“Fear you not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness”. ( Isiah 41:10).
Fear is one of those human conditions no one can say is completely immune to. Usually fear mounts when faced with a situation that seems overwhelming. But while one cannot underestimate fear, there is also an escape.
Take the example of the night of Gethsemane. Knowing what was ahead, Jesus, became “sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” ( Mathew 26: 37-39). Certainty there was a lot coming to set terror even for Jesus.
There is another person who knew a lot about fear. King David. In Psalm 3 he shared an experience. “Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him” (vv 2-3).
David had many such situations- from persecution by King Saul to being overthrown after a coup. But rather than let fear overwhelm him, David, cast his all on to his Father. “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side” ( vv 3-6).
Maybe your situation is not as near the same. However, just as Jesus and King David threw their all to God when faced with fear, so should you. For when we surrender whatever is upsetting us to God two things happen. First our fears become God’s business. But even more the power of God is able to come and overwhelm any force arraigned against.
Today, let not fear sink you down. Just as David prayed, “From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people” ( vv 8).
Prayer today: Lord Father God, maker of heaven and earth, to you I surrender all my fears, knowing that your power is able to overwhelm and level any fear, for all power belongs 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!
