“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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18/05/2024 - 19/05/2024 All day“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)
Perhaps one of the most inspiring passages in the Bible with enduring lessons is where Moses pleads to Pharaoh to let the Jews go. Instead Pharaoh dared Moses if he had the power as that of a king. Challenged to “perform a miracle” Moses turned to Aaron who threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs (Exodus 7: 9-12).
What we see here is the presence of occult powers in high places, as is true even today. A common mistake by some is to deny the existence of the occult behind certain thrones or power centers, especially in instances where we find those putting on a genteel manner of social respectability. There are also those who through their education and confined exposure to the spirit realm of things, doubt the existence of occult powers. The reality is that in the world we live in the enemy is much at work. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
In this passage we see that while Pharaoh did release his snakes the staff God had placed in the hands of his messenger, Moses, was far greater and swallowed all. Here is the point. As believers we do have a far greater and mighty power to protect us from any attacks of the enemy. It is the blood of the lamb. As it is written, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” (Revelation 12:11).
Today whatever snakes you may encounter from anywhere be assured that you have a far greater power than of the enemy. It is the blood of Jesus. As His word says, “call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:15).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray for protection from the attacks of the enemy by the blood of the lamb, this I pray in Jesus’name.
