Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis
9 13 2023

My Hospital Battle with Fear…and Finding Thankfulness.
Click for Audio Version

It’s almost the happiest season of the year. It’s like ramping up to Christmas. With this weather change, there is a spirit of thankfulness in the air. But on the eve of bypass surgery, I am trying to find that beyond the mechanical side of what people say and what the bible says. I feel like I have to really focus on what I have to be thankful for as I struggle with seeing the journey directly ahead. Fear, anxiety, and a certain trepidation seem natural as this is all new and as major a surgery that you could endure. Perfect Love casts our fear. ” But the fear of the Lord is my strength.”
But our minds naturally turn to a million
“what ifs” typically, those things that we can’t control.

Why can’t we seek first the kingdom of God? Hebr 12 -2 says we are to keep our eyes on Jesus. For the joy that was set before him. The joy ahead will help us see ahead of the pain to come. Think about the things above! A joy is also set before you and me. Don’t allow the lack of manifestation to let you go the way of distress, depression, and fear. Stop the pain by seeing the joy that is before us. Every one of us is going through something. “For the Joy set before…You can walk above these things”. Honestly, as I look around this hospital, fear is running up and down the hallways, swirling around here like the scene from Ghost Busters. But God… is here with me…He is encouraging me to not look there. Turn off the noise and imagery of the fear of the unknown…the fear of being the one who doesn’t make it out or the one who comes out half a man. Jesus endured the greatest atrocities imaginable because of the Joy that comes in the morning. He is our Lord…He is our Hope…He is our salvation…no matter what the doctors say…no matter what the bank account says… no matter what the lawyer says. My Joy comes In the Morning!

And as reminders, he sends us angels disguised as friends and prayer warriors that lift you up with an encouraging word from God…with prayers and hope for tomorrow. With a comfort that can only come from a friend. I see the kindness in this hospital. The genuineness of these servants…serving with their gifts. They appreciate genuine thankfulness and why wouldn’t we be giving that to them? When we are thankful it changes the spectrum. It lightens the load. It gives you a heavenly perspective of hope.

Read God’s word. Immerse yourself in His word. Bury yourself in His promise of presence in the very place you are. He cannot lie. He is right here before me…before you…right now…receive him…not the lies of satan. In reaching out to help someone, being kind to someone, in praising someone, it releases the Holy Spirit all around you. I was going through a 2 hour testing last night and I played praise and worship music on my speaker to settle my soul. To settle the anxiety that permeates these hospital walls. If you don’t have your spiritual eyes on and your spiritual guards up they will keep coming to drag you back. Be intentional about calling on his name. About calling forth His word in your situation. Isiah 41…Ps 91… the 23rd psalm, my friends keep sending me scriptures to hold on to as a lifeline and they were! Col 3:2 says “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory”. This was not a premonition of my death. But an exclamation of an old life that has been crucified and dead and the new me… the new spirit man is alive and well in this chasm of fear and the unknown. I am hidden in Christ…protected by him…and prepared to be with him in glory, NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME. He has me and you. Yes, I am battling to stay in the spirit. Yes, it is a war of wills and minds and thoughts and spirit but when I stay with it…His promise is…I win.
Pray, Pray, and pray more. Believe and believe more. Call on him by calling on his promises and don’t let the unknown dismantle your faith. Satan is a liar and Jesus is true…now and forever.

Bring The Rain Mercy Me –