Refreshing Daily

in God's Word

Emphasis on

PHOBIA S
DECEMBER 2013

A Good Fear
December 1 Bible Reading: Proverbs 1:1-9 Key Verse: Verse 7- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Key Words: The fear of the LORD is the beginning

of knowledge
Not all fear is a bad thing. As a matter of fact, fear in some cases can be a healthy thing. If Adam and Eve would have feared God, why, we wouldn't be who we are today. If Cain would have feared God, he would never have killed Abel nor found himself in his horrible plight. Think about Jonah. If he would have only feared God, he wouldn't have been the whale's meal for the day. You see, fear can be a healthy thing. Have you ever heard of congenital analgesia? It's a rare condition in which a person cannot feel physical pain. You may think "how wonderful, no physical pain!" but that is not the case at all. Take little five-year-old Ashlyn Blocker for example. Ashlyn has congenital analgesia, and it poses many problems. For example, Ashlyn's baby teeth posed big problems. She would chew her lips bloody in her sleep, bite through her tongue while eating, and once even stuck a finger in her mouth and stripped flesh from it. Family photos reveal a series of these self-inflicted injuries. One picture shows Ashlyn in her Christmas dress, hair neatly coifed, with a swollen lip, missing teeth, puffy eye and athletic tape wrapped around her hands to protect them. She smiles like a little boxer who won a prize bout. Her first serious injury came at age 3, when she laid her hand on a hot pressure washer in the back yard. Ashlyn's mother found her staring at her red, blistered palm. "That was a real reality check for me. At that point I realized we're not going to be able to stop all the bad stuff,"

Ashlyn's mother, Tara Blocker says. "She needs a normal life, with limitations." So when Ashlyn goes to her kindergarten class at Patterson Elementary School, she gets daily check-ups with school nurse Beth Cloud after recess. Cloud and Ashlyn's mother discussed having her wear a helmet on the playground, but decided it would look too odd. Now, while we do feel for Ashlyn and her physical condition, I have found that there are those who have a case of spiritual congenital analgesia. They feel no spiritual pain because they have alienated themselves from God. What a shame! You see, fear can be a good thing - when we genuinely fear God. (See Romans 1.)

What to do:

Have a good healthy fear of God!

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Phobias
December 2 Bible Reading: Isaiah 26:1-11 Key Verse: Verse 3- Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Key Words: whose mind is stayed on thee There are a lot of phobias in the world in which we live. There is acrophobia, the fear of heights; agateophobia, the fear of insanity; allodoxaphobia, the fear of opinions; and how about this one, barophobia, the fear of gravity...just to name a few. Have you ever wondered why there are so many phobias in the world today (over 400 of them)?

How about this, could it be because the spirit of the Anti-Christ is in the world today, and all the false worship? How about all of the devilish activities today and demonic oppression? Maybe it's time that we truly fear the Lord. The Puritan Thomas Watson put it this way: "God the Son is called the Prince of Peace. He came into the world with a song of peace: 'On earth peace....' He went out of the world with a legacy of peace, 'Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you.' Christ's earnest prayer was for peace; He prayed that His people might be one. Christ not only prayed for peace, but bled for peace: 'Having made peace through the blood of His cross.' He died not only to make peace between God and man, but between man and man. Christ suffered on the cross, that He might cement Christians together with His blood; as He prayed for peace, so He paid for peace." And that's the reason our focus needs to be on the Lord.

What to do:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. ~ Helen H. Lemmel.

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Why We Fear, Part One

December 3

Bible Reading: Luke 19:11-28 Key Verse: Verse 21- For I feared thee, because thou
art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. Key Words: For I feared thee

I do realize that there is a difference between fear and phobia. Fear can be about any number of things at any number of times, and a phobia is a constant fear of a particular thing. But why do we fear? One of two reasons: we fear that which is certain and that which is uncertain. Now, that's profound, isn't it? Let me explain. First, fearing that which is certain....When I was a preteen I was given the responsibility of painting our garage. My dad had gotten everything needed for the paint job which I was to do on a particular day. As I was preparing to paint, a friend came by and talked me into going fishing and as the day progressed, it was one thing after another until finally the day was gone and I knew that Dad was coming; and I was not looking forward to that. I was certain he would not be happy and I was certainly fearful of the consequences of my actions. There is a fear of that which is certain. Adam and Eve faced their fear of certainty when they disobeyed God and hid from Him. The disobedient servant in Luke 19 faced his fear because of his lack of investing his master's money in a proper investment plan. He knew his master would be angry and he had a "certain" fear. I guess you could say for certain that disobedience leads to a "certain" fear. Something to think about and avoid!

What to do:

Remember, he who obeys need not fear.

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Why We Fear, Part Two

December 4 Bible Reading: Esther 4 Key Verse: Verse 16- Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. Key Words: if I perish, I perish Not only is fear caused by that which is certain (see yesterday's devotion), it is also caused by those things of which we are uncertain or unsure. We have a tendency to fear the unknown. It is said that those men who traveled with Columbus to the new land feared that the earth was square and that if they came to the end of the earth, they would fall off into the unknown. As you read Esther 4, it is clear that Esther feared the unknown: will the king hold out the golden scepter or will I die? Solomon was fearful of being king. He admitted, "I don't know how to be king." We read in I Kings 3:7, "...and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in." He feared the unknown. I love to play hide and go seek with my younger grandchildren, especially at night. When they are looking for me and have no idea where I am hiding; and they know that somewhere in one of those dark corners is their Paw-Paw who is going to jump out and yell and scare the "he-be-gee-bies" out of them, they go and get their Nanna and she, along with the kids, go looking for Paw-Paw ever so slowly and ever so afraid. You can hear it in their voices which are trembling with fear, and you can tell by their actions of not wanting to go first, that they fear the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Now, they know I'm not going to hurt them but they fear anyway. It

is the fear of the unknown; and boy, do we, all of us, have fun with it! Well, in life we all have times we fear the unknown. But we can take solace in the fact that even during those times, God is in charge, and He will take care of us. To God be the glory!

