All posts by Alan B. Zibluk

Markethive

What Are You Running From?

Leave a comment

If God has shown us bad times ahead, it’s enough for me that He knows about them.

 

Written by Abide on 29/05/2018

Series: Weekly Devotional

Tags: Contentment, Depression, Jesus

Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

 

Psalm 143:7

By Julie Thomas

 

My season of hopelessness began about six years ago. Quivering, gasping for breath, I felt the tingle from the cold night air against the sweat on my brow and the chill of the stone pavement beneath my bare feet. The stirring from the raging thoughts in my mind was coming to a calm. I had to stop running as my mind steered back to the reality of where I stood.  

    

The reflection from the street lamp at the base of which I stopped was bright enough for me to see most of my surroundings — enough to realize that I was alone and that it was sometime during the night hours. Soon enough, a passing cold draft also brought me to the realization that I did all that running without the needed clothing to keep the cold out.

 

I stopped long enough to recover my breath and turned around to retrace my steps. Retracing footsteps seemed simpler than retracing the mind’s steps. Retracing footsteps meant I would just have to run those steps back, albeit barefoot. The mind’s steps — those would hurt more than the cold, coarse sidewalk grazing against the soles of my feet. Muffled memory pulled me home, where I remembered leaving two babies and a husband, following a mental and emotional breakdown on my part. I have yet to recall what triggered the outburst. All I am able to recall is the harrowing fear that led the way for my sprinting out the door and into the night.  

 

I ran as fast as I could and as hard as I could. What was I running from? I did not know. My mind was not able to cooperate with the backdrop of my home and my family. Everything at home had begun to increasingly overwhelm my mind. I know today that the running was a means of escape from whatever was causing anguish to my mind. When my family found me and took me home, the anguish trailed home with me.

 

How long have you been running? The anguish and exhaustion from the running, has it ceased? Perhaps it hasn't. This was true for me during my spar with depression.  Running failed to get rid of the pain. The only one exhausted was me. … It was intensely painful to live inside of myself — with the depression. Can you relate to this feeling? Depression can do that to you. But know that no pain is without the knowledge of God. He hears. He sees. Just like He heard the many cries of anguish of King David in the Psalms.

 

Pray this week:

Do you have pain within you that seems unbearable? Join me in this prayer inspired by Psalm 143:4, 7     

 

Lord, depression has agonized me for a long time. It seems like there is no end in sight. Still…I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. I will walk in restoration. I will attain spiritual and moral resurrection that lifts me out from the depression. I release every hurt and every pain to you Lord! I embrace the fullness of Christ. I receive your healing Lord!    

 

Journal two words today: One that describes your emotions before spending time with God and another after you spend time with Him. Hold on to His hope as you breathe.

 

Are you battling depression? Do you have pain within you that seems unbearable?

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Wall Street greets bitcoin with interest and worry Bitcoin may be the fraud of the century depending on whom you believe or it could be a gold mine for early adopters Adventurous investors have already bought into the virtual currency and Wall

Leave a comment

Wall Street greets bitcoin with interest and worry

Bitcoin may be the fraud of the century, depending on whom you believe, or it could be a gold mine for early adopters.

 

Adventurous investors have already bought into the virtual currency and Wall Street is laying the groundwork for more wealth to flow into the cryptocurrency.

But nobody can say how big (or small) the bitcoin story will ultimately become.

Bitcoin still cannot be used to buy even a loaf of bread. It cannot be purchased from a company or sold directly on a major financial exchange and it is backed by no central bank. And it also dissimilar to metals like gold or silver, with universally accepted value.

Yet bitcoin is exchanged like money.

Near the end of 2017, bitcoin reached almost $20,000 in value amid a buying frenzy. It has since come down closer to earth and is now worth around $6,400.

Such volatility is too nerve-wracking for most mainstream investors but the radical price swings hold appeal for short-term traders.

rue believers in the currency, along with these short-term speculators, now have a variety of investment opportunities at various risk levels.

– Debut on major exchange –

The most direct way to buy bitcoin is on an exchange that specializes in cryptocurrencies, although many of those platforms are at risk of hacking.

