5 Reasons Most Marriages Fail

So God has been pressing on my heart to speak life and encouragement to couples who seem to be struggling in their marriage. Today I want to share with you 5 reasons why most marriages fail. My prayer is that for each couple that is hanging on by a thread, that you would be encouraged to fight for your marriage and do what it takes to avoid these 5 common reasons why marriages are failing today.

1. Lack of Communication- We have all heard that communication is the number one reason for divorce in America today. If we are aware of the problem, we need to take the steps necessary to do something about the problem. The answer is to learn to communicate effectively with our spouse. As a man, sometimes I think that I have been clear about what I am trying to communicate only to realize later that I was completely unclear with what I was saying. This is why things didn't happen the way I thought they were going to Maybe you suffer from the same type of problem. Even with my spiritual gift being communication, that doesn't always mean that I communicate the way I need to. With that being said, what's the answer? One possible solution would be to figure out your spouses method of communication. Figure out if they are auditory, visual, or kin-esthetic learners. When a person is auditory, they learn by asking lots of questions and HEARING lots of answers. They are the type of person that can usually hear something and then go do whatever needs to be done. Our school systems are mainly taught using this auditory approach to teaching. Usually, teachers tell you something and then expect you to understand. Visual learners like to SEE what is going to happen.. They can't just hear about it. Many times drawing a picture of where things are going to go, or the way things are going to be set up, or creating a list will help a spouse who is visual to see what needs to happen. The last type of learner is kin-esthetic. This means that your spouse learns by doing, handling, FEELING, smelling, tasting, the information. These are the type of learners that don't like to be told or shown how to use a hammer, they actually want to pick it up and swing it! The point is, if you understand your spouses communication style and then begin to communicate to them using that style, it is amazing how different your spouse will understand and respond to what you are trying to communicate. Start by asking your spouse which way they like to learn information. Audibly, Visually, Touching/Feeling. Once you do that, use your mad creative skills to figure out ways to explain what you are trying to communicate in your spouses communication style. The hard part is putting ourselves into our spouses world and understanding that they need us to communicate to them in this way. If you are Auditory first, you may not see the need to have to write it down or grasp it with your hands, you may feel that telling them what you are saying is good enough. I challenge that thinking because if your spouse only communicated to you by drawing pictures, you would be easily frustrated because they are not just telling you what they are trying to say. Now imagine how frustrating it is to listen to you communicate in a style that doesn't match your spouse. This stuff really works and will help your marriage greatly. I encourage you to try it today!
2. Financial Issues- As long as you both shall live you will likely need to have a source of income coming in so that you can live and move and breathe. With that being said, many relationships suffer because of lack of money coming in. Others struggle with communicating about the money. Either way, money is known to be the 2nd biggest issue in marriage that can lead to divorce. When Amy and I first started dating, I had a great paying job and made more money in one year than any 16 year old should have ever made. It was awesome! At the end of the year I received my W2 form and realized that I made a ton of money, but yet I didn't own a new house, or a new car, or have any money in savings or even nice new clothes. Instead, I realized that because I ate out at restaurants everyday, I literally ate away all my income and savings! I quickly realized that I needed a solution. It was then that I discovered Financial Peace University. Dave Ramsey's FPU class changed my life by changing the way I managed and communicated about the green stuff! I highly encourage ever married couple to not only take the class, but to "Live like nobody else, so later you can live like nobody else!" I truly believe that taking this course changed the trajectory of where Amy and I were headed financially. We are so grateful to have learned how to handle finances at such a young age. Financial Freedom is being able to do what others can't do. I wouldn't be able to start a brand new church if I was financially in bondage. I wouldn't be able to do awesome things with my family if I was financially in bondage. I wouldn't be able to give the way that I want to give if I was financially in bondage. The value of getting out of debt is so vital to your success as a married couple. Every RevGroup semester we offer a Financial Peace University course for you to take. We strongly encourage you to get involved in this group and find financial freedom. I truly believe that if my role as a pastor is to help you through this life and to encourage you to become all that God created you to be. With that being said, if I can help you solve the two biggest problems that lead couples into divorce, I certainly will. Let us help you today. We are literally a phone call or message away from helping you.