What to do: Remember that Jesus promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). ****************************************

Dystychiphobia: The Fear of Accidents

December 5 Bible Reading: Romans 8:28-39 Key Verse: Verse 28- And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Key Words: all things work together for good There are no accidents with God. It was no accident that Jonah found himself in the belly of the great fish. It was no accident that the land of Egypt was filled with plagues. It was no accident that Sodom was destroyed by fire. It was no accident that Job was smitten with boils. It was no accident that the Assyrian army was ill and many died (II Kings 18-19). It was no accident that Joseph was in prison or that Paul and Silas found themselves in the Philippian jail. There is no such thing as an accident.

Rowland V. Bingham, founder of the Sudan Interior Mission, was once seriously injured in an automobile accident. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. The following day, when he regained consciousness, he asked the nurse what he was doing there. "Don't try to talk now, just rest," she replied. "You have been in an accident." "Accident? Accident!" exclaimed Dr. Bingham. "There are no accidents in the life of a Christian. This is just an incident in God's perfect leading."

What to do:

You need not fear something that doesn't exist.

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Aquahobia: The Fear of Water

December 6 Bible Reading: Mark 4:30-41 Key Verse: Verse 39- And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Key Words: Peace, be still While we may laugh at those who have a phobia, to them it is real. One of the phobias some have is aquaphobia, the fear of water. While I do not claim to be an expert on phobias, I do find it interesting that phobias are always associated with the spiritual commands of God; for example, aquaphobia. Have you ever considered the number of times God's commands involve water? Think about Naaman in II Kings 5. He would have never been cured of leprosy if he was fearful of water. The Ethiopian in Acts would have never been baptized. The nation of Israel would have never crossed the "parted" Red Sea. And the list goes on.

It's important to remember that God is in control and that includes the water. The story is told of a woman who was walking along a river bank with her child. Suddenly the child slipped into the river. The mother screamed in terror. She couldn't swim, and besides, she was in the latter stages of pregnancy. Finally, somebody heard her screaming and rushed down to the riverbank. The utter tragedy was, when they stepped into those murky waters to retrieve that now dead child, they found that the water was only waste deep! That mother could have easily saved her child but didn't because of fear. Aquaphobia is a fear which can keep you from doing God's will!

What to do:

Pray and have someone close to you pray with you about this fear. Seek spiritual counsel and advice on things you can do to overcome your fear.

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Enochlophobia: The Fear of Crowds

December 7

Bible Reading: Mark 2:1-12 Key Verse: Verse 4- And when they could not come

nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. Key Words: they could not come nigh unto him for the press

The four that brought the palsied man to Jesus didn't let the crowd stop them. But there are those who do.

Now, most of us do not fear a crowd of people. Most of you are probably a lot like me. I don't fear a crowd but I will say that when it comes to ballgames and carnivals, etc. I don't look forward to the hassle of finding a parking place and all that goes into "fighting" your way through a crowd. But if we are to live our lives we must be willing, when the occasion calls for it, to face the crowds. But not everyone is that way. There are those who really fear a crowd of people; and they allow that fear to control their lives. Why, I know people who don't attend church because of their enochlophobia. Did you know that Albert Einstein had a fear of crowds? He once said, "I hate crowds and making speeches." This is a common feeling for many of us and is called enochlophobia. Enochlophobia is the fear of crowds, those who suffer with this fear will go out of their way to avoid places like malls, theaters, or any event that crowds would regular attend. A few things they fear will happen when around large crowds are: Being trampled to death Contracting a deadly virus Getting lost in a massive crowd of people They themselves feel small and insignificant when surrounded by so many people. Enochlophobia will hinder you in many areas, one of which is your spiritual growth by not attending church, church functions and Bible studies. It will hinder your fellowship with other believers which is vital for encouragement and fellowship. It can certainly be an area where Satan can get a stronghold in one's life if allowed to.

What to do:

1) Keep your focus on God. (I realize that's not easy.) 2) Understand that this is a tool Satan can use to hinder you from helping others. 3) Ask God for help. Seek aid from those who have overcome enochlophobia. ****************************************

Androphobia: The Fear of Men

December 8

Bible Reading: John 4:1-30 Key Verse: Verse 17- The woman answered and said, I
have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: Key Words: I have no husband

Yes, there are those females who have a fear of men. There could be any number of reasons why. They could have been abused by dad, raped, or for any other sundry reasons. If anyone had a reason to fear men, it was the Samaritan woman. None of her marriages had worked out and all of them had cast her aside. I do believe that the tone of her conversation with Jesus showed her disdain for men (verses 10, 12), or at least Jewish men. But after she was saved, we notice the first thing she did was to go and tell the men, "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" I recently read about an androphobic view of men. It went like this: Men are like placemats. They only show up when there's food on the table. Men are like mascara. They usually run at the first sign of emotion. Men are like bike helmets. They are handy in an emergency, but otherwise they just look silly. Men are like government bonds. They take so long to mature. Men are like parking spots. The good ones are taken, and the rest are handicapped. Men are like lava lamps. Fun to look at, but not very bright.

