WATCHWORD:
1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God? … 11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:1-2,11
Meditation:
God’s Peace
Our human fears don’t stand a chance when encompassed by God’s Peace. God’s peace contains no trace of our earth-bound fears.
“We are humans, we all experience fear in some form or another; for our own safety, sometimes the fear is of the unknown, or comes out of our worry about tomorrow. We hear plenty of scripture passages that say to us do not fear, and certainly do not worry about tomorrow… What about holy fear? The kind of fear that God implants in us that guides us closer to him?” (An excerpt from my essay, Holy Fear, 2008)
In Acts 2:1-4, we read about the event during Pentecost in the temple in Jerusalem. There was a fearful, violent wind and tongues of fire. All that would be fearful enough, but then each one was filled with the Holy Spirit. God’s purpose, God’s plan. They experienced God’s Peace, along with spiritual confidence and boldness, to speak out and praise Him.
I recalled a message from a televangelist one evening, and the message was so personal, so specific, even rude, that I was left with the distinct impression that he was talking to me! He made three important points, no, not points, orders!
- “Stan, stop listening to yourself!” (I was incensed!) He explained that much of our worry and stress comes from…our ‘worry-voice’. It is okay to have concerns about the ebb and flow of our lives, and for the lives of others: spouse, children, grandchildren, friends. When it dominates, then it becomes a problem. Look at your prayer list. Is it a worry list that you’re carrying to God? Or is it one where we truly surrender, express our gratitude for His graces and trust the Lord?
- “Stan, start talking to yourself! (What? Now I am totally confused. You just told me not to!) Here is the point: Talk reassurance, positives, the confidence that God is in charge, that God loves us and that we will get through whatever is causing the worry. Don’t talk discouragement. Thank the Lord in all things, even if it is hard. When we do that, we underscore our trust in God.
- Get with God. Rest in the awareness that when we look to God, it changes us. We don’t know how that change will affect us, we just know that it will be positive. And the reason we know that is because God is always faithful, and we know that in our deepest parts.
After that message, I felt directed to ask the Holy Spirit “What are you saying to me?” After that I began to listen more carefully to the nudges, the circumstances, the direction given me. The ‘Voice of the Spirit’ is very subtle, a whisper of power. Always express your thankfulness and gratitude for His graces. Pray for guidance, for wisdom to follow His Will. and don’t forget to lift up your loved ones.
Final point — Keep it clearly in mind, dear friends, that your fear does not stand a chance against what God can do.
Gentle Reminder:
9 I have called you back from the ends of the earth and said that you must serve but me alone, for I have chosen you and will not throw you away. 10 Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:9-10
Closing Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for the strength to be thankful for today and the moment, to enjoy the now in the midst of challenges, and to thank God for his favor and grace. Lord, help me to focus on what the Holy Spirit is doing in my life and to drowned out the voices of evil. I am not alone in my fight against fear; I have the Holy Spirit and the angels standing with me and in me. Thank you, Lord, for the “my one-step victory” in my life; not perfect obedience, not perfect performance, not human perfect peace, not my righteousness, but the righteousness by faith in Jesus and his grace. I thank you, Jesus, that you make allowance for my weaknesses, failures, sins, doubts, unbelief, and when fear controls my thoughts and actions. Help me to reject arguing or debating with the devil, my flesh, and my guilty conscience and rest in the love, grace, mercy, peace, and righteousness of Jesus who is my shield and redeemer. Thank you, Lord, for helping me overcome and deliver me from my fear. Help me to be as wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. May your Holy Will be done in my life. Amen.
