“Why am I discouraged?  Why so sad?  I will put my hope in God!  I will praise him again – my Savior and my God!”  Psalm 42:11, NLT

Has your life ever seemed to be going smoothly, but then out of nowhere a circumstance arises and you are suddenly full of fear?  Fear is something all of us battle at one time or another.  I have learned over the years when fear emerges that somehow, somewhere, I began to place my hope in something or someone other than God.

Take our economy for instance.  If we place our hope in the housing market right now, we are going to battle fear and anxiety.  And what about the Presidential election in just a few weeks?  If we place our hope in a nominee and he is not chosen, what then?  If your choice for 2012 is not elected, you may be tempted to give into overwhelming fear.  But if we place our hope in God -Who reigns over the housing market and Who reigns over America’s choice for President, we can remain in perfect peace!

So let me ask you, to what or whom is your hope placed in today?  Is your hope placed in man, your bank account, beauty, performance or your children?  If your hope is placed in anything of this world, you will be gravely disappointed.  But if your hope is in Jesus Christ, then everything will be a-okay and you can rest in His perfect peace.

If you are battling fear and discouragement today, I encourage you to place your hope in God. Begin to rehearse all that He has done for you.  Let thanksgiving take over your worried mind.  No matter what you are going through, God is for you and fighting on your behalf.  Psalm 44:8 tells us to give glory to God all day long and constantly praise His name.  It’s time for us to once again receive God’s love and give Him glory all day long.  God is faithful and He will never let us down.

Remember to cast your vote in a few weeks, but again, no matter who wins this election, you can remain in perfect peace. God knew who would be President in 2012 before you were in your mother’s womb.  God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind. And whoever wins, we are called by God to uphold them in prayer.  It does not matter what we think or what party we are affiliated with.  God is in control and we are to rest in Him.

Prayer:

Lord, I give you all my fears this day.  Forgive me for placing my hope in anything other than You.  You are my God and You reign over every situation in my life.  I declare faith to arise within my spirit.  I rebuke every attack of the enemy and ask according to Psalm 37:14-15, that when the wicked draws their sword at me, they will in return be stabbed through the heart with their own swords and their bows will be broken in Jesus Name.  No weapon formed against me shall prosper.  And I make a decision today that no matter who is elected President, I will not fear and I will respect this man of authority through prayer.  Amen.”