In late 2017, the Chicago Board Options Exchange became the first major exchange to offer a bitcoin product, a move that gave a legitimacy to the currency.

The Chicago exchange allowed trading on bitcoin futures — not on bitcoin itself — a financial instrument well known among investment professionals.

Another option is to pick an investment vehicle composed of bitcoin, such as the Bitcoin Investment Trust, which is managed by Grayscale Investments. But those interested in such ventures must transact in a private and bilateral basis and typically pay high fees.

Bitcoin believers are still awaiting the green light from regulators for exchange traded funds(ETF) that would track the movements of the virtual currency, a key step that could take the market more mainstream.

“The arrival of a potential bitcoin ETF remains top-of-mind for institutional investors seeking exposure to this emerging asset class,” said Michael Graham, an analyst specializing in Internet, blockchain and digital assets at Canaccord Genuity.

Each time, the SEC expressed concerns about fraud and manipulation, in part because it is still exchanged primarily on unregulated exchanges.

– Broadening acceptance? –

Most of the biggest names in finance are at least studying ways to participate in bitcoin, although the steps so far have been incremental.

Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, the biggest US bank by assets, famously called bitcoin a “fraud” in 2017 and has continued to speak skeptically of it.

Since May, Goldman Sachs has served as a clearinghouse for trading bitcoin futures for clients but has not offered bitcoin investments yet.

But Fidelity Investments, the giant money manager, this month unveiled a new venture, Fidelity Digital Assets, that will execute trades in digital currency for clients and permit them to store bitcoin or other digital assets with Fidelity.

And ICE, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, plans to launch its own bitcoin futures contract in November.

Bitcoin platforms continue to have a variety of problems, including lack of transparency, conflicts of interest and weak system safeguards, Christopher Giancarlo, chairman of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said in a mid-October interview on Fox Business.

Yet many pension funds and other mainstream investors are likely to think twice before putting big funds into ventures that could soar — but could also sink.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has rejected several proposed ETFs, including twice blocking ETFs proposed by the twin Internet entrepreneurs Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss.

“Like all things, it takes time to mature, and with the movement of more institutional investors into the space, I think we’ll see that maturation,” Giancarlo said.

 

by Juliette MICHEL

New York (AFP) |

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Bitcoin BTC – Stuck in This Short-Term Range

Leave a comment

Bitcoin (BTC) - Stuck in This Short-Term Range

Bitcoin (BTC) – Stuck in This Short-Term Range

Bitcoin Price Key Highlights

 

  • Bitcoin price is still treading sideways, right in the middle of its range visible on the 1-hour and 4-hour charts.

  • Price has yet to break out of the current consolidation to show whether it would make a test of support or resistance.

  • Technical indicators seem to be suggesting that a move towards the bottom of the range is due.

Bitcoin price still seems to be waiting for directional clues as it moves sideways in the middle of a $600-sized range.

 

Technical Indicators Signals

 

The 100 SMA is below the longer-term 200 SMA to signal that the path of least resistance is to the downside. In other words, a move lower is more likely to happen than a break higher. The moving averages also appear to be holding as dynamic resistance levels as well.

Stochastic is turning lower after recently hitting overbought levels, also suggesting a return in selling pressure. This might be enough to take bitcoin price to the bottom of its range at $6,200. RSI is already on the move down to confirm that sellers have the upper hand.

If buyers are able to step in, a move to the range top at $6,800 could be seen. A break above this could lead to a rally of the same height as the rectangle while a drop below support could lead to a selloff of the same size as well.

There are a handful of positive developments in the bitcoin industry these days, but it looks like traders are waiting for bigger announcements or might be feeling anxious while the SEC continues to mull its decision on the ETFs.

The launch of Fidelity’s institutional platform is big news as this would usher in big flows from funds, banks, and financial institutions. This would boost volumes, activity, and demand, thereby shoring up prices.

 

 

SARAH JENN | OCTOBER 22, 2018 | 4:43 AM

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

ANOINTED TO KNOW THE TRUTH

Leave a comment

Pastor Chris 

 

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time… But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things (1 John 2:18-20). 

