Show Notes
**Visit the Amazon store to purchase a Desert Grace Reflection Journal or printed copies of the Desert Grace book series**
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTKWW1ZK
Introduction:
A wise mentor once shared with me that “faith and fear are the same things. They are both based on an expectation that something might happen- one is based on something positive, and the other is based on something negative.” I am convicted that our belief about God’s love for us, and our position as His children determine our ability to have peace when we face circumstances that make us fearful and anxious. 1 John 4:16 says “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
I wonder how many of us struggle with fear and anxiety because we believe that God's love for us is conditional and that somehow His protection waxes and wanes based on our good behavior. When we stand before God, we don't have to cower before Him in unhealthy fear, but we fear and stand in awe of the One who is just, who is good, and who we can trust because He loves us perfectly and completely. Do we have a healthy fear of God that leads us to trust Him with everything? We can acknowledge what is making us afraid and anxious, then knowing that God is good, bring those things before Him because we have rights and authority as His children.
We have the right to ask God for help, and the authority in the name of Jesus to come against the things that stand in the way of what God wants for us. God desires to care for your well-being and give you a future and hope! You have a spiritual enemy that will attempt to move you into fear and anxiety by causing chaos so that you won’t believe God wants to give you a future and hope. We can bring everything into the authority of Jesus, including our thoughts, desires, hopes, and fears. We have rights by the authority we carry in Jesus! Yet some things block us from believing that we carry authority as His children because many of us have a core belief that when something goes wrong in our lives it is because we are being punished. To be perfected in the perfect love that casts out fear, we need to know beyond a shadow of any doubt that God perfectly loves us and sees us as His children!
In this session, we will #1 Examine your belief about the rights and authority you have as a follower of Christ #2 Be vulnerable about the areas of yourself where you struggle with fear. #3 Identify any trauma you have experienced related to fear and anxiety #4 Identify any stories or beliefs you created when you had traumatic experiences that caused fear and anxiety. We tend to create a story or belief system surrounding our emotions, trauma, or past events in our lives. It is an expectation that something will negative will happen because of a traumatic or disappointing event. #5 Finally, declare the truth about who God says you are in your position as His child.
More from Desert Grace: Contemplative Healing Prayers
In this powerful guided prayer episode, we take up our armor through submitting our whole selves to the authority, and presence of God. Together, we pray for wisdom, discernment, peace of mind, emotional healing, spiritual covering, and renewed courage to stand firm in our faith in Jesus Christ. This episode is an invitation to surrender fear, break agreement with lies, and rest in the truth of who God says you are. Take a deep breath, quiet your heart, and allow yourself to connect with Jesus, our refuge and hop in time of battle.
Theme It is Easter morning, and He has risen! Today, we celebrate not only the resurrection of Jesus but also our identity in Him. Through Christ’s victory over sin and death, we are transformed—no longer defined by our past but marked by His righteousness, grace, and new life. Our identity is now hidden securely with Christ, and our hearts are set on heavenly realities. Let's embrace our newness in Him, fully alive, and deeply anchored in His resurrection power.
Theme The spaces in between the busy times allow us to find rest and restoration. It can be uncomfortable when we are not sure what is going to happen next, but you expect that something new is on the horizon! Enter rest with the Lord today as you wait in anticipation Christ's return!
Theme I could imagine how crushing it was for Jesus’ disciples and family to watch him die. In that moment it looked like darkness won and they didn’t know that resurrection was on the other side of death. Jesus gave his disciples a promise and though they couldn’t understand or see how it could be possible, it didn’t make it any less true. Many of you are battling spiritual warfare and it looks like darkness is winning, but spiritual warfare does not void out the promises God has made to you. Those promises were made out of love, and love believes all things and hopes all things. Today’s meditation is about focusing on God’s promises when things look bleak.
Theme Jesus’ sacrifice invites us to lay down our own lives in service to God and others. As we identify with His ultimate sacrifice, we are called to live sacrificially.