Okay, I’m going to admit it. . .one of my favorite Disney/Pixar movies was Monsters, Inc. You’re probably surprised it’s not Toy Story but that would be my fine wife’s favorite.

There are a number of reasons why I really liked it but none of them worth our time here. Maybe, except to say the monster behind the bedroom closet door has some amazing parallels to life.

Way too many believers think there’s a monster behind every door of opportunity they get to open. They’ve convinced themselves. . .incorrectly, I might add. . .that there’s nothing good behind previously unknown opportunities or found in previously unused potential. . . but that’s just not true.

We need to expose and defeat the monsters that hold us back from achieving the potential God has placed within each of us.

But let me digress for a moment. Another great story line was used in a movie entitled Major Payne which premiered in 1995. It’s about Major Payne, a retired Marine, who is now the Commander of the ROTC unit at this private school. I will admit to you it’s one of my favorite movies despite a little language.

There is a particular scene in the movie where a young man, maybe 12 years old, who is in Payne’s ROTC unit, but is continually frightened and complaining about a monster. Major Payne follows the boy to his room and asks where he’s hiding. The lad points to his closet.

 

Major Payne pulls his pistol and shoots into the closet four times. Then he looks at the boy and says, “If the monster is in there, he ain’t happy.” But the little boy was.

It’s time we expose and eliminate some monsters that have been holding us back.

I had nine immediately come to mind but there are others I’m sure.

It’s time we expose the monsters hiding in our closet. . .right now.

1.         CONFUSION

James 3:16 says:

“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

Life can be filled with confusion. Certainly, the current political environment is filled with lies, chaos and confusion.

But don’t despair.

Isaiah 61:7 in the King James Version says:

“For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.”

The Message Bible version of Isaiah 61:7 says:

“Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever.’”

Can somebody say “Hallelujah?”

Proverbs 28:2 in the Message Bible says:

“When the country is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it— But it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out.”

God always has a leader who will rise to the occasion.

Would it surprise you to know that you’re that leader?

One more thing. . .God is not the author of confusion and chaos. In fact, you can be assured if something is chaotic. . .God’s not in it.

1 Corinthians 14:33 in The Living Bible says:

“God is not one who likes things to be disorderly and upset. He likes harmony, and he finds it in all the other churches.”

2.         DISCOURAGEMENT

Deuteronomy 31:8 in the New International Version offers some great advice:

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Discouragement is a temporary feeling that occurs when somebody is not doing what they promised you they would do…or things are not going the way you thought they would or ought to go.

The key word is “temporary” and even though you may know it’s temporary…the discouragement, if not probably dealt with, can lead to depression and other bad “d” words.

Sometimes, the enemy will try to make you think discouragement is a sin. . .but it’s not.

During a recent Rich Thoughts For Breakfast call we discussed the seven ways to overcome discouragement. We don’t have time to do a full review of that teaching. . .but here are the seven keys. You can find the teaching on our website.

First, get your attitude right.

Second, it’s not all about you.

Third, think happy thoughts.

Fourth, stop entertaining your disappointment.

Fifth, focus on the future.

Sixth, hang out with winners, overcomers and conquerors

Seventh, let God be God.

When you’re feeling a little blue and slightly discouraged. . .encourage yourself with the Word.

Galatians 6:9 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.

3.         WORRY

Henry Ford, the industrialist, once said:

“I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about.”

Nothing. . .absolutely. . .nothing.

It’s not worry. . .but the Word that will lead you out of every adversity you face.

Philippians 4:6 in the New Living Translation says:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

John Lubbock, an English banker, politician and philanthropist, once said:

“A day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work.”

So what’s wrong with worry?

It’s incompatible with faith. They are opposites and they do not mix.

4.         LONELINESS

People experience loneliness for a variety of reasons including: neglect, isolation, intimidation or a current trauma. Regardless of the cause. . .it’s been God’s desire for man to never be lonely.

Genesis 2:18 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him.”

There may not be a single person within miles of your current location but you will never be alone.

Matthew 28:20 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).”

One more scripture.

Isaiah 41:10 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.”

5.         TEMPTATION

1 Corinthians 10:13 in the Message Bible which says:

“No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.”

There’s so much at work in this verse which includes six powerful words we need to mentally and spiritually grab a hold of and never let go. The words are:

GOD WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.

There are going to be moments when you feel like giving up. . .you feel as though nothing is working out the way you wanted or even planned.

In those moments, go before the Lord and allow Him to provide you emotional shelter from the blitzkrieg happening all around you. . .being confident in the knowledge that GOD WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.

There is another part of that verse that should encourage you in the midst of every satanic firefight.

God will “never let you be pushed past your limit,”

At times you may feel as like Mother Teresa who once said she wished God didn’t feel she could handle so much. But nonetheless He knows what you are made of even better than you do.

There have been times in my life. . .when I’ve said “God let me learn everything I need to in this attack so I don’t ever have to learn it again!”

Instead of saying “why me?” during every major assault. . .learn everything you can so you won’t have to repeat the lesson, but more importantly. . .view every adversity as advanced study for the greater work He has for you to do.

The last part of the verse should give you ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE in God’s unwavering commitment to you and your future.

God will “. . .always be there to help you come through it.”

Yes, and 2 Peter 2:9 in the Classic Amplified Bible confirms it when the verse says:

“Now if [all these things are true, then be sure] the Lord knows how to rescue the godly out of temptations and trials, and how to keep the ungodly under chastisement until the day of judgment and doom.”

6.         ANGER

Let’s start with two scriptures.