 

The Scripture reveals that in the last days there’ll be many antichrists, many who’ll come in their own names with false doctrines. A false doctrine is a perversion of truth, intended to deceive and lure people away from the true Gospel of Christ. 

 

However, as a child of God, it makes no difference how many antichrists, false preachers, and false teachers are out there; you can’t be deceived. 1 John 4:3-4 says, “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome THEM: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” “Them” in the scripture above refers to the antichrist, false prophets, and teachers; you’ve already overcome them all. 

 

Your heart and mind are anointed to know the truth. Because of the Holy Spirit who lives in you, you’re able to tell right from wrong, and to discern the right teaching of the Gospel from false doctrines; you have insight into Kingdom mysteries and secrets. No one can toss you to and fro by any wind of doctrine; you know, and judge the truth. 

 

1 John 2:27 tells us, “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” The Holy Spirit is the Lord of the Church, and when you hear the Word of God, the same Spirit in you bears witness with your spirit that what you’re hearing is the truth. That’s why you can’t be swayed from the truth, because there’s a special ability from the Holy Spirit that makes you know, and keeps you in the truth. 

 

Trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your life. Apart from helping you recognise all false and antichrist doctrines, He’ll also cause you to make right and accurate choices, decisions and investments in life.

 

                PRAYER 

 

Dear Father, I thank you for the anointing of the Holy Spirit in my life. I’m anointed to decipher between light and darkness, and I’m deeply rooted in the Word of truth. I can never be deceived, because I dwell in the light, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

FURTHER STUDY: || John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. || 

 

|| John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. ||

 

|| 1 John 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. || 

 

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

The reasons why you should invest in organic fertilizers right now

Leave a comment

The Global organic market is going to grow rapidly! It will increase. The scientists predict its grow at 9.1% from 2018 and reach $4,606.7 million by 2023.

Consumers think about food safety more, and organic food is impossible without organic fertilizers. The FiBL?IFOAM?SOEL research has shown that the global sales of organic food and drink reached $81.6 billion in 2015 from $59.1 in 2010.

Organic agriculture is developing fast in 178 countries, and 57.8 million hectares of agricultural land was managed organically by approximately 2.7 million farmers in 2016.

The farmers still use a lot of animal-based organic fertilizers due to the inexpensiveness of animal waste. But in general, organic fertilizers are much cheaper, easier, and efficient than the chemical ones.

Asia-pacific commanded the largest share of the global organic fertilizers market in 2017, followed by Europe and Latin America. The major share of this region is mainly attributed to the huge area under organic cultivation especially in Australia, increasing health awareness, rapid population and income growth, increasing mechanization and irrigation facilities, and the huge number of organic operators. https://nagricoin.io/#sect_token

CREATING SMART FERTILIZERS.

TO MAKE A WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

WHAT IS NAGRICOIN?

Our unique certified product is tested and ready to ship worldwide. By purchasing Nagricoin you help us to promote and distribute next generation fertilizer and have a share in our success.

SMART CONTRACTS FOR SMART FERTILIZERS

The Basic asset of the NGRX token is Nagri-HL, which has been in development for more than 7 years and is now ready for release worldwide. Nagri-HL is the newest organic product of micro elements and antioxidants that stimulate plant growth. It has a broad application for agriculture and plant cultivation, increasing yields and improving the quality of virtually any crop.

Nagricoin is the project of an international biotechnology company, created by a team of international scientists and business people. https://nagricoin.io/#sect_token

 

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Bitcoin No Weekend Rally in Sight as the Bulls Struggle On

Leave a comment

 

Bitcoin – No Weekend Rally in Sight as the Bulls Struggle On

 

Bitcoin finds support early to move back through to $6,600 levels, though holding on could be an issue for the bulls if there’s no break out to $6,700.

Bitcoin gained 0.93% on Saturday, partially reversing Friday’s 1.38% fall, to end the day at $6,585.2 and increase Bitcoins gains for the week to 3.93%.

