1. Your story is still being written. (patience)

Fear attempts to answer things that ONLY God should be answering.  It takes patience to wait for his answer.  It takes patience to stop yourself from fear spiraling.  And see what happens. Watch and wait upon the Lord!

2. Stop wondering IF God has a plan for you (trust)

Bad things are not always bad things. I can usually see that afterward, why can’t I TRUST that it’s true, even when I can’t see it yet??

Reading the Bible will help you build trust with God.  It BUILDS faith.  The Word is like a light unto our path,

3. Let the past be the past (forgiveness)

FORGIVE YOURSELF.  Move forward knowing that you are trying your best, and sometimes you mess up, sure, but the important thing is that you get back up again and try again! 

Proverbs 24:16 The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.

2 Timothy 4:1-22

Paul is NEXT LEVEL NOT AFRAID: 

  1. He doesn’t need anyone else to declare him faithful….He declares himself FAITHFUL! 

  2. He has an eternal perspective. Not only does he see things through the lens of the Word, but also through the lens of ETERNITY.

  3. He not only understands that HIS story is still being written, but that other people’s stories are being written = NEXT LEVEL UNAFRAID 

  4. He lets the past in the past, even when he’s still dealing with the consequences of THEIR actions = next level UNAFRAID

    1. “May it not be counted against them”!!!!

    2. Someone asked me last week, “Is it still forgiveness if you still want justice for them…” I think it’s still forgiveness if you want the GOSPEL for them.  That is, acknowledgement of how they’ve hurt people, but ALSO grace. Because if you don’t ultimately want grace for them too, you don’t understand the Gospel for YOU yet. 

  5. He’s not only NOT doubting that God HAS a plan...he understands that His plan is GOOD.

    1. “Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom.”

  6. All of this---it’s not JUST in a sermon.  It’s not JUST in teaching.  This language and attitude is mixed in among everyday things like a coat, and the winter, and “bring my books along too please!” The place Paul has gotten to, near the end of his life...sitting in a prison cell, suffering because of the Gospel...FAITH  just comes out of his mouth! 


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