do it with class and dignity. Look at the person next to you and say “I believe.” I BELIEVE!

Coach Prime has faced his challenges. In 2022, he experienced a health scare, suffering from blood clots that forced the doctors to remove two of his toes. He admitted it was one of the most trying times of his life, but He trusted God so much. Coach Prime said “My faith was sustained. How can you even measure your faith if you’re not challenged?”

Even as he stepped down from his coaching position at Jackson State, he was met with much criticism. Yet, he ignored his critics. “You have to understand the people that are criticizing you. I never listen to my critics because my critics have critics.”

Perhaps, you and I need a bit of the passion and zeal of Coach Prime. Maybe we need to really BELIEVE that with God, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) Maybe when bad things happen, we need to ask God to increase our faith. Maybe we need to tell those near and dear to us “I believe in you!" Just maybe, when criticized, you can find God’s unfailing love and approval.

Coach Prime isn’t perfect, but he is surely motivating. We have a heavenly Father that is perfect. He loves us and desires a relationship with us. He believes in us, even when we don’t believe in ourselves. He went the distance for us by allowing His Son to die so that we could experience everlasting life. Do you believe? 

Take a listen: Stand in Faith with Danny Gokey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BL7mN4jV8w

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Labor Day Thoughts

Who doesn’t like a day off work every year when Labor Day rolls around?  It feels like the last hurrah at the pool before temperatures dip below 95 here in Texas.

This week, I was incredibly busy. I needed rest but couldn’t seem to fit the time for it! I found my mind racing with worry about how I was going to get everything done on my list. So much left undone.

As I start this busy fall season, I need to remind myself of things that help me truly rest this Labor Day:

Mind my Mind- When my mind goes to all my worries or thoughts of the future, I can’t truly embrace Christ in those moments. He’s not in the future; He’s present right now. Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

What do I focus on in my thought life? Do those thoughts keep me anxious? Worried? Resentful? Angry? Or peaceful? When we are fully at rest, we are anchoring our minds upon Jesus.

Come to Jesus - Today, my mind was spinning in all sorts of directions. What kind of existing desires were making me in such a frenzy? I had to ask God.  Jesus invites “all who are weary” to come to Him for rest. (Matthew 11:28) Jesus was asking me to come to Him. He would calm my spinning mind. He would give me the rest I was longing for. And He did!

Acknowledge your Need for God’s Help- Do you acknowledge your immense need for God’s help? Or do you just live life the best you can on your own? Problems arise when we try to go our own way and live in our own strength. Where have you been living life in your own strength? Nothing reminds me more of my connection and need for God, but these verses in John 15:5, 9 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing…. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”

I’m not going to say that abiding in Jesus is easy. But today, I practiced over and over keeping Him at the forefront of my mind. Abiding in Him is possible! You see, I know my true state. I’m helpless without Him. It’s in this place of great need that He meets me where I’m at, with His presence, grace, and unfailing love.

Cease Striving- In Marva Dawn’s book, Keeping the Sabbath Wholly, she describes what people find when they surrender completely to God “When we cease striving to be God, we learn a whole new kind of contentment, the delight of the presence of God in our present circumstances. When we give up our silly rebellion against God’s purposes, we discover that he provides the security for which we were searching.”  Let God be God. We are not God. Stop trying to be! Allow Him to take the weight of all you’ve been working toward. He can handle it.

I’m writing this message for me today. Hopefully, some of the rest of you need it as well.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30, The Message

Take a moment to rest and worship with Kari Jobe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhoEktYO5w8

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.