3. Selfishness-Outside of lack of communication and money issues, right there at the top of the list is this idea of selfishness. We live in a society where we are more selfish than we even realize that we are being. Our marriages would look completely different if we truly put the other person's needs before our own. What if we were more concerned with where our spouse wanted to eat, where they wanted to go, and what they wanted to do, rather than our own needs, wants, and desires? What if we truly communicated to our spouse that we were willing to do anything to make them happy? Isn't that fully surrendering ourselves to each other? I mean we said our vows, we literally said that we were going to give 100% of ourselves to the other person. How is our being selfish accomplishing that goal? To many people have the idea that marriage is 50/50 and that every day life is going to run like that. Not always! Many times you may have to give way more the 50% to make it work. Is that wrong? No! Should it always be that way? No! When two people are committed to invest in their marriage, it is amazing to me how couples who each invest 100% not only survive but thrive! If you struggle with the critical issue of selfishness, I encourage you to join us for this Sunday's Life-Change Experience where we will be starting a new message series entitled: "Selfie Sundays" This is literally going to address issues of selfishness and we can then wrestle with what the Bible has to say about this topic as well.
4. Not Giving Enough Grace- It is funny how when we were dating a person that has all the issues that they still have now as our spouse, we were willing to give them so much grace. We were willing to overlook the problem as not that big of a deal. Once we get married however, it is a different story. It seems to me that people feel like their spouse should know them and understand what they desire out of the relationship.Then they get frustrated when they do not see their spouse doing what they think that they need them to do. I have been so guilty of this. It seems like the longer I am with Amy the higher my expectations have become. It's like I feel like she should know what is going to happen before it happens. She should know how I am going to feel about a situation before I even respond. I's like I expect her to know what I am thinking. THAT"S NOT COOL BRO!!! This is completely unhealthy and leads to major issues in a marriage. If you struggle with the same type issues that I have described, you are bound to become frustrated when things are not done the way that you think they should have been done. My suggestion is to come back to earth my friend! No one is perfect, not even you. Stop throwing out all these potentially unrealistic expectations and expecting your spouse to just know what needs to happen, or do whatever needs to be done.The antidote to this type of behavior is to display grace when things don't go the way that you desire and communicate effectively with your spouse to work through the issue.
5. Having Wandering Eyes, Hands, Conversations-Notice how I threw in eyes, (Visual) hands, (Kin-esthetic) and conversations. (Auditory) When you give 100% of yourself to someone else, that means that there is no other competition for your love. You have given it all to the person you are with. There is a major problem today with people having wandering eyes. Pornography in 2007 alone was a 20 MILLION DOLLAR Industry. It is obvious that devil has an intent to destroy families with the use of technology. When combined with other types of wandering such as what we would call, "Innocent Touch" with co-workers, neighbors, friends, or whomever, we are living in a dangerous society. With sexting running rampant, use of SnapChat as a sexual tool people everywhere are quietly disengaging from their spouse. Having phone sex to stimulate your auditory senses is another way that the devil tears us apart from one another. Not to mention that most of the books that women read are all about seduction, and love, and paint a picture of what a man is supposed to look be like. This mind porn has been one of the biggest offenders for our brains. We need to wake up to the reality of the type of pollution that we are faced with every day. The Bible tells us that we are to stay on guard and protect ourselves. (Ephesians 6:11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
6. Not Dating Your Spouse- Yes, this is a bonus reason why marriages aren't making it. You need to work together to make sure that you have time together each week away from the kids. This is for your date day. You need a date day. Get a date day! You need to figure out when you and your spouse our going to date each other without your kids around. This is vital for the health of your marriage. With starting our own church, one of the hardest things to do is protect my time with my family and my spouse. It is so important that we get on the same page and stay there. I love my wife with all of my heart and only want what is best, however, there are 100 other things competing for my time and attention and if I am not careful, the devil will use that against us. Find a day that works for both of you and then go do things together. Talk to each other. Do life together. Enjoy each others company. Get to know one another again. This will make your marriage stronger than ever.

Hopefully, these tips can help you and your spouse get closer than ever before. As an additional resource to you, this summer we will be offering a study entitled: "Marriage on the Rock" by Jimmy Evans. This course will certainly be something you want to sign up for. Investing in your marriage is so important. You need to make sure that you attend this and be ready for God to transform your marriage from average to insanely great!

When Leaders Become Followers?

If there is one thing I am certain of, it is that I cannot lead others where I have never been. There are a lot of directions that I can take you on my own. However, as I may seem to have good advice to give, and be able to keep you from making unwise decisions from time to time, I am very limited. Anything GOOD that has ever came from me was God, and anything BAD that ever came from me was all me. As a pastor, I realize that it is impossible for me to know where to lead our church next if I am not consistently hearing from God and seeking the wisdom that only he can give. As a leader, I must be a follower.

It is imperitive for every believer to clearly and consistently be hearing from God. True leaders are in their Bibles and letting the Word of God speak to them in profound ways. This is how you become a great leader. There was no greater leader than Jesus. He is the one we follow.  

What happens when a leader begins to follow and hear the voice of God?

1. The leader's life is transformed by the power of God. (Acts 1:8) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
2. The leader's family sees a noticeable change in that person and is grateful.
3. The leader's perspective on life is different. (Romans 12:2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
4. The leader impacts others with their time, talents, and treasures. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
5. The leader sees consistent growth in their knowledge and understanding of who God is and what this life is truly all about.
6. The leader is equipped to lead people better than ever before because the leader has been instructed on what to do next. (Psalm 32:8) I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. or (Isaiah 11:2) The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
7. The leader leads others to find and follow Jesus by leading by example. The leader masters the ability to serve God in any and every capacity that is necessary. 
8. There is no limit to His desire to want to serve. (Look at Paul's life-Even unto death!)
9. Others are drawn to what God is doing in the leaders life, because God is doing something special in YOU! (Philippians 1:6) Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 
10. Others naturally have the desire to follow the leader because the leader learns to lift up the Leader-JESUS! (John 12:32) And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself. 

When leaders become followers, everything changes. Their world is turned upside-down. I am convinced more now than ever that LEADERS-LEAD. It is easy to give ourselves the title of Leader, but if we are not doing the things that God has asked us to do in His Word, then we must re-evaluate whether we are truly leading or not. 

There are a lot of "leaders" who want the title, but not the responsibility. Beware of these people. The Bible refers to them as wolves in sheep's clothing and as busybodies. They are immature in their knowledge of Jesus and are still babies in Christ. (Hebrews 5:12-13) Maturity as a believer isn't measured by knowledge but rather by action. Paul said, "Faith without our works is dead." 

So how do we measure if we are maturing as followers of Jesus? Here are a few quick thoughts:

• Are we reading God's Word consistently?
• Are we giving to God faithfully our tithes and offerings?
• Are we involved in a ministry team that is making a difference?
• Are we helping others experience the life-giving love of Jesus? 
• Are others naturally following us as we follow Jesus? (1 Corinthians 11:1) "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ."

Church Planting Lesson #6,743---Supporter vs. Hijacker

Today, I have decided to reopen my blog and will be blogging more frequently. Today, I feel led to share with pastors and future church planters a leadership lesson concerning dealing with the vision that God has given you. I have found that there are people who support your church and people who are there to try to hijack the vision of your church.

Hijackers:
It is my experience since starting Revolution Church that those who think they are most spiritual and should be in charge are usually the ones that think they know the most about the Bible, and usually the ones that can't seem to find a way to help serve, nor are they the ones who give to the church to make the ministry go forward. They are self-proclaimed spiritual giants! More frequently then not, they are ones that have more to criticize about what your church is doing rather than help you make the ministry better. They usually tell you how good they are at being a leader too!

To all my fellow church planting pastors and people who seek to be in ministry in the future. Always be on guard of those who talk a big talk but are not willing to put to action what needs to happen in the church. Too many people like to say what they do not like about God's church without a willingness to participate in a solution. These people are known in the Bible as busybodies. People who seem to look like they are involved in what the ministry is doing, but actually do not add to the work of the ministry, and in many cases, even detract from the vision that God has put on your life for building His church. Too many people want the Title of leader but not the responsibility of being the leader.

Supporters:



This is how you build a church. You work with the people who support the vision God gave you for starting His church. When David decided to trust God and go fight the big, mean, giant named Goliath, Saul tried to make David wear his armor. The problem was that David couldn't maintain the way that Saul typically did battle. He could only do what he was comfortable with and knew to do.

The same is true for your church. You can only be who God created you to be. As the leader, you cannot allow other people to dictate the direction of the vision God gave you for your church. God didn't give them the vision, He gave you the vision. It is your responsibility to protect that vision at all costs! Besides, you must consider what your church will look like when that person who is giving you all these things you need to change in your church-leaves your church. Be careful not to let Saul tell you what you need to do because one day you will be the one that has to maintain the ministry that Saul started!!! At this point you will be in a hole because those people didn't have the vision and you don't know how to carry out the ministry that those people were doing the way that they were doing it. 