Men are like bank accounts. Without a lot of money, they don't generate much interest. Men are like high heels. They're easy to walk on once you get the hang of it. But you know, rather than being androphobic, the ladies would be better to be like the Samaritan woman and lead men to the Lord. But maybe that is Satan's goal for the woman who is androphobic: fear men rather than witness to them.

What to do: Remember, not all men are bad no more than all dogs bite. Forgive and go on with life and be a witness for God. ****************************************

Agliophobia: The Fear of Pain

December 9

Bible Reading: Hebrews 11:32-40 Key Verse: Verse 35- Women received their dead
raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: Key Words: were tortured, not accepting deliverance

You have to admire those heroes of faith. They through faith had conquered what many fail to conquer: the fear of pain. They called him "Old Hickory" because of his tenacity and grit. His mother chose "Andrew" on March 15, 1767, when

she gave birth to him in an old run-down shack somewhere in South Carolina. Wild, quick-tempered, and disinterested in school, Andrew answered the call for soldiers to come fight against the British. He was taken as a prisoner of war before he turned 15. Refusing to black an enemy officer's boots, he was struck with a saber---Andrew's introduction to pain. Although he bore the marks of the blow for the rest of his life, Andrew's fiery disposition never changed. He was indeed a fighter to the core. He chose to settle arguments by dueling rather than by discussion. That is the reason he lived most of his days with two bullets painfully wedged in his body. "Old Hickory's" tenacity brought him national recognition as a result. When politics nodded in his direction, "Old Hickory," one to never run from a good fight, accepted the challenge: first the Senate, then nomination for President. The shadow of pain appeared again in another form as he lost a narrow race with John Quincy Adams. Four years later, however, he ran again . . . and won! But pain accompanied the victory. Two months before he took office he lost his beloved wife, Rachel. Grief-stricken, the President-elect pressed on. Even as he was being sworn into office as our nation's seventh President, he fought the anguish of a raging fever caused by an abscess in the lung. Some time later, one of the bullets within him had to be surgically removed. He endured that operation---done without anesthetic---in typically courageous fashion. Even his political career was painful. A nasty scandal split his cabinet, but in spite of the rift over the scandal, he still left office more popular than when he was sworn in. And it was pain, more than any other single factor, which drew the qualities of greatness out of Andrew Jackson. And so it was in the life of Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States. Pain humbles the proud. It softens the stubborn. It melts the hard. Pain operates alone; it needs no assistance. By staying, it refuses to be ignored. By hurting, it reduces its victim to profound depths of anguish.

I have tried and I cannot find, either in Scripture or history, whom God used greatly until He allowed him to be hurt deeply. So today could it be, dear believer, that if you are going through pain and have been broken by it, that God is on the verge of greatly using you?

What to do:

Let God use you in spite of your pain.

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Achluphobia: The Fear of Darkness

December 10

Bible Reading: John 11: 1-10 Key Verse: Verse 10- But if a man walk in the night, he
stumbleth, because there is no light in him. Key Words: there is no light in him

A father told his young boy to go to bed. He started up the stairs but realized it was dark and he couldn't reach the light switch. He went back, but his dad told him to go on up because God was there. The boy knew that was the final answer, so he started up. But on the first step he stopped, looked up, and said, "God, if you are there, please don't move or you'll scare me to death!" To a certain degree, I think most of us are leery of darkness, especially when we are in darkness in an unfamiliar place. I'm also quite aware that men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil continually (John 3:19). But those who are achluphobic are quite different from just

being leery or worldly. Those with achluphobia will go into a state of panic without light. There is a spiritual application here. Jesus is our Light (John 12:46). If we walk with Him, we not only walk in light, we live in the light and darkness shall not have victory over us.

What to do: Understand if you are born again, greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world (I John 4:4b).

Arsonphobia: The Fear of Fire

December 11

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Bible Reading: II Peter 3:1-8 Key Verse: Verse 7- But the heavens and the earth,
which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. Key Words: reserved unto fire

I have no phobia of fire, but I do have a good healthy respect for fire. To be honest, I have never known anyone who didn't have a respect for fire. You find examples of fire throughout the Word of God. God came to Moses in the form of a fiery bush. Elijah prayed down fire from heaven. After Solomon had prayed for the dedication of the temple, fire came down from heaven. In our text God's last judgment of the earth will be with fire. J. Vernon McGee says of II Peter 3:7, "The suggestion is that there are resident forces present in the world which could destroy it. It is not that God is going to rain fire down from heaven but that this earth carries its own judgment. How

well we know this today! You and I are living on a powder keg-or, more literally, on an atom bomb. There will never be another flood to destroy the world. That judgment is past; water destroyed the world that was. Now the world that is is reserved for another judgment, the judgment of fire. In other words, this present order of things in this world is temporary. It is moving toward another judgment." With that in mind, maybe we all should have a little phobia of fire!

What to do:

The same thing Solomon told us to do over 3,000 years ago, fear the Lord in Proverbs 1:7.

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Rhytiphobia: The Fear of Getting Wrinkles

December 12

Bible Reading: II Samuel 19:31-40 Key Verse: Verse 39- And all the people went over
Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place. Key Words: the king kissed Barzillai

Fear of wrinkles, now there's an interesting phobia; but let me say, they are bound to come. Unless of course you continually have face lifts. But that doesn't stop the wrinkles to the arms, hands, etc. Now, while none of us necessarily like the idea of wrinkles, they do come with age, with hopefully, more wisdom.

