Promise for Today - Fear Not

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

What are you worried about today? The economy? Your health? Your bills? Your kids? Are you worried about the future? The fact is there are a lot of reasons to be afraid in today’s world. More than ever, we feel the stress of even everyday tasks that seem infinitely more difficult because of the state of the world. Life is just hard.

But God promises that, even in your darkest valleys, he is walking beside you.

It’s interesting to note that there are 365 verses in the Bible that say, “Fear not.” God provided us with one “Fear not” message for every day of the year! He wants us to hear the message: Don’t be afraid!

Why does God have to repeat himself so often when it comes to our worries and fears? It’s because our hurts and hang-ups can often cause us to think that God is out to get us, that all he wants to do is condemn us and punish us. But that simply isn’t true. Jesus is the proof of that.

When you understand God’s grace and mercy, then you have no need to fear the future. God isn’t trying to get even with you. Jesus has taken the penalty for everything you’ve ever done wrong or will do wrong. He paid for it on the cross. So, when a bad thing happens, you don’t have to think, “God’s getting even with me.” Instead, remember and pray this verse:“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 NLT).

But you can’t just say this Scripture and then expect all your fears to go away once and for all. These are verses you will have to pray over and over again as your human nature slips back into worry. But keep praying. Keep reminding yourself of God’s promises.

They never fail!

Talk It Over

What promises from God’s Word can you claim when you’re tempted to worry about something in your life?

In what ways does God protect you?

Why should understanding Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross keep you from fearing the future?

- by Pastor Rick

*************************************

Prayer:

Father, 

          When our hearts are overwhelmed, overwhelm us with Your peace. Lead us to You, our Rock. Guide us to Your word, which gives us strength and refuge. Help us not to run from our pain but to trust fully in Your goodness and power to carry us through. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Our Responsibility

If you see your neighbor's ox or sheep or goat wandering away, don’t ignore your responsibility. Take it back to its owner. If its owner does not live nearby or you don’t know who the owner is, take it to your place and keep it until the owner comes looking for it. Then you must return it. Do the same if you find your neighbor’s donkey, clothing, or anything else your neighbor loses. Don’t ignore your responsibility.
Deuteronomy 22:1-3 NLT

We live in a day and time where people want to be separate from one another. They come home from work and go into their homes or backyards and expect privacy. What the neighbor is doing has nothing to do with them unless it encroaches on what they consider to be their time or space. It's a "mind your own business - stay out of mine" lifestyle. I don't believe that's how God intended it to be.

God set forth the rules and roles of our responsibilities while on this Earth and a great majority are our responsibilities to each other. 

Taking care of one another 
Bearing each other's burdens
Loving our neighbors as ourselves

Being moved with compassion
Loving as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for us

Forgiving one another

He commanded. He knew we'd have a hard time carrying out these commands. We'd have to be intentional about them. 

In the New Living Translation, it's "Don't ignore your responsibility." 

King James tells us to not hide ourselves.

The English Standard Version states we must not ignore them.

Proverbs 3 instructs us not to withhold help when it is within our power to help. Who is our neighbor? Anyone who needs our help. They are our responsibility. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Forgive us for all the times we've looked the other way or selfishly withheld from our neighbor. Give us Your eyes to see, Your heart of compassion, and grace to pour out abundantly. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

From Now Until Easter - Even In the Pit

From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Today's post features excerpts written by Chaplain David Blauw, who has been leading the department of Spiritual Care at Holland Hospital in Holland, Michigan, for almost 25 years.

************************************  

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits - who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:2-5

I believe we are challenged by Psalm 103 to know that while there can’t always be “cure,” there can always be “care.” For instance, forgiveness by a God who does not hold grudges; steadfast love and mercy, even in the deepest valley. Good things are folded, sometimes secretly, within intrusions such as brain or spinal cord injury; sudden, devastating loss; or the fact that all will lose capacity and abilities with age and disease. Good things, even then. I’ve seen them.

Bless the Lord that there is care and love for us... This is shown in crisp and awful clarity, as our Lord suffered execution.

Prayer: 

We bless you, Lord, even in the pit, even in despair or change, even in our waywardness or weakness. Help us soar like eagles as we prepare for early morning... Amen.

Snip Snip

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
1st Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

It's been pretty stressful at work lately. Today, I went to the other side of the building to check something and stopped for a 5-minute chat with a fellow believer. In the course of the conversation, we encouraged each other and talked about how important it is to lift up others, to speak an encouraging word to family, friends and yes, even strangers.

She told a story that gave a mind's eye visual of our Promise for Today. When her daughter was in college learning how to be a teacher, one of the exercises they did required her to have a paper doll to care for and carry for a full day. The assignment was that for every negative word spoken, a piece of the paper doll had to be torn away or cut off.

Imagined morning phrases counted, too, before the child ever got to school.

"Come on, Johnny. You're always late!" Snip
"Evelyn, can't you do anything for yourself?" Snip Snip
"Let's go! You are the slowest kid!" Rip"You will never..." Tear"Fine! You don't care? I don't care, either!" Cut...

Now, think about your day. Did we take their head off first or their feet, not giving them any way to stand... How many negative words were spoken - even if the person didn't hear what you said or thought? Snip, Snip! Rip and Tear! Cut...

How much of the paper doll would we still have at the end of the day? How are we doing with the flesh-and-blood ones God has placed in our care?

Prayer:

Father,
           May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Cause us to have clean hands and pure hearts, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen