INTJMom
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- Sep 28, 2007
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- 5w4
My Bible Study teacher helped me today. She always asks for prayer requests before we start, so I shared how I was struggling with the insurance company denying my daughter’s medical claim, and how I was worried about her owing over $18,000 or more, and all the mounds of paperwork and bureaucracy that I will have to deal with between now and the time it’s all said and done. It’s just such a hassle to keep up with all the paperwork, and jump through all those hoops.
And not only that, but as I mentioned before, I have a fear of great debt. I assume it’s because I have felt powerless and helpless for most of my life, and am still in the process of recovering from that. I always fear that what is expected of me is more than I can give. I fear commitments because of that, too. I’m afraid I’ll make a promise and then not be able to fulfill it. Let’s face it, I go through life in a great big ball of fear most of the time. Fear of not being perfect. Fear of not measuring up.
So back to how my teacher helped me… first she encouraged me by reminding me that God allows trials in our lives to prune us... to burn away the dross. Of course, that’s never pleasant when it’s happening, but I am always willing to admit I’m glad I went through hardship, after it’s over. He uses hardship to draw me closer to Himself, to show Himself strong on my behalf, to increase my faith, and other good things.
Then when we were praying, she made reference to going through the fire and having the bonds burned off, but not being burned myself. God knows that living in fear is a bad thing, so He uses trials in our lives to teach us that we can trust Him and that we don’t have to be afraid. As a matter of fact, in the Bible God tells people to not be afraid, in one way or another, over 100 times.
Anyhow, when she said that about the bonds being burned off, I simultaneously had a vision of hands with the bonds being burned off. That’s significant to me because I have learned by past experience that when I get a vision like that, it’s an actual communication between God and myself, through the Holy Spirit. So I know that’s what God is planning to do through this trial. All I need to do is stay close to Him. So I am encouraged about that. I need to be set free from my irrational fears.
The original story in the Bible where that happened is in chapter 3 of the book of Daniel, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down and worship a gold statue god made by Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 3:21-25 ESV
21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace.
22 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."
25 He answered and said, "But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."
You are not gonna believe this!
The hospital just called.
All we owe is $39!
And not only that, but as I mentioned before, I have a fear of great debt. I assume it’s because I have felt powerless and helpless for most of my life, and am still in the process of recovering from that. I always fear that what is expected of me is more than I can give. I fear commitments because of that, too. I’m afraid I’ll make a promise and then not be able to fulfill it. Let’s face it, I go through life in a great big ball of fear most of the time. Fear of not being perfect. Fear of not measuring up.
So back to how my teacher helped me… first she encouraged me by reminding me that God allows trials in our lives to prune us... to burn away the dross. Of course, that’s never pleasant when it’s happening, but I am always willing to admit I’m glad I went through hardship, after it’s over. He uses hardship to draw me closer to Himself, to show Himself strong on my behalf, to increase my faith, and other good things.
Then when we were praying, she made reference to going through the fire and having the bonds burned off, but not being burned myself. God knows that living in fear is a bad thing, so He uses trials in our lives to teach us that we can trust Him and that we don’t have to be afraid. As a matter of fact, in the Bible God tells people to not be afraid, in one way or another, over 100 times.
Anyhow, when she said that about the bonds being burned off, I simultaneously had a vision of hands with the bonds being burned off. That’s significant to me because I have learned by past experience that when I get a vision like that, it’s an actual communication between God and myself, through the Holy Spirit. So I know that’s what God is planning to do through this trial. All I need to do is stay close to Him. So I am encouraged about that. I need to be set free from my irrational fears.
The original story in the Bible where that happened is in chapter 3 of the book of Daniel, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down and worship a gold statue god made by Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 3:21-25 ESV
21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace.
22 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king."
25 He answered and said, "But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."
You are not gonna believe this!
The hospital just called.
All we owe is $39!