Again, if you will do what God has called you to do, there are people out there who fully support it! There are people out there that are attracted to the vision that God has given you for your church. For every 1 person that thinks you should change everything, there are 10 people who love the way that you are doing ministry. Why? Because God's vision is attractive. When we see what He sees and do what He wants us to do, we live lives that other people only wish they could live!

God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

We have seen God do absolutely incredible things since we endeavored to start Revolution Church! Our church is officially 5 weeks old and God has blessed our church substantially! We have over 100 members and are growing! God's presence is felt week to week, and Amy and I have been surrounded with an amazing team of people who work hard to serve each other and support the vision of the church. God rewards those that stick to the game plan and continue to seek Him.

What is He showing you today?

If you are a pastor or church planter-Maybe He is telling you to reclaim the leadership responsibility of your church and stop letting people who haven't been given the vision drive the direction of the church.

If you are a church member-Maybe He is telling you to be the best support system for your church leaders as possible. It is so easy to critique the way others are doing ministry, rather than help your pastor fulfill the vision that God has given to him. Don't take the easy way out and become a Saul who tries to change the method of how things are done. Instead, understand your responsibility to encourage and support the work that God is doing through your pastor. Be an armor bearer and protect your pastor's heart and his family. Help him protect the vision. After all, isn't that what you really want in a pastor? One who is hearing and obeying the voice of God?

Is the Church of the Living God full of Hypocrites?

Something that is rolling around in my mind today: "Many are called, but few are chosen." I have found in my life that many people say one thing and do another. Many people quickly make commitments, and just as quickly break those commitments. I have seen in my lifetime many who have good intentions and terrible follow through. I see a generation of people who want the title without the responsibility. Sometimes in order to inherit the best things in life, you must be tried with the fire to see if what you think you are doing for God is really for God. Often times you will discover that the life you live is more for your selfish benefit, than for the benefit of God or other people. It's easy for people to criticize what others do, however, they wouldn't last one day in their shoes. I see a generation of people who desperately need to be enlightened to what this life is all about. However, I see so many so called "Christians" being distracted by religion that they miss the point of why Jesus came. There is a lack of burden and desire for the people around them to become followers of Jesus. People work, eat, sleep, watch movies, seek entertainment, hunt, fish, go shopping, all for what purpose? To please themselves. I hear a lot of people complain about other Christians instead of encouraging each other. If Jesus is the hope of the world, (and He is) then how come we don't spend more of our time introducing others to who He is? We must not truly believe He is the hope of the world...

PRAY FOR THESE PEOPLE! 1-19-2013

Hey team! Please say a special prayer for 4 people I have met this week.
1. Sarah- I met Sarah at Chase Bank and had a wonderful conversation with her about attending Revolution Church! She seemed very interested and we left her with our business card last Saturday. Today, I went back into Chase to see Sarah and entered ready to give her a postcard that we designed for the Superbowl Party. I entered today and was greeted by Sarah and a 60 year old woman named Ruth. Sarah said she is definitely planning to attend the party and wanted more details about our weekly meetings! God is working in McKinney!
2. Ruth-As I began to talk to Ruth, she told me that since last Saturday they haven't stopped talking about Revolution Church and what we are doing! She told me she attends a local church here in the area, but has requested prayer for us in her Sunday School class. This lady was a true believer. She was real, genuine, and I could tell she had a real encounter with Jesus.
3. Our Neighbors-Monica & Mackenzie-I had the opportunity to help them load a trailer onto a moving truck. (Funny enough, I didn't know how to do this until I just moved...lol) Anyways, I helped them load the trailer and we had a wonderful conversation about church, why we moved to McKinney, and of course, I invited them to the Superbowl Party. They told me they were very interested and would most likely attend.
4. Ranae' Heller-This is the lady I met in Lowes last week. Since then, she has committed to attending the Superbowl Party, and has asked me several questions about God that I am excited to answer.

Why am I telling you this? I need my prayer team (YOU) to pray for each of these people. Our desire is to do life with them. We want to help them with any type of situations that they go through, and be a positive influence in their lives. Most of all, our desire is to help them become one step closer in their walk with Jesus. Don't give up on us. Pray for these people. They are real people, just like you and I who need to experience the power of a Holy God in their lives. We are relentless, and will not stop, until we see a Revolution in McKinney, Texas!

HAS OUR WORLD BEEN "REVOLUTIONIZED" YET?

As I have been studying the Bible this week, I came across a portion of the Bible that really stuck out to me. The verses are talking about Paul teaching the people about why he has become a follower of Jesus. It's found in Acts 28:24-27:

Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. ²⁵ They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet: ²⁶ “‘Go to this people and say,
 
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
    you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
²⁷ For this people’s heart has become calloused;
    they hardly hear with their ears,
    and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,
    understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.

