“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear..” - 1 John 4:18 (NIV).
Fear can be an immobilizing force that paralyses any life. It affects us in many ways, and we all have certain things that bring fear in our hearts. Depending on where you come from, don’t be surprised that there are cases of people who, among others, fear house lizards. Once such sees any, expect a wild scream and a scatter, as if from a snake!
In a time of a pandemic fear can pervade our lives. Almost every piece of news is coated with a message of fear. The medicine is suspect. The health centers are incapable. The health workers are dying. Those that recover are not fully restored. A good dose of this “news” freely sent and forwarded by friends, inevitably leaves many filled with fear. So, what next, they ask!
As Christians we cannot give in to “fear mongering” because of the hope we have in Christ Jesus. Once in a boat, the disciples of Jesus where hit by a savage storm, that they feared would drown them. Once they turned to Jesus, “ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:39-40).
When the news around us are all filled with scary messages, let us not be afraid, like a people without faith. We must anchor our faith in the saving grace of God. When the scriptures says, “perfect loves drives out fear’; the meaning here is that we have a God whose love is so encompassing that anything that brings fear in our hearts, is dispelled, because His word says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).
Today, walk not in fear, which only paralyses, but in faith, which frees you, because you have hope in Christ Jesus!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I overcome fear, because of the hope I have in you through your Son Jesus Christ, who has come into my life and set me free!
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27/04/2024 - 28/04/2024 All day“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” (Psalm 42:1).
In the wildlife, a common feature is predatory animals chasing after less ferocious ones, which on a bad day become good dinner. Through the savannah plains of Africa the antelope tends to suffer that fate. After a long chase from a mighty lion, cheetah or leopard; antelopes that survive tend to retreat to a fresh water spot. There they gladly refresh their quench with streams of water.
King David, must have been more familiar with deer, as there are more common in the Northern Hemisphere. For us in the tropics we can substitute the deer with our antelope, commonly chased by predators. After a long chase, of course all pant for pints of water.
The significance of this metaphor is that whenever we encounter any situation that puts us on a chase, where do we run to! Habakuk 3:19 says, “The Lord God give my strength. He helps me run fast like deer. He leads me safely on the mountains” (Habakuk 3:19).
Two things of note here. The Lord can make us run as fast as the fastest antelope being chased by a predator to a well of safety. And of course, as we run, we have that the well of God to end up to and refresh ourselves! This is why David wrote, “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 42:11).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today like the antelopes of the wildlife I run to you, to that well of life, which refreshes my soul, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
