The Plumbline

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NLT) Fear and discouragement are two very prominent emotions we must deal with. We may not want to admit we are fearful of some things, but when we take a look at the various emotions wrapped up when we face that 'thing', we might just realize the basis of our emotional upheaval began or ends with fear. It doesn't take long for fear to grip us, paralyzing us, holding us in place with discouragement following closely on its heels. The antidote to fear is faith - faith in something and someone bigger, stronger, and above anything we will ever or could ever fear. God holds us up when we face things beyond our ability to endure - he won't let discouragement waylay us for very long. He will keep working until we finally realize our source of discouragement isn't that 'thing', it is our be...

As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! (Psalm 119:7 NLT) You have probably heard that the true learning comes when you actually apply what has been taught to you. There is much truth in this, as most of what we 'learn' doesn't even get used in our everyday lives. It is merely facts placed somewhere in our memory, but not really 'of use'. Sure, we may need it somewhere down the line, but we might never even use that tidbit of 'hidden away' fact. All that we glean from God's Word may not apply today, but we can be assured that when we need it the most, we will have it at our disposal to help us right where and when it is needed. When I went through nursing school, I learned a lot about the human body, but did I put it to use right away? It wasn't until I went into my clinical setting at the hospital that I began to see how each 'fact' carefully studied and memorized actually helped me understand what was...