Psalm 34:4. I sought the Lord, and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears.
And after the snow, comes the rain. Yes friends, yesterday it snowed all day in my area, but thankfully the white stuff only trickled down from heaven, like a drizzling rain, so we only ended up with an inch or so when it stopped. However, during the early morning hours, the fog came in and it’s still out there fairly thick, you can only see about fifty yards ahead properly, and yet some people are still driving without their lights on, as well as several of them only have one working headlight.
But the snow is melting and the rain is beginning to slowly drizzle down. So by day’s end we should not be too badly off, unless the temperature decides to freeze up again and thus cause ice problems. But there’s no need to fear, for Jesus is with us, guiding our every step, that is, if we’re listening to Him. (smile) And talking about fear, I decided to continue today with some scripture verses that promote faith over fear, since fear is a very real and troublesome problem in our current society.
What with the unfortunate fallout from the pandemic and all the strife and anger that’s proliferating out there, fear has become a major source of worry, and the only way to stop it, or even lessen it is by believing and proclaiming powerful scripture verses of faith. And brother, I’ve found so many that I don’t know which to choose, or really where to begin. (smile) But begin we must, so let’s check out this famous scripture on fear and faith, from Bruh Paul’s second letter to Timothy, where he admonishes Timothy thus: ‘Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting (laying) on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound (disciplined) mind.’ (2 Tim. 1:6-7)
And I like how this commentator in the abide and seek.com website adds verse 6 to the mix, because it adds a li’l something to the next verse, the fanning of the flame of faith, that we don’t usually get when we quote that verse by itself. As the commentator writes. ‘I just LOVE this scripture! The Spirit which dwells within us believers holds the same power that raised Jesus from the dead! The Holy Spirit is there to empower us to places where we could not tread without it! We are called to entrust and to call on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, thus fanning that small flame into a powerful fire! To allow the fear of anything that lies ahead to dissipate and allow that light to shine in these dark times.’
Yes friends, that’s surely the job of the Holy Spirit, but it only makes a difference if we listen and obey it’s commands. Then there’s this verse from Psalm 34, as Bruh David testifies: ‘I sought the Lord, and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears.’ (Ps, 34:4) Ah mih people, when we’re afraid, the first and best thing to do is turn to the God of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because He is the Creator and Controller of the universe, and our very heavenly Father, who has such great compassion for us, His most precious creation.
And we all know that’s what Bruh David did throughout his life, and despite his many faults and mistakes, the Lord still considered him His friend and a man after His own heart. That means there’s forgiveness and LOVE for us too, when we open our hearts to Almighty God. And I can’t do scriptures on fear and faith and not include one of my favourites from Joshua, when the Lord made Joshua the leader of the Israelites after the death of Moses. In his last statement to Joshua on how He would be with him like He was with Moses, the Lord said: ‘Have I not commanded thee? be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whither thou goest.’ (Josh. 1:9)
Now isn’t that a marvellous verse of encouragement? It surely is! Especially if it’s the Lord Himself speaking to you! Just like God was with Moses, He would be with Joshua, and also with us. As this commentary says: ‘God’s promises are never broken and that is what God was pointing out to Joshua as he was taking on this calling of leading His people. He was frightened and unsure yet God’s promises and LOVE can never fail!’ And that’s what we need to believe in spades my fellow saints! The promises and LOVE of our great and faithful God will never fail!
And He’s made that declaration (chuh!!!) a thousand times in His Word, as these two verses of Deuteronomy ascertain. This first one, Moses speaks to the people of Israel: ‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Deut. 31:6) Then Moses called Joshua before all the people and reassured him with the same basic words. ‘And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.’ (Deut. 31:8) You can’t get any better encouragement than that my people!
And what about this other magnificent scripture of faith from Psalm 27, where Bruh David joyfully and faithfully proclaims: ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? ‘ (Ps, 27:1) Yes mih bredrin, we are certainly maturing when we too can make such a positive declaration (yesss!!!) of faith! And we’ll conclude today’s faith incentive scriptures with these two verses which we have been seeing a lot of recently (smile)
It’s these most reassuring words of Bruh Paul to the church at Philippi. ‘Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:6-7) Truer words were never written my brethren, so please, let’s take them to heart and sincerely practice them if we truly want to receive that wonderful peace of God which man’s finite brain cannot understand.
Now let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. Altogether now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And please remember that if we endure with Jesus right down to the very end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine! Much LOVE!
…if fear knocks at your door…just send faith to answer it…
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