An early morning intraday low $6,511 saw Bitcoin avoid a pullback to $6,400 levels and the day’s first major support level at $6,474.97, with a broad based market rally supporting a move through the day’s first major resistance level at $6,606.27 to a late morning intraday high $6,611 before easing back to $6,500 levels.

A second break through the first major resistance level in the early afternoon saw Bitcoin struggle and fall back to $6,500 levels, with resistance at $6,600 continuing to see Bitcoin fail to break out to take a run at $6,700 levels and bring the 23.6% FIB Retracement Level of $6,757 into play.

For the Bitcoin bulls, it was another close shave, with Bitcoin managing to hold on to positive territory through the day, with the broader market also making up ground through the day, sentiment shifting from the negativity mid-week that saw Bitcoin in the red for 3 consecutive days.

On the news front, there was no material news to influence the crypto majors through the day, with upward momentum across the cryptomarket seeing Bitcoin’s dominance hover at 53.6% and the crypto total market cap rise to $210.8bn.

Get Into Cryptocurrency Trading Today

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was up 0.54% to $6,617.2, with moves through the early part of the day seeing Bitcoin bounce from a start of a day morning low $6,581.2 to a morning high $6,660.8, the start of the day rally seeing Bitcoin break through the first major resistance level at $6,627.13 to come up against the second major resistance level at $6,669.07 before easing back.

For the day ahead, a hold on to $6,600 levels through the morning would support another run through the first major resistance level to bring the second major resistance level at $6,669.07 back into play.

Breaking out from any move through the second major resistance level would need the support of the broader market, with the news wires needing to remain crypto friendly through the day.

Failure to move back through the first major resistance level at $6,627.13 could see Bitcoin hit reverse later in the day, a fall through the morning low $6,581.2 to $6,569 bringing the day’s first major support level at $6,527.13 into play.

Having managed to avoid $6,400 levels since last Monday’s rally, Bitcoin will likely continue to find plenty of support at $6,500 to avoid a more material pullback in the event of a broad based market sell-off, barring materially negative news hitting the wires.

Bob Mason

FXEmpire

30 minutes ago

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Bitcoin BTC – Are Bears Back in the Game?

Leave a comment

 

Bitcoin (BTC) - Are Bears Back in the Game?

Bitcoin (BTC) – Are Bears Back in the Game?

 

Bitcoin Price Key Highlights

  • Bitcoin price appears to be turning from the resistance at the top of its descending triangle on the 4-hour chart.

  • Price could be making its way back to the bottom of the triangle again from here.

  • Technical indicators are also reflecting the presence of selling pressure that could keep gains in check.

Bitcoin price seems to be having trouble sustaining its earlier climb as the top of the descending triangle is holding as resistance.

Technical Indicators Signals

 

The 100 SMA is below the longer-term 200 SMA on this time frame, confirming that the path of least resistance is to the downside. In other words, resistance is more likely to hold than to break. These moving averages also coincide with the triangle top to add to its strength as a ceiling.

Stochastic is on the move down so bitcoin price could follow suit while selling pressure is present. This oscillator has some room to go before reaching oversold levels, which means that sellers could stay in control for a bit longer. RSI is also heading south and has plenty of room to cover before reaching oversold territory as well.

The spike higher in bitcoin is seen to be a result of the selloff in Tether as doubts are emerging on its stability and the financial health of Bitfinex. However, traders quickly booked profits as most of the move was also spurred by FOMO or fear of missing out.

Still, there’s enough reason to expect a longer-term rally to materialize as institutional funds could flow in by early next year. Fidelity Investments has unveiled its institutional platform for bitcoin and ethereum, making it available to more hedge funds and financial institutions. Goldman Sachs has also reportedly invested in BitGo in order to make cryptocurrencies more accessible to its clients.

SARAH JENN | OCTOBER 19, 2018 | 4:35 AM

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Do Not Fear

Leave a comment

Living in Confidence Because God is With Us

Written by Dan Lee on 19/09/2017

Series: Weekly Devotional

Tags: Fear, Confidence, Faith

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6

What’s the most common command in the Bible, appearing in one form or another, more than 300 times?

“Don’t be afraid.”

