Category: Mindset

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Keys to overcoming fear

[A blog by Leif Hetland 3rd June 2023]

Without doubt, the greatest hindrance to our ability to step into our destiny is fear. Fear, which is rooted in unbelief, holds us back from the purposes of God. Unbelief thrives in a heart that is not in alignment with God’s nature, purpose, power, and presence. Because of this, every believer must confront unbelief and come face to face with fear. There is no way around it. To step into freedom, we need to deal with unbelief and fear—first within us and then around us.

Thankfully, our heavenly Father has given us everything we need to defeat fear (2 Tim. 1:7). These three gifts—power, love, and a sound mind—are the keys to saying no to fear in our lives. 

1. The first key to overcoming fear is learning to walk in the power of God. When we face overwhelming circumstances, we can respond to them in one of three ways—we can run from them, we can ignore them, or we can face them. The first two options are rooted in fear. The third option, facing our circumstances, is the choice to step into God’s gift of power in our lives.  Continue reading “Keys to overcoming fear”

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Shaped by history, or shaping history?

Kris Vallotton in a blog 14th September 2022 quotes a comment his son Jason made while they were have a conversation about ‘Becoming a man that shapes History’. Jason says …

“Your purpose in life comes out of your identity, so if you never really figure out who you are and how you were made then you spend the rest of your life chasing things you were never supposed to be chasing.”

Kris goes on to add something I believe is very important …
                      The truth is there is a big difference between
                            working from love and working for love. 

If you are working so that you have an identity, you will never be able to work hard enough, long enough, or well enough to find fulfilment in yourself.

I’d propose that, if you want your life’s actions to produce a legacy that nourishes the future generations, you need to consider your internal motivator – are you working from a place of performance or a place of love? This will be the fruit that feeds the future generations.

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A life of discouragement or a life of favour

Discouragement seems to so often grip us – even though we might consider ourselves mature in faith and able to stand strong in the tides of life. Discouragement among other things takes the wind from our sails – even though it is the breath of God who breathes life into them. 

It never ceases to amaze me how one sharp comment or disapproving look can undo all the praise and encouragement that comes our way especially as we seek the approval of others and the love of God through our good works.

The missionary William Ward had this to say about discouragement – consider how it sits with you ……
“Discouragement is dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust of the future. It is ingratitude for the blessings of yesterday, indifference to the opportunities of today, and insecurity regarding strength for tomorrow. It is unawareness of the presence of beauty, unconcern for the needs of our fellowman, and unbelief in the promises of old. It is impatience with time, immaturity of thought, and impoliteness to God.” 

I wonder if we should be people of discouragement or be encouraged by the reality that we are favoured by God. We get to choose. Do we worship a God of discouragement or a God of blessing?  We get to choose – agree with God or not!

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Why nobility might be the answer

a blog by Kris Vallotton 24.04.2023

A VIRTUE-LESS PEOPLE
Have you ever looked at society and wondered if nobility, morality, and sacredness have been eroded from the roots of our history? It can feel like we live in a day and age when morality has become relative, nobility is most often found in fictional stories, and virtue-less people consider righteous standards as religious oppression. With this at the forefront of our news articles, I’ve recently been wrestling with the question: “What does it mean to be noble?”

Now, the truth is without the grace of God we would all be enslaved to the sins of this world, entangled by the snares of the enemy, and chained to the lies about our identity. But, the truth is even in a world that tells us feelings are fact and our temptations should be embraced, we are not defined by either of these things, but rather by the virtues we cling to. Continue reading “Why nobility might be the answer”

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Jesus was never a people pleaser

Jesus was unafraid to stir the pot, flip tables, or offend religious naysayers. He wasn’t a peacekeeper, He was a peacemaker.

So often we are concerned about keeping conflict at bay and harmony on the horizon.

But the truth is, the Prince of Peace is not concerned with pleasing people, instead, He is concerned with making peace. Sometimes that means offending the crowd to ensure that His Father is pleased.

Jesus knew and lived out the truth of what it meant that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). He cut through cultural and religious barriers in order to bring the Truth about who God is to the hearts of men.

Over the last couple of years, we have seen the deep destruction of division portrayed across cultures, nations, and political propositions.

The cultural climate has felt turbulent and tense to say the least. Yet, the truth is, often it’s not the storms of life that create the conditions of our hearts, they simply reveal them.

It might be easy in our own frustration and offense to decide that the decisions, sins, or outcasts of society rightfully deserve to be treated differently. But, it’s the beautiful humility of Jesus portrayed in John 13 that rocks the cultural concept of justice, unravels our perceptions of people, and transforms the condition of our hearts.

Moments before what Jesus knew would be the greatest and most grievous day in history, He knelt on His knee, poured water into a bowl, and washed the filthy feet of His disciples; knowing that two of the twelve would betray Him, He still invited them to take a seat, displaying a true act of humility.

extract for a blog by Kris Vallotton 22.03.2023