When Fear Engulfs

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for as long as is available to you.**

    Our imaginations are amazing. How quickly our mind turns to fear is record-breaking. And then fear leads us. It leads us down unhealthy paths of destructive thinking, down the road of no returns and into pits of despair. Fear leads us chaos and hopelessness, then it makes a home there. We cannot imagine a way out and we desperately need one.
 
    We need light. We need light that is not from us but from another. We need truth, hope and light. God is with us, he sees us, will not abandon us and can overcome our greatest fears.

    We need friends to remind us that God's goodness is greater than our fears. When fear engulfs ask for light. Ask God, ask others. Allow light to pierce through the darkness and overwhelm the fear in your mind, heart and soul.

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

Background Music

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    What background music do you have running in your head? Maybe it literally is music and maybe it is just a mental tape (or playlist) you keep on repeat. What are the words, phrases, illustrations being repeated and how have they become the background music to your life?

    Spend time throughout the day paying attention to the words, phrases or maybe an interaction that is on repeat in your mind. How is it setting the mood for your day? How is it setting you up to believe truth or believe lies?

    Be attentive, take note and bring your music to God. Ask Him to transform the background music towards what will lead you to life and truth.

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

Agreements

**Sit quietly for one minute before beginning to read.**
    “What agreements have you made?” My spiritual director asked me this a couple months ago as I was sharing with her from my heart. She was essentially asking me what agreements have I made with lies. What in my life have I agreed is a true statement that is actually very far from the truth?
    We have all made agreements with things that are untrue in our lives. Someone in our past said something and it has haunted us and led us ever since. We have bought into a lie about our identity and worth as we depend on others evaluations to inform us. We have believed and lived with things like, “You are just like your father” or “Who would want to marry you looking like that?” or “You are so stupid”. Fill in the blank your poisonous phrase of choice.
    These words are a form of slavery and they are not built on the promises of God, they are built on lies yet we allow them to direct us, guide us – we have made an agreement with them. There are truths throughout Scripture of our true identity and worth. They are based in the promises of God through Christ. Christ speaks truth into our hearts and minds and we are transformed to believe true rather than lies.
    What agreements have you made? What truth can you replace them with? In what areas of thought do you need transformation? Talk to God, ask Him.

If you have longer than two minutes, Read Galatians 4-5:1 about the freedom you have in Christ.

**Sit again for as long as is available to you.**

True Words

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

True Words. What a gift to have true, encouraging words spoken to us! What true words have been spoken to you? How might these lead you today?

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**