Tag Archives: Fear

Day Fifty with Mark: Mark 13

Posted on by

0

A few housekeeping notes.  I’ll be doing this studies through Wednesday this week, with a special Christmas Eve one on Thursday. And next week will look (mostly) normal, but then there won’t be one for a few weeks, I’ll be on a trip to Israel with a group, but while in Israel I’m going to share updates about what we’ve seen.  Just wanted to let you know where things are going the next few weeks.

The next few days we’ll be looking at Chapter 13.  Click here to read it.

Mark 13 121This is one of the apocalyptic parts of Mark’s Gospel. Some of what is happening in this passage is referring to the destruction fo the Temple in 70 AD while other parts of the text are talking about the second coming. Which parts are which? That’s a great question. . . .

That’s one of the things with apocalyptic works, is that it’s not always clear which is which. That’s why there is so much debate of what passages like this mean, because no one really is sure about timeline and when things will happen. Jesus actually makes this point today in this passage.

So today, I want to make a few observations from this text that may be helpful for our daily living. For me, that’s the tool I use the most with passages like this. Let’s look at the big picture, what can we see from a big perspective, what makes sense on a big level. Here are some big points to understand within this text.

First, we are told several times, don’t be afraid. You’ll see things that are happening that worry you; that scare you. Don’t be afraid. Over and over in scripture that is one of the primary messages of the Bible. Don’t be afraid. Even when things are bad or scary or worrisome. Don’t be afraid. God has this. God is at work. Good things are coming. No matter how dark and bleak it may look, don’t lose hope. God is at work. Things will get better.

The second thing is the reason number one is important. There will be troubles. In this passage Jesus says several times, it will be tough. It will. There will be troubles. The Christian life is not a life of protection from harm. The Christian life is not a life of protection from trouble. There will be trials and troubles and fears and worries. The Christian life is a something that magically keeps this way. In fact, sometimes quite the opposite. The more faithful you may be the more troubles you may face.

But remember point one. Don’t be afraid. God has this. God is at work. Don’t be afraid. God is with us. All will be well. Don’t be afraid.

The third observation is this – be alert. Jesus tells us to pay attention in life. I think this means not just to things concerning His return, but to all of life. Don’t sleepwalk through life. Look around. Pay attention. Where is God at work? Where is God moving? What is God doing? Where does God want you to plug into His works? Let’s pay attention today!

And last, in regards to His return, He says no one knows the hour or date. Only the Father. For me, this renders any group or organization that says – it’s going to happen on _______ invalid because Jesus plainly say, no one will know. Are we closer to His return? Yes, every day we live we are a day closer. And for us a believers, His return is a good thing, a place with no more death, fear, sin, sickness, none of the destructive things of this world.

So, going back to point one – do not be afraid!

We’ll look a little more in depth tomorrow at Chapter 13.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Twenty with Mark: Mark 5:21-43

Posted on by

0

Wednesday we looked at the big picture of Mark 5:21-43.  Today, we are going to look at the specifics of the text:

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” 24 So he went with him.

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Ok, so we see two individuals healed. First, we see the daughter of Jarius healed.  Notice, we don’t know her name.  She’s a child and in that culture, children are considered little more than property.  So, notice that’s why the people said, she’s dead now, don’t bother Jesus anymore.  In this story, Jesus not only brings her back to life, but He inconveniences Himself to do that.  That’s something that would not happen in that culture.

She is worth something to Jesus.  She is worth being healed, she is worth being brought back to life.  No matter what others think, she is worth Jesus’ time and efforts.

Look at Jesus words to the father in verse 36 – do not fear, only believe.  What great words for us today.  No matter what we are going through today, there is a choice that we have to make, fear or belief.  Sometimes (most times) we have a combination of the two.  We are afraid, but we believe.  Jesus says, trust.  I have this.  Trust.

Today, no matter what it is that you are going through, don’t be afraid.  Trust.  Jesus has this.  Trust.

healingawomanwithinternalbleeding222The second healing (technically the first, as she was healed on the way) was the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years.  Ok, Jesus told Jarius not to fear, only believe.  That’s exactly what we see in this woman who was healed.  She was bleeding.  That made her unclean.  And here’s thing about being unclean, that was transferable.  So, if you’re unclean and you touch someone, you make them unclean.

So, this woman touches Jesus making Him unclean.  But here’s the thing, you can’t make Jesus unclean.  He’s the Son of God, second person of the Trinity, God Himself.  He’s unstainable.  So, He doesn’t become unclean.  But she didn’t know that.  All that she knew was this.  She had faith that if she touched Him, she would be made whole.  So she does it.

In that culture, you simply didn’t do that.  An unclean person didn’t touch a clean person.  A woman never touched a man, much less a rabbi like Jesus.  You just didn’t do that.  You didn’t.

Compare her faith to the people who were there at Jarius’ house.  She KNEW Jesus could heal her.  She KNEW it.  They laughed.

Do not fear, only believe.  Yeah, that’s a good word for us today.  Do not fear.  Only believe.