I will confess to you as I watch and listen to others talk about love and compassion, as I did in my 20s, 30s, and 40s and as I watch young parents make the same mistakes as I made in my youthful parenting years, I now have come to a full realization in my wrinkle years that it is my love and compassion, not my high-falutin standards or my great ability to do things that reaches people. It's love and compassion. I wish I had realized that before my wrinkle years. Babe Ruth had hit 714 home runs during his baseball career and was playing one of his last full major league games. It was the Braves versus the Reds in Cincinnati. But the great Ruth was no longer as agile as he had once been. He fumbled the ball and threw badly, and in one inning alone his errors were responsible for most of the five runs scored by Cincinnati. As the Babe walked off the field after the third out and headed toward the dugout, a crescendo of yelling and booing reached his ears. Just then a boy jumped over the railing onto the playing field. With tears streaming down his face, he threw his arms around the legs of his hero. Ruth didnt hesitate for one second. He picked up the boy, hugged him, and set him down on his feet, patting his head gently. The noise from the stands came to an abrupt halt. Suddenly there was no more booing. In fact, hush fell over the entire park. In those brief moments, the fans saw two heroes: Ruth, who in spite of his dismal day on the field could still care about a little boy; and the small lad, who cared about the feelings of another human being. Both had melted the hearts of the crowd. Just as the little fellow hugged Babe Ruth and sat down at his feet because he knew he was standing before greatness, so did David with Barzillai. Learn from your elders!

What to do:

Don't fear wrinkles, embrace them.

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Ephebiphobia: The Fear of Teenagers

December 13

Bible Reading: Proverbs 7:1-12 Key Verse: Verse 7- And beheld among the simple
ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, Key Words: thy youths

If you've raised a child through their teen years, you certainly understand why some people have ephebiphobia. I know the teen years are rough for a child, but they are tough on the parents as well. It's hard for me to imagine any single parent raising a teenager alone. God bless their soul. Why do some people fear teenagers? There could be several reasons. Some teens are angry for various reasons, and some fear that teens will become violent. Some fear teens because they don't want to drive them away with rules and regulations. But most parents don't fear the teen as much as they are concerned about the decisions teens make. We call them life choices. One of those decisions involves conformity. Dr. James Dobson writes: "The pressure to follow the whims of the group (called the herd instinct) is never so great as it is during the adolescent years. This drive may be all-consuming to a teenager when any deviation from the "in behavior is a serious breach of etiquette. And there is tyranny in this pressure. If the group says flared pants are out, woe be to the boy who doesn't get the message soon enough. If a girl talks or walks funny, she may be the object of scorn throughout her day. "It is important for your preteen to know about group pressure before it reaches its peak. Someday he may be sitting in a car with four friends who decide to shoot some heroin. Your preparation is no guarantee that he will have the courage

to stand alone in that crucial moment, but his knowledge of peer influence could provide the independence to do what is right."

What to do:

Don't fear teens. Be an example and mentor for them. ****************************************

Epistemophobia: The Fear of Knowledge

December 14

Bible Reading: II Timothy 3:1-12 Key Verse: Verse 7- Ever learning, and never able to

come to the knowledge of the truth. Key Words: never able to come to the knowledge of truth

I don't fear knowledge. The thing that concerns me is worldly knowledge, humanistic knowledge. A devoted follower of Socrates asked him the best way to acquire knowledge. Socrates responded by leading him to a river and plunging him beneath the surface. The man struggled to free himself, but Socrates kept his head submerged. Finally, after much effort, the man was able to break loose and emerge from the water. Socrates then asked, When you thought you were drowning, what one thing did you want most of all? Still gasping for breath, the man exclaimed, I wanted air! The philosopher wisely commented, When you want knowledge as much as you wanted air, then you will get it! The same is true with our desire for righteousness. Someone has said, "All knowledge is good knowledge." Not so! False knowledge is deadly knowledge. Don't fear

Godly knowledge. Fear the ungodly knowledge.

What to do:

Remember, I would rather know a little for certain than to know a lot of things that aren't so.

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Euphobia: The Fear of Hearing Good News

December 15

Bible Reading: I Peter 4 Key Verse: Verse 17- For the time is come that

judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? Key Words: obey not the gospel of God

Now, there is an unusual phobia: the phobia of good news! But maybe it's not so unusual. If we consider that the Gospel is the Good News, many do fear the good news of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection because it tells them without being born again, they are bound for an eternity in hell. Some years ago, we had a couple of our ladies who were sharing the Gospel in a downtown nursing home. After a few minutes the supervisor asked them to leave because some of the residents were frightened by the Gospel message. Harry Ironside tells the story of Robert Ingersoll, the agnostic lecturer of the last century, was announced to give an address on hell. He declared he would prove conclusively that hell was a wild dream of some scheming theologians who invented it to terrify credulous people. As he was launching

into his subject, a half-drunken man arose in the audience and exclaimed, "Make it strong, Bob. There's a lot of us poor fellows depending on you. If you are wrong, we are all lost. So be sure you prove it clear and plain." No amount of reasoning can nullify God's sure Word. He has spoken as plainly of a hell for the finally impenitent as of a heaven for those who are saved. Remember the old Oil Framm Filter commercials, "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later"? Well, all men will believe the Gospel at some point. You can believe now or believe later; but all men will believe at some point!!

What to do:

Believe now; it will ease your fears.

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Gamophobia: The Fear of Marriage

December 16

Bible Reading: II Corinthians 6 Key Verse: Verse 14- Be ye not unequally yoked

together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? Key Words: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers

Fear of marriage, I'm not sure about? Fear of marrying out of God's will, that's another story. You need not fear marriage if you are both of one accord, headed in the same direction. But if you're not, it could mean trouble. Let me explain.

