21
Mar '19
Why So Afraid?
21
Mar '19
Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. (Genesis 32:11)
One time in elementary school I said something mean to a kid in my class. Mike was a tough kid and much bigger than I so I expected that when we went outside for recess, he was going to beat me up. I worried the whole day. When recess came I told Mike, “If you’re going to hit me, please hit my arm so it won’t hurt so much.” He laughed and said that he wasn’t planning on hitting me, that he had forgotten all about it. I had worried over nothing. Fear does serve a purpose. If not for fear, we would take foolish risks, endangering our lives. But we can’t fear everything. Jacob cheated his brother Esau out of his rightful inheritance twice, and then ran away for years. When God told Jacob to return home, he feared his brother would kill him and his family. Jacob wasted years fearing his brother’s vengeance — for nothing. Esau had long since forgiven his brother. If we can do something to fix a bad situation, then we should do it. Regardless, we can exercise our faith and turn our worries over to God.
Heavenly Father, we know you care about every aspect of our lives. Help us to trust you more and to worry less. Amen.
This devotion blessed me. I feel we can all be reminded to trust God more and worry less. Today, take a moment and do as today’s devotion says, exercise your faith and turn your worries over to God. Turn your worries into worship and and watch God turn your battles into blessings.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Jeremiah 17:7-8
14
Dec '18
Fall at His Feet
14
Dec '18
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:17-18)
People aren’t afraid of babies. Now, it might be intimidating to think of caring for a baby, but just meeting a baby isn’t a very terrifying experience to the average person.
Babies are cute, small and helpless. They don’t pose any danger. How amazing that Jesus entered our world as a little baby! Jesus’ mode of arrival reveals God the Father’s humility, kindness and approachability.
The Bible introduces us to Jesus, the baby. This is the beautiful portrait of the Christmas season. But let’s also remember the Bible describes Jesus as the exalted Son of Man whose eyes are as a flame of fire, whose mouth has a two-edged sword, and whose face is like the sun in all its brilliance. (Revelation 1:14,16) That’s a much more intimidating picture!
The elderly Apostle John saw this almighty God while exiled on the tiny island of Patmos. If the saying “Best Friends Forever” existed back then, John might have used it to describe his relationship with Jesus. Among the Lord’s 12 disciples, He had an inner circle of three (Peter, James and John). John described himself in his Gospel as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23). Clearly, he had a deep relationship with the Savior.
When John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, he heard God’s voice like a trumpet and saw his master and best friend, Jesus.
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead” (Revelation 1:17).
What an impression God made on John! Here’s a disciple who had walked and talked with Jesus, yet when John sees Jesus in all His splendor and glory, he is undone. He is terrified and falls down like a dead man. Pay attention to what Jesus does next.
“He laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, ‘Fear not’” (Revelation 1:17).
Jesus didn’t flex His divine muscles and shout with a thunderous voice to heighten fright in John’s heart. He did the opposite. He spoke kindly and placed His hand on John to strengthen him. He chose words of comfort that you can find in the Bible hundreds of times: “Do not be afraid.”
What’s causing you fear today? Allow Jesus’ words to John to bring you comfort and courage. You don’t have to be afraid of any challenge facing you because of who God is. He said:
“I am the First and the Last” (v. 17). He is divine and eternal.
“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!” (v. 18). John had witnessed Jesus’ gruesome crucifixion. There is no hurt on earth that God does not understand. But because of the resurrection, death has been beaten once and for all.
“I have the keys of hell and of death.” (v. 18). God has sovereign dominion in and over the invisible world. He opens and shuts doors that no one else can. Jesus possesses the key to the kingdom of God and the entrance into eternal life.
So when you see the baby Jesus depicted this season, rejoice and be glad! God came down in the least intimidating way — as a baby. But also remember, He shall return as the ultimate victor over the devil and death. We will fall at His feet in worship. God is all powerful and hallelujah, He is on our side!
Lord Jesus, I humble myself before You. Who am I that You should love me? Thank You for coming as a baby. You will return as King. Help me remember Your extraordinary power and honor You as Lord over my life this Christmas season. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
What a beautiful devotion. Honor Him this holiday season as Lord over your life. As today’s devotion states, He is on our side. I’m looking forward to that day when I can as John states fall at His feet. Even now I choose to fall at His feet, not afraid but as a broken vessel that He can poor into. Whatever you are fearing today, give it over to Him and allow that peace that passes all understanding to cover you. He is able, so today, fall at His feet and do not fear!
