This poem is written in the Triolet form. I really love this form because it has the perfect amount of repetition, with lines 1, 4, and 7 being the same, and then lines 2 and 8 being the same. I have found that the Triolet is well suited to Christian poetry.
Safe Haven
Thislife is hard and treacherous It’s no place to go it alone The only safe haven is Jesus This life is hard and treacherous
Our Emmanuel, God with us Will never forsake or leave us This life is hard and treacherous It’s no place to go it alone
I hope this poem serves as a reminder to the reader that you don’t have to navigate the treacherous waters of this life alone. Jesus wants to walk by your side, to carry you if need be, and bring you safely to the other side of Jordan.
Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
A panic attack affects one out of 75 people, and it often can be quite disconcerting. My panic attacks occur roughly once a month and last for about 1/2 hour. When the acute symptoms first appear my first reaction is to resist giving in to it. I get the “shakes.” For a long time, I didn’t know what caused them or more importantly what could stop it.
A panic attack is a sudden surge of an incredible fear.
Typically it comes without warning and without any obvious reason. It is far more intense than the feeling of being ‘stressed out’ that most people experience.
As a believer in Jesus, the physical symptoms can be quite real, but the spiritual issues become obvious when we consider Satan’s attacks on our faith. Although we may have a proclivity, we don’t have to surrender to panic as the way of life.
Symptoms of a panic attack include:
racing heartbeat
difficulty breathing, feeling as though you ‘can’t get enough air’
a terror, that is almost paralyzing, a seeming irrational fear
dizziness, lightheadedness or nausea
trembling, sweating, shaking
choking, chest pains
hot flashes, or sudden chills
tingling in fingers or toes, (‘pins and needles’).
fear that you’re going to go crazy, or are about to die
You probably recognize this as the classic ‘flight or fight’ response that human beings experience when we are in a situation of danger. But during a panic attack, these symptoms seem to rise from out of nowhere. They occur in seemingly harmless situations–they can even happen while you are asleep.
In addition to the above symptoms, a panic attack is marked by the following conditions:
it occurs suddenly, without any warning and without any way to stop it.
the level of fear is way out of proportion to the actual situation; often, in fact, it’s completely unrelated.
it passes in several minutes; the body cannot sustain the ‘fight or flight’ response for longer than that. However, repeated attacks can continue to recur for hours.
A panic attack is not dangerous, but it can be a bit terrifying.
Largely because it feels ‘crazy’ and ‘out of control.’ Panic disorder is frightening because of the symptoms associated with it, and also because it often leads to other complications such as phobias, depression, substance abuse, medical complications, even suicide.
Its effects can range from mild social impairment or just pretty a total inability to face the outside world.
As a follower of Jesus, I’m certain that Psalm 91 is written for me. If I may, attacks of fear shouldn’t be faced head on, rather we set our hearts on Jesus, and allow Him to defend and protect us. I suppose we’ll always be susceptible, but we dare not be defeated.
“You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day.”
Psalm 91:5, ESV
Further reading and help on panic attacks check out these sites:
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Matthew 5:8
“The righteous shall move onward and forward; those with pure hearts shall become stronger and stronger.”
Job 17:9
We live in a time when impurity threatens many men and women. Pornography is easily accessible in our generation. The internet is flooded with sites that’ll hurt believers. It will ruin our relationship with our heavenly Father. It affects our marriages and destroys our connection with others.
There is intense guilt that comes from using porn.
It covers us with a shame that hurts us deep inside, something detrimental to intimacy with our spouses, family, or friends, and as well with other believers. We’re guilty of hidden sin. Satan uses it to further isolate the Christian.
Porn causes us to be secretive. We want to hide it from others. We learn how to delete “cookies” on our computers. We want to hide the things we are doing. We must understand that using porn becomes addicting, it’s sort of crack cocaine to our spirits.
Masturbation is common to those viewing pornography.
Our view of naked men or women in sexual acts objectifies them. Subconsciously we start to evaluate our closest relationships. We compare others to the things we see.
It’s addictive. We can’t imagine life without it.
It seperates us from others. It begins to isolate us.
We have a secret life, hidden and masked.
Porn is easy to find, and it latches itself in our minds and hearts.
It often leads us into further and deeper perversions.
We see others as objects, not people who God loves.
It often leads one into a life of hypocrisy and deception.
Porn can lead one into masturbation and wrong relationships with others.
It weakens our God-ordained relationship with our spouses.
Viewing porn is a form of adultery.
We start to compare our spouse to the things we’ve seen.
It instills us with guilt and shame. It will destroy your discipleship.
The time we spend in porn can be better used for the Word, worship and prayer.
It desensitifies our relationship with God’s Spirit.
There’s so much more that can be added to this list. But this dear one is just a start. Perhaps you’ll discover more that should be added.
“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I look at a young woman?”
Job 31:1
“Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.”
Philippians 4:8
Only the Spirit of holiness can make an impure heart pure. However, we must do the ‘leg work” and make it to free ourselves from this sin. Our minds and hearts are our battlefields. To recognize this constantly is necessary. We must take solid steps to take the victory He gives. I realize that the demonic forces are very intense, but God’s power is far stronger.
Your desire to be pure is evidence of God’s care and grace.
If you’re struggling it’s really helpful to share your problem with someone you trust. Becoming accountable will help. Please don’t be afraid of being judged. Quit lying to yourself (and others) that you can overcome this on your own. You can’t hide it any longer.
If you wish you can contact Linda or me. If anything we can pray.
“Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?”
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.”
Hebrews 11:30, NIV
Cemented into our walk as believers is the powerful presence of Jesus Christ. The scriptures, which are our supreme directive, show to us our spiritual imperative. That mandate is victory, and we begin freedom with ourselves. The Israelites have shown us a realistic understanding of overcoming by faith alone.
“So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”
Joshua 6:20, NKJV
The stone walls of Jericho crumbled in when God’s covenant people believed the Word of the Lord for an astonishing victory. Our Lord intends we walk around our obstacles by faith, our confidence is in His power to defeat all that resists Him. We can’t do this by copying their formula, but by having God’s presence.
Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide.5 We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5, TPT
Spiritual power is always present when Jesus is near.
When we’re united with him, we’ll see every obstacle fall prostate at His feet. In Christ, by faith, we can expect to see some pretty awesome things! We follow our High Priest as we face our own walls. We are no longer defenseless.
With you as my strength I can crush an enemy horde, advancing through every stronghold that stands in front of me.
Psalm 18:29, TPT
For those of us who struggle with depression or other illness, we need a God of power who can work in our lives. There is a battle and victory will always contested. But for those of us who are downtrodden, we set our gaze on He who wants us free. Don’t give up. Follow the Lord Jesus to freedom.
Broken Believers 