Why should we not be afraid? Because, as God told Joshua in Deuteronomy, if we are a follower of Christ, God is with us. In fact, one of Jesus’ titles is “Immannuel,” meaning “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14)

What or who do we often fear the most? People. But God’s word says we should fear God, not people.

Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.”

Here are some different kinds of fear, and how God’s word helps us combat them:

People can insult us

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” (Matthew 5:11)

Jesus says that we are BLESSED when people insult us for His sake. Why? Because it means we are following Jesus in a way that people actually notice, and that some will react against (see also John 15:18-19; 1 Peter 3:14)

People can harm us

In Acts 5, the Apostles were put on trial for preaching the gospel. They were sort of acquitted, but then they were beaten. Then “they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” (Acts 5:41). And what did they do right afterward? “Every day . . . they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus” (Acts 5:43).

People can kill us

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

These words of Jesus were not just theoretical; most of His disciples wound up being martyred.

Even today, in rare cases, people can be killed because of their Christian faith. But in light of eternity, as long as we are headed for Heaven, even losing our life is not that bad. And dying for Christ’s sake is a high honor.

In Matthew 28:18-20, when Jesus commanded the disciples to take His message to the end of the world, he reassured them (and us) by saying, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

What are some other fears that can hinder us?

Fear of imagined circumstances

“The sluggard says, 'There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!'” (Proverbs 22:13) Our fears are often much worse than what actually happens. A “sluggard” is a lazy person; so this verse tells us that yielding to imaginary fears can actually be a way to avoid responsibility.

Fear of displeasing people

Galatians 1:10 says, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

The bottom line is, when we are fearing people, it’s because we are insecure about ourselves. Strangely enough, insecurity about ourselves stems from pride – being preoccupied with what others think about us.

And yet, our issues usually go unnoticed because most people are too busy thinking about themselves. It’s like a teenager who thinks everyone is staring at a flaw on his face, when actually most people don’t even notice or care about the flaw.

When we truly have confidence in our right standing before the Lord, we won’t give much thought to what people think about us. Passages like this will describe us:

“So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:6)

And finally, one of my favorites. Pray this for your friends and ask them to pray that the Holy Spirit would make it true in your life as well: “The righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1b).

Pray this week:

Father, thank You that You are always with me. Thank You, Jesus, that You are Immanuel, God with me. Help me to live in the confidence that comes from knowing that You will never leave me or forsake me. Amen.

How has fear kept you from accomplishing what the Lord wants you to do? 

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

Three dojis mean trouble for Bitcoin

Leave a comment

 

Three dojis mean trouble for Bitcoin

  • BTC/USD sticks to $6,445 amid market indecision.

  • The imminent breakthrough will be forceful and devastating.

Bitcoin is changing hands at $6,445 at the time of writing. The digital coin No.1 has barely changed since Tuesday, sitting in the tightest range in its recent history. Three doji candlesticks on a daily chart highlight a high level of indecision on the market and promise forceful breakthrough once this coiled spiral starts unwinding.
 

Bitcoin's technical picture

As it is visible on Bitcoin's daily chart, the price has fairly moved since recovering from long-term sloping trendline on Tuesday. While a sustained movement above $6,400 handle looks positive for the bulls, lack of follow through and a prolonged period of consolidation mires short-term perspectives.

Considering the lack of fundamental catalysts it is hard to predict the direction of the breakthrough; however, the bulls' nearest target is $6,600. This resistance limited the recovery since the end of September. Enhanced by DMA50 and 38.2% Fibo retracement monthly, this level can attract new short-term sellers and push the price back inside the current range.

On the downside, bears are focused on $6,400 with a confluence of strong technical levels clustered on approach. They include 61.8% Fibo retracement weekly, 23.6% Fibo retracement monthly, one day low, Pivot Point 1-day Support 1, and a host of SMA levels. Once below, the sell-off will gain traction and take the price to $6,200 and possibly $6.060 (the recent low).

BTC/USD, the daily chart

 

Tanya Abrosimova

FXStreet

Three dojis mean trouble for Bitcoin

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member

Markethive

God’s Solution to Fear and Anxiety

Leave a comment

How to face our fear and anxiety is clearly laid out in scripture.