A man went to the airport, and he ran into this pretty, pretty girl. They began talking, and they began to click with each other. Something was happening; fire was starting to ignite. He finally asked her, "Where are you flying to?" She said, "I am flying to Canada. Where are you flying to?" The man replied, "I am flying to Mexico." And then he came up with a bright idea: "Why don't we get on the same plane?" What he didn't think of in his stricken state is that it is impossible to travel together when one's going up and the other's going down. Here's another one. When steam rises, it goes up. When snowflakes fall, they come down. They're made of the same thing; they are both water. But they are both going in two different directions. Snow can't hang out with steam, and steam can't hang out with snow. Why? Because even though they are made of the same basic stuff, they are not headed in the same direction. Got the point? I sure hope so.

What to do: Don't fear the institution of marriage. marrying out of God's will. **************************************** Fear

Hamartophobia: The Fear of Sinning

December 17

Bible Reading: I John 1 Key Verse: Verse 9- If we confess our sins, he is

faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Key Words: If we confess our sins

Hey, this may not be such a bad thing! But the problem is, I've never met a person with hamartophobia. All of my acquaintances are hamartophobia-free. How about yours? Now, the truth is we are all sinners. Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." The victory is in knowing we can be forgiven. Don't you just love the Motel 6 commercial? It says, "We'll leave the light on for you." Well, God's light of forgiveness is always on, welcoming those who are seeking God's forgiveness. I have discovered the wonderful thing about electronic calculators is that if wrong buttons are pressed and the calculation is thrown off, all is not lost. The problem does not have to be unraveled or figured out. By pressing "clear," the calculation can be restarted. Some people are in situations that they can't unravel. Their lives are so twisted and turned that they can't figure things out. They are too confused. The great thing about God is that He is ready and waiting to press "clear." He's ready to abundantly pardon. The question is: are you ready to accept His forgiveness?

What to do: Praise God for His gracious love and forgiveness. ****************************************

Ideophobia: The Fear of Ideas

December 18

Bible Reading: Nehemiah 1 Key Verse: Verse 11- O Lord, I beseech thee, let now

thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this

day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer. Key Words: I was the king's cupbearer I think I know these people! These are those who come for advice and any ideas you may have, they are quick to tell you they are afraid to try that. Then there are those who could easily cause me to have ideophobia; man, they can come up with some wild ideas! But in reality, ideas are what makes us a great nation. The idea of freedom of worship, the idea of freedom of speech, the ideas that are God-inspired can change a nation, can change a church, can change a family, and can change a person. You see, you can't pass a law to ban ideas. The only way to fight against an idea is to come up with a better one. Don't hoard ideas. The more you radiate, the more you germinate. The fear of ideas, according to William O. Douglas, makes us impotent and ineffective. Phrases that null ideas: It's not in the budget. Who thought of that? We tried that before. We're not ready for it yet. Not timely. Too hard to administer. Too theoretical. Doesn't conform to our policy. Takes too much time. Takes too much work. Let's wait and see. Let's form a committee. Has anyone ever tried it? What you are saying is... . God burdened Nehemiah with the idea of rebuilding the walls of the city of Jerusalem and restoring worship. To

God be the glory, he could not be discouraged from his ideas to complete the course. Praise God for Godly ideas! Don't fear them, embrace them!!

What to do:

Keep heart, don't lose the dream God has placed on your heart.

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Homilophobia: The Fear of Sermons

December 19

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 1:18-31 Key Verse: Verse 18- For the preaching of the cross is

to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. Key Words: to them that perish foolishness

Being a pastor, I'm not quite sure if I want to laugh or cry at this particular phobia. I do believe that there are those who fear sermons because of the conviction it brings. Now, granted some could fear for other reasons. A visiting evangelist greeted people after the opening service of a revival. The people seemed very gracious and appreciative of the sermon they had just heard. But then one lady abruptly stated, "Too long!" as she filed past the minister. She then cycled back through the line and shouted, "Too loud!" The two negative comments unnerved him a bit, but he tried to maintain his composure. When she came through a third time her comments were no more flattering. She declared, "And it was also boring!" At this point the chairman of the deacons intervened and assured the evangelist that this

woman's remarks should not be taken seriously. He whispered, "Don't pay any attention to her. She's a little senile and doesn't know what she's saying. She just repeats what other people say." Oh my!!

What to do:

Don't fear a Biblical sermon, but rather fear not obeying it!

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Pedophobia: The Fear of Children

December 20

Bible Reading: Matthew 19:13-22 Key Verse: Verse 14- But Jesus said, Suffer little
children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven Key Words: Suffer little children

Children are not to be feared but loved and admonished, but not feared. With that being said, have you ever taught a K4 and K5 class; maybe, just maybe, the person with pedophobia has. A group of expectant fathers were in a waiting room, while their wives were in the process of delivering babies. A nurse came in and announced to one man that his wife had just given birth to twins. "That's quite a coincidence" he responded, "I play for the Minnesota Twins!" A few minutes later another nurse came in and announced to another man that he was the father of triplets. "That's amazing," he exclaimed, "I work for the 3M company." At that point, a third man slipped off his chair and laid down on the floor.

Somebody asked him if he was feeling ill. "No," he responded, "I happen to work for the 7-up company!" This is not to make light of those who battle with pedophobia! The only way one will ever overcome any phobia is through the power of God and getting involved in the area where they have a "phobia."

