FEAR NOT

FEAR NOT

"My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, HE is the one who goes WITH you. He will not leave you or forsake you. The Lord, HE IS the one who goes BEFORE you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord Your God is with you wherever you go. In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and HE shall direct your paths. He HIMSELF has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.' So we may BOLDLY say: 'The Lord IS my helper; I WILL NOT FEAR." (Exodus 33:14; Deut. 31:6,8; Joshua 1:9; Proverbs 3:6; Hebrews 13:5-6)

I was reminded this morning in my quiet time that "fear is a powerful controller. It either compels is to do what is IRRESPONSIBLE or it impedes us from living RESPONSIBLY . . . The most frequent command of Jesus in the Gospels is, 'FEAR NOT.' In anticipation of Israel's entrance into the Promised Land, God tells His people four times, 'BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS' (Joshua 1). The writer of Proverbs says, 'The wicked flee when NO ONE is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion.' (Proverbs 28:1).

The fact that God doesn't look favorably on cowards and unbelievers is made evident in Revelation 21:8: "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.' Does it surprise you that cowardly, unbelieving people are listed in the rogue's gallery with murderers and liars?

It is characteristic of the Spirit-filled life to be BOLD ("When they gathered, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the Word of God with BOLDNESS." Acts 4:31) The early church did not pray for 'divine appointments,'; they prayed for BOLDNESS. God's kingdom can only be established by faithful courageous people." Adapted from Neil T. Anderson's reading for July 12th from DAILY IN CHRIST -- A DEVOTIONAL

Is there an area in your life were you are fearful today? Listen to these words and apply them to your heart: FEAR NOT!