Proverbs 15:1 in the New Living Translation says:

“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”

I have to read Psalm 37:8 in the Message Bible….it will make you smile when it says:

“Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes—it only makes things worse.”

Do you sometimes lose it when something unexpected and undesired happens? The scripture says that being slow to anger is the way that we should act and react.

Proverbs 19:11 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger, And it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].”

In essence this verse is saying that if you aren’t slow to anger you don’t exercise good sense and discretion.

Is it good sense to fly off the handle. . .so to speak. . .when things upset you?

Does harboring a grudge over an offense make good sense. . .when the Bible says that if we have aught against anyone. . .God will not hear our prayers?

Literally, the Word is commending those who don’t lose it. . .who don’t strike back or hold a grudge against someone for what they’ve done in the past.

James 1:19-20 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; 20 for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us].”

Here’s the formula for good sense.

#1        Understand this. In other words, God is directing you to grab ahold of what He’s about to say.

#2        Be quick to hear. . .be a thoughtful listener

#3        Slow to speak (you don’t have to take back what you didn’t say)

#4        Slow to anger

#5        Be patient, reflective and forgiving

#6        Anger does not produce the righteousness of God

#7        Being anger and resentful is not the kind of behavior God wants from us.

Proverbs 29:11in the Amplified Bible says:

“A [shortsighted] fool always loses his temper and displays his anger, But a wise man [uses self-control and] holds it back.”

Proverbs 16:32 in the Amplified Bible says:

“He who is slow to anger is better and more honorable than the mighty [soldier], And he who rules and controls his own spirit, than he who captures a city.”

7.         FEAR

2 Timothy 1:7 in the Amplified Bible says:

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”

As I look out my home office window this morning I don’t see the God’s throne, so I know He’s still on it. . .and as long as God’s on His throne. . .everything is going to be all right.

Frankly, that’s much more comforting than anything any politician can say. They have power to change a few things (and I emphasize “few things”) in the natural. The scripture in Timothy says God has given us the power to change our situation through the Spirit.

Hebrews 13:6 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?”

Fear is born of satan and it’s his anointing.

If you fear God. . .there’s nothing else you should fear.

Pastor Rick Warren, the author of the Purpose Driven Life, said:

“Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with weapons of faith and love.”

8.         SICKNESS

If you or someone you love has been battling with sickness. . .here are some thoughts and scriptures you need to get deep down inside of you.

Let’s make sickness come out of the closet and be eliminated by the light and power of the Word.

First, the very name of God Jehovah-Rapha reveals He is Lord, our healer as found in Exodus 15:26 which says:

“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

It is in His very nature of Jehovah Rapha to bring the healing we ask for.

Second, Jesus Paid A Price For Our Healing.

Let’s look at Isaiah 53:4-5 once again when it says:

“Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses) and carried our sorrows (pains); yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”

Third, Is It God's Will To Heal?

Yes, He has already done it. It is past tense. All that is left is "receiving" it.

Healing is available through salvation. So we can pray in confidence. 1 John 5:14,15 says:

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

Fourth, will the enemy try to steal our healing?

Absolutely. The enemy will try to deceive you into believing that healing is not for everybody and certainly not for you. We all know he’s a liar and the father of lies and the truth is not in him.

The enemy may also try to destroy you but that is his nature.

Acts 10:38 says:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”

As Believers we need not accept anything but God’s ability to bring healing and restoration no matter what the enemy throws at us!”

Fifth, what can I do if someone close to me is sick?

As believers, we should lead the charge boldly when we or someone we know needs healing. We can lay hands on the sick (our part) and they will recover (God's part).

God is waiting to display His healing power in and through us.

Go to haroldherring.com and click on the personalized scriptures button where you can personalize eight different groupings of scriptures with your name.

Begin to read and memorize these personalized scriptures until they’re living in you. Even if you are healed and healthy. . .memorize these verses so you can be used of God to bring healing and restoration to others.

One more quote on dealing with stress from Marcus Aurelius, who was once an Emperor of Rome:

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive--to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."

When we begin praising God. . .stress will leave our thought processes. Just make sure you don’t invite it back for another visit.

Psalm 103:3 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases.”

In I Peter 2:24 is the fulfillment of the promise found in Isaiah 53:5:

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

Jeremiah 30:17 in the New Living Translation says:

“I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the Lord. . .”

9.         FINANCIAL CHALLENGES

Psalm 23:1 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.”

1.         God does not want His children. . .that’s you and me. . .lacking for anything.

Deuteronomy 2:7 in the New Living Translation says:

“For the Lord your God has blessed you in everything you have done. He has watched your every step through this great wilderness. During these forty years, the Lord your God has been with you, and you have lacked nothing.”’

Nehemiah 9:21 says:

“Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.”

2.         God reveals to us in His Word. . .how we can never lack for anything.

Proverbs 28:27 in the New Living Translation says:

“Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.”

Through your support of this ministry. . .you enable us to help organizations who feed the hungry and cloth the naked.

3.         If we give to the poor. . .we will lack for nothing

1 Thessalonians 4:12 says:

“That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”

God wants us feeling compassion for the poor. . .He wants us to pray for the poor but He also wants us giving to poor people. . .especially His children from the throes of poverty.

Where God directs. . .He provides.

Luke 22:35 in the Amplified Bible says:

“And He said to them, When I sent you out with no purse or [provision] bag or sandals, did you lack anything? They answered, Nothing!”

One more scripture

Philippians 4:19 in the Classic Amplified Bible says:

“And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in ChrIst Jesus.”

Let’s keep the closet doors open and these monsters eliminated from your lives. . .so you never have to fear them again.

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