"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love" - 1 John 4:18 (NIV).
The expression "walking on eggshells" is used to refer to a situation where one imagines they can tread on eggs without any ever breaking. A certainly impossible task. Eggs are delicate. Try as much as you can one by one the egg will break with a simple false move or misdirected touch.
Sometimes people find themselves in those circumstances where there are like walking on eggshells. Whatever step they take disaster awaits. It is like an attempt to journey through a mine field filled with booby traps. You are lucky to stretch one step out without stepping one, only to be blown up in pieces!
Also, here can be environments or even relationships one finds themselves in which are much like that. You have to tread carefully for fear of what might happen. Every move - a word out of place, an action of some measure - and it is all trouble. Oh poor you: however much you try the inevitable happens. You are already condemned and waiting to be hanged.
What can make a difference though is when such environments or relationships are filled with love. Love overcomes any such fears. I Peter 4:8 says, "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins"! For where there is love there is forgiveness since, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"' (Romans 8:1).
The environments we create and relationships we have should be filled with love- the opposite of those burdened with fear. When we do so those who live with us are not like treading on eggshells. We do that because this is how we also relate with God. In spite of all our imperfections He loves us and accepts us as we are!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, help me search myself that all my relationships are filled with love and not fear, which brings us closer to you, this I pray in Jesus's name.
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