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Luke 6:30-31
18
May '18
The Spiritual Fight Against Fear
18
May '18
And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land. (Joshua 8:1)
The Lord told Joshua to go up to Ai. Actually, He was telling Joshua to go back to Ai. Since their earlier defeat at Ai, the men of Israel have been through a tragic experience because of the disobedience of one of their men, Achan. The punishment for Achan’s sin no doubt left a fearful impression upon all these men, who must now be prepared for war. So the Lord tells Joshua to “fear not, neither be thou dismayed.” In other words, He is saying, “Get back up and let’s take care of the business at hand. Let’s complete the job we have started.” The Lord promises to be with Joshua and his men, even going so far as to tell Joshua that He has already given the king, the people and the land into their hands.
In the second part of this verse, the Lord tells Joshua to “see.” This is not a physical seeing because the battle has not yet even begun. This form of seeing requires spiritual eyes of faith to believe that what the Lord is saying is true, even though it cannot be physically seen at this time. For Joshua, this is an important step of faith. He has just been dealt a severe blow through what happened with Achan and now he must get back up. He must continue to fight. He must take each step with the Lord.
God is faithful and just. He will complete the work He has started. Do not let fear, anger or discouragement keep you from following the Lord. Get back up, trust Him and take that next step. The enemy will do whatever he can to keep you from taking that next step, but the Lord will help you to “see” that He has delivered you and will lead you forward.
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is John 13:34-35
21
Oct '16
Fear
21
Oct '16
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)
This has always been one of the hardest things for my heart to process. Mentally, I know that God loves me and that He isn’t out to get me, but I still fear the bad things that He may allow to happen to me in this broken world. I am still a work in process, slowly being perfected in the love of Jesus. But in the meantime, how should I, and others like me who struggle with fear, answer the fears of my own heart and the doubt in God’s perfect love that causes those fears?
First, we ought to remind ourselves that God is powerful and loving. God’s power goes beyond our comprehension of power and His love is beyond our understanding. This means that what God allows in our lives, even that which we fear most, is only allowed because He loves us and wants the ultimate best for us.
Second, we ought to remember that God is no stranger to fear or to painful situations. Jesus experienced mass alienation by His community, was betrayed by His closest friends, abused by society and the government and ultimately killed in a horrific and painful way. He begged the Father to remove the burden of the cross from His shoulders. He knew fear and anxiety. He understands when we feel those same things. We do not follow an unsympathetic, uncaring God. We follow a God who has wept bitterly and who has promised to one day wipe every single tear from our eye.
Third, we ought to walk in obedience. Even though Jesus cried out for the cup to be taken from Him, He obeyed His Father and drank it anyway. And He suffered deeply and unimaginably. We know how painful it is for human fathers and sons to be separated by death. Imagine how much more agonizing the separation was for the Father and Son who love even more deeply than we do. We know they both suffered greatly, but we also know that on the other side of that suffering came resurrection, redemption and paradise. For all who know Jesus as their savior, those same results await us on the other side of all our suffering.
Some of us fear things that may never come to pass and we can become paralyzed by our fears and anxiety. And walking through this process mentally and emotionally can be difficult, especially when we have to do it time and again. But we have been called to pick up the cross and follow Him. Nelson Mandela said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” We can feel fear and yet move on in spite of it, trusting that someday, we will be forever united with Christ in a place where fear cannot exist and where we are finally and fully made perfect and fearless in the love of Jesus.
When I recently read this devotion, with tears flowing, I felt every bit of it was meant for me but I couldn’t help but think someone else has to read this. It blessed me, I struggle with fear at times, especially more now that I’m a mom to two beautiful children. You may be thinking, well, fear is not of God and I realize that, I am human and at times my flesh (fear) consumes me and I find myself worrying about what the future holds, the unknowns, but then a gentle touch comes over me and I know I can’t fear what the future holds because I know who holds the future, for me, for my family and for my children. I have read the back of the book and We win! No matter what comes, We win! What peace we should find in that. Thank You God that you are my source to triumph over fear. I can feel fear and move on in spite of it. I choose to pick up the cross and follow Him!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Todays Reading is 1 John 4