Written by Gary Fleetwood on 16/10/2018

Series: Weekly Devotional

Tags: Anxiety, Fear, Worry

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Everyone has fears, everyone becomes anxious, and everyone experiences very stressful moments in their life.  Just because someone is a Christian does not exempt them from the stressful events or from the effects that fear and anxiety can produce in their life.  For instance, medical science has been saying for a long time that stress, fear, and anxiety are very harmful to the body because they destroy a person’s immune system.  So, the more that someone worries about things that they often cannot change, the greater will be the negative effects on their life.  Stressful events are more than able to take a person’s focus off of God and to place it on their difficult circumstances.  So, what we want to do is to see what God’s Word says about how a believer can actually win their battle over fear and anxiety.

What does it really mean to be “anxious”?

The word “anxious”  means to become troubled, unsettled, and deeply concerned about something.  It means to constantly be worrying about something that most of the time that we cannot change.  It refers to the person who seems to worry about everything.  Something happens in their life and they begin to worry about it so much that it consumes their thought life.  They cannot rest for worrying about something.  It affects their sleep and their eating, and the fear of something negative that may happen begins to control their life.  

Several years ago my oldest son was working in a very dangerous part of the world. He had to travel every day on what was considered at that time as the most dangerous 10 miles of road in the world.  Obviously, it was something that made our family very anxious.  However, it was during that time that God began to teach me about Philippians 4:6-7 and it became one of my two life verses.  What I learned was how to handle that which made me anxious.  

So, what is God’s solution to fear and anxiety in our life?

God’s solution is simple.  It is to bring our concerns to Him in prayer and He will provide His peace in our life – which He did for me about my son’s daily safety.  These verses do not say that God will change our difficult and stressful circumstances, but rather that God will provide an inner and supernatural peace that will “guard” and protect our heart and mind so that our difficult circumstances will no longer consume our life.  Rather than always being anxious about my son’s safety, I simply began to pray each morning for God to protect him.  Rather than worrying about something that I could not change or control, I began committing my son into God’s care each day.  Once that happened, God’s supernatural peace began to deeply influence my heart and mind and helped me to rest in His control over all things.

What does it mean to “guard” our heart and mind?

The word “guard” means to keep someone safe with a military guard.  Everywhere that the President of the United States goes, he always has people guarding him.  That is the idea with the word “guard”.  It is knowing that God will always protect the believer’s heart and mind so that worrying and being afraid will not consume their life.  Some people seem to worry about everything in life.  Almost anything can make them anxious, and as soon as something goes wrong, they begin to worry.  What that anxiety does is to immediately take their heart and mind off of God.  In reality, God is always the believer’s solution to anxiety and fear.  Jesus provided a great encouragement in Matthew 6:25-26:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

So, what God does when the believer comes to Him in prayer is to “guard” their heart, protect their heart, and shield their heart from things that He knows can hurt them.  He is always wanting us to trust Him in every difficult circumstance of our life.

Can fear or anxiety be a good thing?

It is important to understand that some level of fear and anxiety often can be a good thing because it forces us to be more careful and to be much more cautious.  I love to work with wood and have been making things for over 40 years. Several years ago I was working next to a wood machine, my hand too close to it  and part of my thumb was cut off.  Today, I am so respectful of that saw that I will never make that same mistake again.  In fact, I have made a guard and I use it every time I have to use the wood machine. So, in my case, having a healthy fear is a very good thing.  It is the fear of what the saw can do to me that actually keeps me safe.  So, what we want to see in this series is how God actually uses the things that make us afraid as His supernatural tools to strengthen our life to trust Him in every circumstance of our life.  Coming to God in the midst of troubling and stressful situations is always God’s solution to fear and anxiety.

Pray this week:

Father, will you please help me to see how you are able to use the stressful moments of my life to draw me closer into your supernatural peace?
 

Are you willing to make a list of all of the different things that you are constantly worrying about and then commit them each day to your heavenly Father with a grateful heart as to what He is doing through those stressful moments to draw you closer to Him?

Alan Zibluk Markethive Founding Member