1 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:13,030 Speaker 1: Life Audio Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. 2 00:00:13,670 --> 00:00:15,770 Speaker 2: We are so glad to have you listening with us 3 00:00:15,830 --> 00:00:20,140 Speaker 2: here today. Today's topic is about surrendering our fear to God. 4 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 2: We will return after a brief message from our sponsor. 5 00:00:37,070 --> 00:00:41,630 Speaker 2: Surrendering Fear to God This Halloween Written by Vivian Bricker 6 00:00:42,050 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 2: Read by Rochelle Alberti Bible Reading For the Spirit God 7 00:00:47,420 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 2: gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, 8 00:00:51,380 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 2: and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1.7 Halloween can instill fear in 9 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 2: our hearts for many reasons. When I was a kid, 10 00:01:01,420 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 2: I wasn't ever scared of Halloween because my mom made 11 00:01:04,270 --> 00:01:08,010 Speaker 2: it lighthearted and fun. There was never any gore, blood, 12 00:01:08,170 --> 00:01:12,600 Speaker 2: or horror. As I grew older, I started associating Halloween 13 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:16,479 Speaker 2: with autumn and the changing seasons rather than with anything 14 00:01:16,540 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 2: scary or dark. Halloween was a time for hayrides, apple picking, 15 00:01:21,380 --> 00:01:26,470 Speaker 2: and pumpkin-themed recipes, not scary events. As I was talking 16 00:01:26,510 --> 00:01:29,550 Speaker 2: to a friend about my plans for Halloween, she suddenly 17 00:01:29,709 --> 00:01:33,309 Speaker 2: shuddered at the word Halloween. I don't like Halloween. It's 18 00:01:33,350 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 2: too scary, she said to me. I told her I 19 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:39,190 Speaker 2: knew a lot of people regard Halloween as a scary holiday, 20 00:01:39,610 --> 00:01:43,330 Speaker 2: but you can make it whimsical, fun, and family-friendly. Despite 21 00:01:43,490 --> 00:01:46,570 Speaker 2: my explanation, my friend continued to paint a picture of 22 00:01:46,630 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 2: Halloween as evil. She proceeded to share her Halloween experiences 23 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: with me, which included her parents turning their house into 24 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 2: a haunted house for several months, displaying scary decorations outside 25 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,530 Speaker 2: that terrified her as a kid, and her older siblings 26 00:02:02,580 --> 00:02:07,720 Speaker 2: dabbling in witchcraft on Halloween. I immediately understood her fear 27 00:02:07,780 --> 00:02:12,380 Speaker 2: associated with Halloween. For me, Halloween was all fun and games, 28 00:02:12,970 --> 00:02:17,550 Speaker 2: but for her, it was traumatizing. We all need to 29 00:02:17,610 --> 00:02:20,750 Speaker 2: leave room for those with different lived experiences than ours. 30 00:02:21,669 --> 00:02:24,010 Speaker 2: I told my friend that it was okay. We didn't 31 00:02:24,050 --> 00:02:27,630 Speaker 2: have to do anything special for Halloween. Instead, we could 32 00:02:27,650 --> 00:02:30,089 Speaker 2: go to the movies or shop at the mall. My 33 00:02:30,169 --> 00:02:34,549 Speaker 2: friend happily agreed, thankful to have moved past the difficult subject. 34 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:40,339 Speaker 2: intersecting faith and life. If Halloween is a holiday that 35 00:02:40,380 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 2: fills your heart with fear, look to Jesus. The Apostle 36 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 2: Paul tells us, For the Spirit God gave us does 37 00:02:48,460 --> 00:02:53,130 Speaker 2: not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline. 38 00:02:53,130 --> 00:02:58,430 Speaker 2: 2 Timothy 1.7 From the moment we place faith in Jesus, 39 00:02:58,889 --> 00:03:02,230 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit lives inside us. This is known as 40 00:03:02,270 --> 00:03:06,100 Speaker 2: the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Once