What to do: Overcome by doing. ****************************************

Snakephobia: The Fear of Snakes

December 21

Bible Reading: Genesis 3:1-8 Key Verse: Verse 4- And the serpent said unto the
woman, Ye shall not surely die: Key Words: And the serpent

Now, if I don't have snakephobia I come very close to it. I don't care for snakes. Someone once told me that most snakes are harmless, NOT TO ME! The only good snake is a dead snake. It certainly would have done Eve good to have snakephobia; but unfortunately for us all, she didn't. But praise God, He through Jesus has given us victory over the "serpent." A missionary returned to his home in Africa, only to find a huge python inside. He ran back to his truck and got his .45-caliber pistol. He went to his home and carefully entered through the door. The man aimed with precision and fired a single shot into the snakes head. It was a mortal blow to the reptile, but it didnt die instantly. The missionary

retreated from his house as the snake thrashed violently. The tremendous power of the snakes movement broke and damaged many items within the home. After the house finally became silent, he slowly entered the house to find the snake dead. The interior of the home was a disaster as the snake had unleashed all its fury in those moments of death. But now, there was peace. Satan received a fatal shot to his head when Christ conquered sin and death. Now as he writhes in the pain of his defeat, he is unleashing a few remaining destructive blows. He still seems dangerous, but his fate is sealed. I repeat: to me, the only good snake is a dead snake and that includes the king of snakes, Satan.

What to do: Praise God for the victory we have over the serpent. ****************************************

Phronephobia: The Fear of Thinking

December 22

Bible Reading: Philippians 4:1-8 Key Verse: Verse 8- Finally, brethren, whatsoever

things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Key Words: think on these things

I think I know some of these people. Now, let me ask you: how can anyone know the will of God and do the will of God without thinking? Some people, and I'm serious with this, refuse to think because it may discourage them. They think about those who may be angry with them, which normally they aren't. They conjure up all kinds of thoughts. So because of their fear of thinking, they simply attempt to shut the thought system down. Notice some thoughts about thinking: To act is easy, to think is hard. Johann von Goeth You are what you think; not what you think you are. Use your brains! It's the little things that count. The happiness of your life depends on the character of your thoughts. Marcus Aurelius Only 5% of the people think. 15% think they think. The other 80% would rather die than think. George Bernard Shaw Let me encourage you to think on the things of God (Philippians 4:8).

What to do:

Think, but think righteously.

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Pediculophobia: The Fear of Lice

Bible Reading: Exodus 8:8-19 Key Verse: Verse 16 - And the LORD said unto Moses,
December 23 Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

Key Words: that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt Now, our text doesn't say that the lice were feared, but I would imagine that the lice brought great dread to the land. People do "fear lice." Lice carry a certain stigma about them. If you have lice, you're dirty. If you have lice, you're unkempt. Lice carry a stigma. No one wants to be around a person with lice. Some years ago one of our students had head lice. The parents were contacted, and because of their schedules, they could not come to get their child, but they gave us permission to "take care of the situation." So I asked for a volunteer to go to the drug store and get some "lice" shampoo. The minute I did, the room cleared. No one wanted to go and get the shampoo for fear of being "marked" as the person with lice. So I went. I picked up the shampoo and went to the check-out counter. The line wasn't long, three people ahead of me; but they weren't in a hurry -- but I was! I didn't want to be rude, but I did need to get back so we could begin to take care of our student's dilemma. I waited patiently, then it came to me how to get this line moving. I began to scratch my head. While doing so, I raised up the container of lice shampoo and asked, "Do any of you know how long it takes this lice shampoo to start working?" You would have thought I had leprosy. Those in front of me moved quickly to another check-out clerk. I stepped up and paid for the shampoo and off I went. People do fear lice!!

What to do:

We need not fear lice, but we do need to fear God Who made them.

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Dendrophobia: The Fear of Trees

December 24

Bible Reading: Jeremiah 10:1-10 Key Verse: Verse 4- They deck it with silver and with

gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. Key Words: They deck it with silver and with gold

Some have a phobia about trees, especially the Christmas tree. They fear that if you put up a Christmas tree, you are taking part in false worship and paganism. Years ago I did an in-depth study of the Christmas tree. I set out determined and confident that I would succeed in finding the meaning of the history behind the Christmas tree. After several hours of research, my determination remained intact but my confidence had been greatly bruised. I finally reached the conclusion that very few authors and researchers agree on the meaning of and the history behind the Christmas tree; but here are some views I found in regard to the Christmas tree. 1) Most everyone agrees that the Christmas tree originated in Germany. (After that, it is hard to find two people who agree on anything in regard to the old tannenbaum.) 2) There are those who believe Martin Luther was the first to establish the tradition of the Christmas tree. 3) Others say its background is pagan and has its roots in pagan rituals and worship. They base this on Jeremiah 10:4. Now I personally have a couple of problems with this view. A) There is no documented proof anywhere that Christmas trees had anything to do with pagan worship. B) Jeremiah 10:4 is not a reference to the Christmas tree but a reference to a wooden idol carved from a tree and placed permanently in the home for worshipping. People who make Jeremiah 10:4 a reference to the Christmas tree make the common mistake of

making the Scripture say what they want it to, rather than simply letting it say what it says! 4) Another tale has it that a tree would be brought into the house at the beginning of each winter (around December 22) to produce a fresh scent in the house for the long winter months which lay ahead and decorating the tree for a more pleasant view. It grew into the custom of the Christmas tree for today. 5) Remember, I said most everyone agreed that the Christmas tree started in Germany -- but not everyone. There are others who say that the Christmas tree tradition came from Egypt. The Egyptians would bring in palm branches and decorate them in celebration of the shortest day of the year and from this tradition came the Christmas tree. These are just some of the stories I found in my research on the Christmas tree which brings me to the following conclusion. I would certainly be better off spending my time telling others what I do know -- that Jesus is the reason for the season -- rather than wasting my time attempting to prove something on which no one agrees.

