Trust and Obey God's Word

The speaker for our women's retreat was Gail Mays. She lost her husband Steve Mays in 2014. He was the pastor at Calvary Chapel South Bay. She has since moved to Murrieta. Gail began her teaching Saturday morning. She shared that Marie, our pastor's wife, had given her the book "Glory Days" by Max Lucado. The description for this book is:
Link
In Glory Days, Max Lucado looks at the life of Joshua and the challenges Israel faced, showing how God spoke in the midst of their wilderness experience. Just like Israel, you can find the strength to thrive in the desert. You can close the distance between the person you are, and the person you want to be. These can become your best days. Glory days.

 So Gail's teaching was centered on the book of Joshua. She began by sharing that the book of Joshua is about enjoying all that God has for us and how to live well; it is about God's promises, plans, purposes, prosperity, promotion, preparation, pledge, people and priests.

 We are called to "fear not". Joshua 1:9 reads "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." 

 In chapter one of Joshua, God has given us three commands and three promises. He tells us in verses 6, 7, 9, and 18 to "Be strong and courageous." In verse 6 we see Joshua was commanded to lead the people of Israel. And in verses 7 and 8 God said to obey all of the law. 

 Just as Pastor David had shared the night before, we are also encouraged by God's promises. God promises to never leave us or forsake us, but to be with us wherever we go (verses 5 and 9). And in verse 7 God promises that we will be successful. 

So a formula for overcoming fears is to trust and obey our heavenly Father. We do this by following God's commands and trusting in His promises.

Before our morning session ended, two women in our fellowship gave their testimonies. Bree shared how she had overcome her fears associated with having cystic fibrosis. Karen shared about a current trial that causes her fear at times. Both have relied on the Lord, His Word and His promises for them. They trust and obey.

Bree shared a great reminder. When she would begin getting caught up in the "what if" questions of her circumstances, her friend would ask her "What do you know?" What we know is what is in God's Word. We know that we are loved. We know that God will always be with us. We know that in Him we will be successful.

How can we fearful in the name of Jesus?

I think Karen mentioned this song by Lauren Daigle, "Trust in You".

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