I think it is very interesting to see that the people who lived during the lifetime of Paul had immense trouble believing that Jesus was really the Son of God, the Promised One. They struggled believing in Him for who He is! Many of these people never became Christians because they were too hard headed and stubborn! They were looking at the Savior of the world, but didn't recognize HIM!

I began to wonder if they were foolish people, or if they were just like us? Many times we profess to be wise before God, but yet have trouble grasping onto the basic concepts that He wants us to see or hear. He sent us a Comforter known as the Holy Spirit to help us live our lives. However, I think we have missed a very important part of why Jesus left us with the Holy Spirit. We have inadvertently closed our eyes, ears, and hearts to the truth. I believe that one thing we don't do enough of as Christians today, is pray for the Holy Spirit's leading and direction in our lives. We are often times, guilty of quenching the Holy Spirit of God. We only allow Him to do as much as we want to allow Him to do. To us it is sin. We think that by talking about the Holy Spirit we may be labeled as crazies or something! The Holy Spirit was given to us by Jesus! He is not crazy! We became Spirit-filled when we accepted Jesus into our lives, but now, it is just as important that we ask to be Spirit-led. 

A Spirit-led Christian, is one who daily asks for the Spirit of God to lead, guide, and direct them in every decision that they make. The Holy Spirit has a function and it is important that we allow Him to play a very significant role in our lives. I often times wonder if we are more like Pharisees or Jesus? Do we think that we are doing good in our lives and living out the purpose that God has for us, or are we really just blinded from living the true life God wants and desires for us to live. 

If there is one thing I am certain of, we will never see a "REVOLUTION" take place in our world, until we embrace the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 

Here are a few verses concerning the Holy Spirit:

Psalm 51:11
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Mark 1:8
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Luke 1:35
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 4:31
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 7:51
“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

Acts 9:31
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

1 Thessalonians 5:19
Do not quench the Spirit.

Are you stopping the Holy Spirit from doing amazing things in your life? Stop whatever you are doing right now and sincerely pray that the Holy Spirit would lead, guide, and direct you in your life. Trust me, living life with the Holy Spirit is much more enjoyable than living it without Him!

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A Change of Perspective is Good

     I just want to thank the Lord for using other Christians to give me perspective about my current situation. Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Often times starting a church is very hard. It seems that when you are high on life, the devil is anxious to knock you down! I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: No one wants to feel devoured or defeated. However, I was struggling with a bit of depression because of exhaustion and feeling completely depleted. I knew that I could not remain this way. However, I was always scared of this because I could not remain depleted moving into this next chapter of my life. I knew it was certainly going to take a lot of effort in starting Revolution Church. The thing that was constantly rolling through my mind was the devil speaking fear into my head. The devil was telling me that I couldn't do it. I was a shell of a man. I wouldn't be good enough. I wouldn't be able to pull this off. The endeavor was to big.

     Through the perspective of other people, I am able to realize that I can do this! When I think of my friend Kevin Mathis who just had his leg amputated to his knee, I think to myself, I have the necessary tools to do this. When I think of Carly Wyatt 2 and the fact that he has lost 3/4 of his voice box, I think to myself, I have the necessary tools to do this! I have much respect for both of these men who have been willing to stand firm on what they believe in the midst of very hard circumstances. I have been reminded that I am a young, healthy, and able man. I have the potential to do anything that the Spirit leads me to do. I am Spirit-filled and Spirit-led. I was reminded of several different Scriptures that spoke about not allowing fear to cripple us as Christians. Here are some of them:

Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. ¹⁴ The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

Matthew 14:20-28  
And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.²² And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.²³ And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.²⁴ But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.²⁵ And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.²⁶ And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.²⁷ But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.²⁸ And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

Mark 14:66-72 Fear causes us to do things we wouldn't normally do:
And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:⁶⁷ And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.⁶⁸ But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.⁶⁹ And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.⁷⁰ And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.⁷¹ But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.⁷² And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

Psalm 27:1-14 

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?² When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.³ Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.⁴ One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.⁵ For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.⁶ And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.⁷ Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.⁸ When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.⁹ Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.¹⁰ When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.¹¹ Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.¹² Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.¹³ I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.¹⁴ Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

I have prayed and asked God to take the fear away. I don't want to feel that way anymore, and I certainly don't want paralyzing fear to control my life! The same power that rose Jesus from the grave lives in me! 

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