M O R E T H A N C O N Q U E R O R S T H R O U G H C H R I S T A spiritual kit to encourage, strengthen, and give hope in the midst of the Coronavirus J A C O B ' S L A D D E R B L O G www.jacobsladderblog.com MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH CHRIST A spiritual kit to encourage, strengthen, and give hope in the face of the Coronavirus Website: www.jacobsladderblog.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/jacobs_ladder_blog/ Email: [email protected] ©2020 Jacobs Ladder Blog. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from Jacob's Ladder Blog. I N T R O D U C T I O N The global spread of the Coronavirus has certainly shaken all of us. It is natural to feel anxious during this uncertain time, and it is definitely wise to take practical precautions in order to minimize the risk of infection to ourselves, our loved ones, and the general population. However, let us not resort to panic and rash decision making. Let us not allow worry and anxiety to cause us to live timidly and in fear of our lives. Fear wants us to believe the worst possible outcome; it takes delight in our obsession over every news update, social media information, and fake news snippet. Instead, let us keep our eyes on God and dwell in the peace that He offers us through His son Jesus Christ. Let us lean on God as our source of strength and take refuge in the High Tower of His might and power. Most of all, let us be reminded that God loves us and works all things out for our good. We hope that you enjoy this spiritual kit that we have put together for you, and that it aids you in your faith walk during this period. W H A T I S I N O U R S P I R I T U A L K I T ? Our spiritual kit contains Bible verses, inspiring When referencing Bible passages, we use messages, prayers, clickable resource links, and the NRSV, unless otherwise specified. book recommendations. Additionally, we have a Spotify playlist for you to listen to and God is on the throne, and He is in control. suggestions as to how you can be a light to God loves us, and He will not loosen His others during this time. hold on us, assuredly not! How you read this eBook is up to you: You can Be blessed and stay safe! start at the beginning and read right through, or you can focus on a specific section of the eBook Madeline Kalu that satisfies your needs. Co-Founder of Jacob’s Ladder Blog We hope that our spiritual kit provides you with comfort and reassurance that God is greater than anything of this world, including the Coronavirus. He is the Name above all Names, the Author of our Salvation, who can split the sea, make mountains move, and cause giants to fall! M O R E T H A N C O N Q U E R O R S T H R O U G H C H R I S T C O N T E N T S CHAPTER 1: 0 6 God's perfect love casts out fear CHAPTER 2: 1 3 God is Your Source of Strength CHAPTER 3: 2 0 The Salve of Spiritual Comfort CHAPTER 4: 2 7 Living in the peace of Jesus Christ CHAPTER 5: 3 4 Faith can move mountains CHAPTER 6: 4 1 Created to Be Courageous CHAPTER 7: 4 8 Worldy Thinking vs Kingdom Thinking CHAPTER 8: 5 5 God Promises to Protect You CHAPTER 9: 6 3 God Loves You! CHAPTER 10: 7 0 The Power of Prayer CHAPTER 11: 7 8 God is Almighty and Powerful CHAPTER 12: 8 4 Having an Attitude of Gratitude CHAPTER 13: 9 2 Jehovah Rapha - The God who Heals M O R E T H A N C O N Q U E R O R S T H R O U G H C H R I S T C O N T E N T S 9 9 CHAPTER 14: Helping Others in the Midst of the Pandemic 1 1 0 CHAPTER 15: Praise God in the Storm 1 1 8 CHAPTER 16: Jesus Christ is Our Living Hope 1 2 5 CHAPTER 17: Accept God's Gift of Salvation 1 3 0 THE SALVATION PRAYER 1 3 2 CHAPTER 18: Additional Resources 1 3 3 12 Ways You Can Bring Your Children Closer to God during the Coronavirus pandemic 1 3 8 Jacob's Ladder Bible Studies 1 3 8 Jacob's Ladder Spotify worship playlists 1 3 9 A Concluding Prayer 1 4 0 Support Our Ministry 1 4 1 Acknowledgements 1 4 2 About Jacob's Ladder Blog M O R E T H A N C O N Q U E R O R S T H R O U G H C H R I S T P A G E 6 CHAPTER 1: GOD'S PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR www.jacobsladderblog.com G O D ' S P E R F E C T L O V E C A S T S O U T F E A R PPAAGGEE 67 "Do not fear, for I am with you, do not GOD'S PERFECT be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will LOVE CASTS OUT uphold you with my victorious right hand." FEAR Isaiah 41:10 In times of adversity, our immediate reaction is to feel fear. We worry about situations that are out of our control, and we become anxious about the future and the well-being of ourselves and our loved ones. This is especially the case with the "Even though I walk through the Coronavirus. darkest valley, I fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff However, in the Bible it states 365 times — they comfort me." that we should not fear. That means, that God wants us to live every day of the year PSALM 23.4 without fear, regardless of what is going on around us! "You will not fear the "I sought the Lord, and terror of the night, or He answered me, and the arrow that flies by delivered me from all my fears." day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, PSALM 34:4 or the destruction that wastes at noonday." PSALM 91:5-6 (NRSV) “The presence of hope "Be strong and bold; have no fear in the invincible sovereignty or dread of them, because it is of God drives out fear.” the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.” John Piper DEUTERONOMY 31:6 M O R E T H A N C O N Q U E R O R S T H R O U G H C H R I S T G O D ' S P E R F E C T L O V E C A S T S O U T F E A R P A G E 8 “Our lives are full of supposes. Suppose this should happen, or suppose that should happen; what could we do; how could we bear it? But, if we are living in the high tower of the dwelling place of God, all these supposes will drop out of our lives. We shall be quiet from the fear of evil, for no threatenings of evil can penetrate into the high tower of God.” Hannah Whitall Smith M O R E T H A N C O N Q U E R O R S T H R O U G H C H R I S T G O D ' S P E R F E C T L O V E C A S T S O U T F E A R PPAAGGEE 69 "The Lord is near to the GOD'S PERFECT brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit." LOVE CASTS OUT PSALM 34:18 FEAR "The Lord is my light "Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will and my salvation; strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right whom shall I fear? "When I amha andfr."aid, I put The Lord is the my trust i n You." Isaia h 41:10 stronghold of my life; PSALM 56.3 of whom shall I be afraid?" PSALM 27.1 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." "Fear is a self-imposed 1 JOHN 4:18 prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith 'For I, the Lord your God, and love." hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.”' Rick Warren ISAIAH 41:13 M O R E T H A N C O N Q U E R O R S T H R O U G H C H R I S T G O D ' S P E R F E C T L O V E C A S T S O U T F E A R P A G E 1 0 "I'm not afraid of the devil.