What to do:

Make sure you are worshipping Jesus, the Reason for the season.

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Merry Christmas
December 25

Bible Reading: Matthew 2 Key Verse: Verse 1- Now when Jesus was born in

Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Key Words: Now when Jesus was born

Robert J. Morgan writes: Many historians believe the well-known song, The Twelve Days of Christmas, is actually a Christian hymn in disguise. During the reign of Englands Queen Elizabeth I, a staunch Protestant, English Catholics were oppressed and persecuted. Priests met secretly with small groups of Catholics, risking their lives to conduct worship and observe mass. Under such circumstances, it was difficult to train or catechize Catholic children. But an unknown, clever priest found a unique way of teaching the Gospel to children, using the theme of the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany, when the Wise Men, according to tradition, arrived with their gifts for the Christchild. The priest hid Biblical truth in the symbols he used in his carol, beginning with the words On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to meThe True Love referred to God the Father, and the Me represents the Christian who receives the gifts. The Partridge in a Pear Tree is Jesus. Why a partridge? Mother partridges are known for feigning injury to decoy predators from their babies. The children were thereby taught about Christs sacrifice on our behalf. The two turtle doves represented the Old and New Testaments. The three French hens symbolized faith, hope, and love the three great virtues we should display as we come to know Christ as Lord and read the Old and New

Testaments. The other symbols: Four calling birds the four Gospels Five golden rings the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch Six geese a laying the six days of creation Seven swans a-swimming the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit Eight maids a-milking the eight Beatitudes of Matthew 5 Nine ladies dancing nine choirs of angels Ten lords a-leaping the Ten Commandments Eleven pipers piping the eleven faithful apostles Twelve drummers drumming the twelve articles of the Apostles Creed* While I cannot validate the above information, I do know this: Christmas is all about Jesus.

What to do:

From all of our Refreshing Daily staff: Merry Christmas. We do hope yours is!

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Plutophobia: The Fear of Wealth

December 26

Bible Reading: Proverbs 30:1-9 Key Verse: Verse 8- Remove far from me vanity and
lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Key Words: give me neither poverty nor riches

You would think plutophobia would be the fear of Pluto but it is actually the fear of wealth, which according to Solomon is not such a bad thing. Evidently poverty causes us to steal and wealth could cause one to deny the Lord. The peril of riches is seen in the rich farmer in Luke 12 and the rich young man in Mark 10 or the prodigal in Luke 15. Abram wasnt just rich; he was very rich...with cattle, silver, and gold. The word rich is an interesting word. It means weighty. It comes from the word virtue. It carries the idea of both blessing and burden. When one uses their riches for God, thats a blessing; but when one uses their riches for self and a worldly life, that becomes a burden. I refer you to the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 who was rich but his riches were not a blessing they were a burden. He ended up slopping hogs!! The problem with riches without God is that they allow you to live without learning how to live. In 1928 a group of the worlds most successful financiers met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. The following were present: The president of the largest utility company, The greatest wheat speculator, The president of the New York Stock Exchange, A member of the Presidents Cabinet, The greatest bear in Wall Street, The president of the Bank of International Settlements, The head of the worlds greatest monopoly. Collectively, these tycoons controlled more wealth than there was in the U.S. Treasury, and for years, newspapers and magazines had been printing their success stories and urging the youth of the nation to follow their examples.

Twenty-five years later, this is what had happened to these men: The greatest wheat speculator, Arthur Cutten, died abroad, insolvent. The president of the New York Stock Exchange, Richard Whitney, served a term in Sing Sing Prison. The member of the Presidents Cabinet, Albert Fall, was pardoned from prison so he could die at home. The greatest bear in Wall Street, Jesse Livermore, committed suicide. The president of the Bank of International Settlements, Leon Fraser, committed suicide. The head of the worlds greatest monopoly, Ivar Drueger, committed suicide. All of these men had learned how to make money, but not one of them had learned how to live. If one doesnt know how to live, then all the riches in this world come to naught!!

What to do:

Without God, riches are a burden.

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Panthophobia: The Fear of Suffering and Disease

December 27

Bible Reading: Mark 5:25-34 Key Verse: Verse 26- And had suffered many things of
many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, Key Words: And had suffered many things

No one likes to suffer and many fear diseases, especially the dreaded disease of cancer.

When one hears they have cancer, all sorts of thoughts run through their minds. But there is a common denominator with all who hear the dreaded words: you have cancer -- "fear" -- fear of the unknown, fear for family. Can they make it without me? Fear!! The woman in our story had suffered for twelve years, but then she came to Jesus!! While illness is a hardship every person wishes to avoid, it comes sooner or later upon us all. The Bible teaches that suffering is not to be wasted. What circumstances could have rendered the Word of God sweeter and the presence of God so real, the help of God so precious? asked Hudson Taylor about a difficult period in his life. Several Scriptures point to special blessings that can come from periods of illness, including: Awaken to us the sweetness of Scripture (Psalms 119:50, 71, 92, 143) Driving us to prayer (Isaiah 38:1-2) Deepening the prayer lives of others (James 5:13-15) Leading us to spiritual introspection (Psalms 119:67) Humbling our souls (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Developing the qualities of patience and endurance in us (James 1:2-4) Developing maturity (Romans 5:1-5; Isaiah 48:10, Hebrews 2:10) Enabling us to empathize and comfort others who will later go through the same thing (2 Corinthians 1:3) Heightening our desire for heaven (Job 19:2529; Romans 8:18) Providing an opportunity for us to witness to others (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Glorifying God (John 11:4; 2 Corinthians 12:710)

Suffering and disease can and will do one of two things to you. It will drive you to God or away from Him. Which will it be for you?