the Holy Spirit 41 00:03:06,139 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 2: indwells you, He will never leave. He guides, instructs, and 42 00:03:10,380 --> 00:03:13,820 Speaker 2: convicts you. From the Bible, we also learn that He 43 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 2: gives us power, love, and self-discipline. Perhaps you have already 44 00:03:18,620 --> 00:03:21,540 Speaker 2: seen this to be true in your own life. Don't 45 00:03:21,690 --> 00:03:26,290 Speaker 2: allow fear to dictate your life anymore. Surrender every feeling 46 00:03:26,450 --> 00:03:30,110 Speaker 2: to the Lord. He can transform a heart of fear 47 00:03:30,250 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 2: into a heart of trust. You can cultivate trust in 48 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: Jesus by spending time with Him in Bible study and prayer. 49 00:03:37,340 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 2: The more you get to know Him, the stronger your 50 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: trust will become. Whether it is Halloween, Christmas, or New Year's, 51 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 2: you will not give in to fear. It is a 52 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 2: beautiful blessing to know the Lord and to have the 53 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,470 Speaker 2: gift of the Holy Spirit. Talk with the Holy Spirit 54 00:03:54,530 --> 00:03:57,110 Speaker 2: when you are afraid and ask Him to help you 55 00:03:57,150 --> 00:04:00,630 Speaker 2: see His power, love, and self-discipline in your own life. 56 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 2: You may be surprised as to how He will answer 57 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 2: your prayer. Never underestimate the work of the Holy Spirit 58 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 2: in your life. He can transform a fearful heart into 59 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 2: a lion heart. Surrender your fear to God today. However, 60 00:04:17,940 --> 00:04:20,150 Speaker 2: know that it is okay if you don't want to 61 00:04:20,210 --> 00:04:24,350 Speaker 2: celebrate Halloween. If Halloween brings up too many dark memories, 62 00:04:24,810 --> 00:04:29,130 Speaker 2: you can bypass this holiday altogether. Do something else on Halloween, 63 00:04:29,330 --> 00:04:31,930 Speaker 2: such as going to a pottery class, or taking a 64 00:04:31,970 --> 00:04:34,529 Speaker 2: day trip, or having a friend's night where you all 65 00:04:34,589 --> 00:04:38,670 Speaker 2: go to see a movie. Replacing scary things at Halloween 66 00:04:38,710 --> 00:04:42,250 Speaker 2: with fun events will radically change how you view this 67 00:04:42,310 --> 00:04:47,490 Speaker 2: fall holiday. Remind yourself that fear does not dictate your life. 68 00:04:48,150 --> 00:04:51,130 Speaker 2: Your life belongs to Jesus, and He will strengthen you 69 00:04:51,529 --> 00:04:57,580 Speaker 2: through every storm. Isaiah 41 10 Continue to rely on 70 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,390 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit. Cultivate trust in God and embrace the 71 00:05:01,430 --> 00:05:06,630 Speaker 2: fall season rather than the scary parts of Halloween. Do 72 00:05:06,670 --> 00:05:10,390 Speaker 2: you associate Halloween with fear? What are some ways you 73 00:05:10,410 --> 00:05:14,820 Speaker 2: can take 2 Timothy 1-7 to heart? The Holy Spirit 74 00:05:14,860 --> 00:05:18,260 Speaker 2: lives inside you right now. How might you get to 75 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 2: know Him better this autumn? Further reading Deuteronomy 31-6 Joshua 76 00:05:24,180 --> 00:05:37,210 Speaker 2: 1-9 Psalm 56, 3. Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 77 00:05:37,510 --> 00:05:39,460 Speaker 2: If you liked what you heard today, we want to 78 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 2: make sure you know about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. 79 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 2: When you follow Your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, 80 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:50,060 Speaker 2: you'll get a brand new prayer and devotional each day, 81 00:05:50,460 --> 00:05:53,990 Speaker 2: so your days begin in conversation with God. 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