What to do:

Don't let the phobia of suffering and disease cause the life you have today to be filled with fear and worry.

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Tropophobia: The Fear of Change

December 28

Bible Reading: Philippians 3 Key Verse: Verse 21- Who shall change our vile body,
that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Key Words: Who shall change our vile body

I wouldn't say that I have a phobia in regard to change, but I will admit I'm slow to change. Many people are. Take, for example, the congregation in 1825, when an evangelist gave for the first time an altar call! Not only did the people object to an "invitation," so did the preachers who were there that night. Can you imagine church members protesting an invitation after an evangelistic sermon? They did in 1825. Not only did church members object to an invitation at the end of a message, but also so did many of the ministers. A new Evangelist by the name of Charles Finney had come on to the religious scene in America and had become quite popular by 1825. He was reaching many Americans with

the gospel by implementing what grumbling critics were calling new measures. Among these intolerable changes were, praying for persons by name, having an invitation after the sermon, sharing the gospel by visiting in homes, allowing women to pray and testify, holding services on days other than the usual times for worship and preaching in an informal manner that appealed to those who attended his outlandish and new idea of holding revival services. Finney was perceived as a radical troublemaker in 1825, but his wrong approach brought many to Christ. Change is usually threatening, yet its results can often be tremendous.

What to do: Understand that not all change is bad. ****************************************

Topophobia: Stage Fright

December 29

Bible Reading: Matthew 19:13-22 Key Verse: Verse 14- But Jesus said, Suffer little
children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Key Words: Suffer little children

Being a pastor, working with those who are asked to speak in public, I often get to see their legs as they tremble standing before the congregation and see them struggle to talk or sing. Because of "brain freeze" as they stand before the congregation, they will often stumble at what they are trying to say. Believe me when I say, I get no joy in watching them go through those moments of fear; but to God be the glory, they do it and are all the better for having done so.

Reminds me of the little fellow who in his church's children's program had to quote Matthew 19:14. Standing there in fear he said, "Suffer the little..." Then his mind went blank, so he started over, "Suffer the little children...." And again he out of fear forgot the words. So he tried the third time, "Suffer the little children...." Again, fear got the better of him and he forgot the remainder of the verse. Out of frustration, he stood up straight and said with a loud voice, "Now, listen to me, don't any of you adults keep any of us kids from coming to Jesus. Understand!!" Then he went and sat down. His fear may have caused him to forget the verse he had memorized, but it didn't keep him from getting the point across!! So let me encourage you to not let your fear of speaking in front of people stop you from speaking up for Jesus.

What to do:

Don't be afraid to speak up for the Lord.

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Polyphobia: The Fear of Many Things

December 30

Bible Reading: Revelation 2:1-10 Key Verse: Verse 10 - Fear none of those things which

thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Key Words: Fear none of those things

Have you ever met the person who fears just about everything? What are Americans afraid of? National research by R. H. Bruskin Associates shows the following hierarchy of fears: speaking before a group heads the list, feared by 40.6% of those interviewed. This fear is greater among women than men, and greatest in the Southern United States. Fear of high places comes next at 32%; followed by insects and bugs (three times as many women as men); followed by financial problems, deep water, sickness, flying, and loneliness. I recently read about a backwoods farmer, who while sitting on the steps of a tumble-down shack, was approached by a stranger who stopped for a drink of water. "How's your wheat coming along?" asked the stranger. "Didn't plant none." "Really, I thought this was good wheat country." "Afraid it would rain." "Well, how is your corn crop?" "Ain't got none. Afraid of corn blight." The stranger, confused but persevering, continued, "Well, sir, how are your potatoes?" "Didn't plant no potatoes either ... afraid of potato bugs." "For Pete's sake, man," the stranger asked, "What did you plant?" "Nothing," said the farmer. "I just played it safe." Fear can and will paralyze you if you let it.

What to do:

He who lets fear paralyze him goes nowhere.

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Theophobia: The Fear of God

December 31

Bible Reading: Hebrews 10:27-39 Key Verse: Verse 31- It is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God. Key Words: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Fear is not always a bad thing, and certainly the fear of God is not evil. Notice the following verses. Proverbs 1:7a, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Proverbs 8:13a, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way." Proverbs 14:26, "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence." Ecclesiastes 12:13, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Psalm 33:8a, "Let all the earth fear the Lord." One time many years ago, the king of Hungary found himself depressed and unhappy. He sent for his brother, a good-natured but rather indifferent prince. The king said to him, I am a great sinner; I fear to meet God. But the prince only laughed at him. This didnt help the kings disposition any. Though he was a believer, the king had gotten a glimpse of his guilt for the way hed been living lately, and he seriously wanted help. In those days it was customary if the executioner sounded a trumpet before a mans door at any hour, it was a signal that he was to be led to his execution. The king sent the executioner in the dead of night to sound the fateful blast at his brothers door. The prince realized with horror what was happening. Quickly dressing, he stepped to the door and was seized by the executioner, and dragged pale and trembling into the kings presence. In an agony of terror he fell on his

knees before his brother and begged to know how he had offended him. My brother, answered the king, if the sight of a human executioner is so terrible to you, shall not I, having grievously offended God, fear to be brought before the judgment seat of Christ? The problem in the world and in the church is that there is no fear of God!

What to do:

Fear God; you'll be all the better for it.

I deeply appreciate the help of

Mary Parsons Glenda Myrick And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these people to help this devotional would not have been possible.
Dr. Mike Rouse