Monday we’ll look at Mark 6:1-6.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Seventeen with Mark: Mark 5:1-19

Posted on by

0

Today’s passage has A LOT going on, so we are going to spend at least two days looking at it.  We are looking at Mark 5:1-19:

Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac
5 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. 3 He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; 4 for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; 7 and he shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he had said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; 12 and the unclean spirits begged him, “Send us into the swine; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea.

14 The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 17 Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 But Jesus refused, and said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.”

Ok, look who meets Jesus on the other side of the sea.  A guy (the other Gospels say was naked) living a cemetery.  Demon possessed.  And with pigs in the area.  This is literally the worst Jewish nightmare you can think of.  One of the things that I wondered about for the longest time is why there were pigs?  I mean, this is Israel.  Jews don’t do pigs?  Why were their pigs in this story?  Where did they come from?

734215_10152379208205043_756632953_nThis city across the sea of Galilee, you know what it was?  It was a Roman city.  It was a Gentile city.  That’s why there were pigs there. Gentiles (i.e. non-Jews) didn’t mind pigs at all. So that’s why there would have been pigs there.  By the way, the picture to your right was one that I took from the actual place where the pigs jumped off of.  Things have changed since Jesus’ day, but that’s the spot!

This place on the other side of the lake would have been forbidden for Jews. They wouldn’t have wanted, or really, been allowed to go there.  Many of you may have had grandparents say to you – don’t go outside (or wherever) that’s where the boogie man is!  They would tell you “don’t go there” because they wanted to keep you away from that place.

So, good Jewish mamas would tell their kids – don’t go across the lake.  You’ll find pigs!  And naked men!  In cemeteries!  That are Gentiles!  That’s how bad Jesus wanted rest, He went to this place He would have been warned not to go, because He knew no one would follow Him.

And they get across the lake and what do they find?  A naked guy, in a cemetery, demon possessed, who is Gentile.  Oh, and pigs!  Turns out, mama was right!  It would have been everything that they feared!  It was literally the worst combination of what they feared.

And what does Jesus do?  He brings calm.  He brings peace.  He brings restoration.  He brings life.  He brings hope.

Tomorrow, we’ll look deeper at what exactly Jesus did. But today, know this.  Jesus encountered the thing that His Jewish followers would have feared teh most.  And He triumphs over it.

Jesus is greater than whatever it is that you fear.  Always believe that.  Because it is truth.  Always hold tight to that.

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 5:1-19 again.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Sixteen with Mark: Mark 4:35-41

Posted on by

0

Today in Mark, we look at Mark 4:35-41.  In this passage Jesus calms the storm:

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

resizeIn this passage we see one of the more famous stories in all the Bible.  Jesus calms the sea.  This is one of those stories that we’ll unpack more next week, it says that they were going across to the other side of the sea.  They were going to get away, people back didn’t cross over to other side.  Why?  Come back Monday and find out.

We see in this passage that they set out and a storm blew up.  Now this is not surprising, storms blow up all the time on the Sea of Galilee.  But this was one was fierce.  So fierce that these disciples, many of whom were fishermen and used to storms like this, we scared.

And their question to Jesus, to me, shows the depth of what fear can do.  Look what they ask.  “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing.”  Look at all that Jesus had done, already. Look how He has called them by name.  Look at how He has appointed them.  Look at how He has healed so many already.  Look at what He has done.

Of course He cared.  Of course He loved them.  Or course He would take care of them.

But you know what?  Fear makes you forget these things.  Fear makes you question.  Fear makes you doubt.  Fear takes your trust.  Think about how many times we have chosen wrong or doubted what we know to be true, based off of fear.

And what does Jesus do?  He speaks and brings calm.  He speaks and brings calm.

Sometimes when we read the Bible there is great need in knowing the Greek and the Hebrew and all the context of everything.

Sometimes it is this.  Listen to Jesus speak calm to your fear and your storm.  He loves you today.  He really does.  He loves you.  He will not forsake you.  He cares.

Don’t be afraid.  Not that there aren’t big things out there. But don’t be afraid.  Jesus has not left, not will He leave.

He cares for you today.  Nothing is better than that.

And they were amazed that even the wind and the sea obey.  All things obey for He is Lord of all.  Don’t forget that.

Do not be afraid.

They were really afraid.  And they questioned if Jesus cared for them.  They knew that Jesus loved.  Fear made them doubt.

Monday we’ll look at Mark 5:1-19.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Confidence

Posted on by

0

I mentioned last week in my sermon here at St. Matthew’s that I really love the book of Psalms. They are honest, they are beautiful and they speak to the heart, and come from the heart.  They really are some of the most powerful words on all the scripture.

So, often when I am reading the texts for each day, my eyes are drawn to whatever the Psalms for the day may be.  Today was Psalm 37.  Something about verses 7-9 caught me today:

7 Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;
do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
over those who carry out evil devices.
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.
Do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For the wicked shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

Two times it mentions, do not fret. Do not get anxious.  Do not get all roiled up.  Just breath.  Relax.  It’s ok.  It is.  Just take a moment and breath and breath out.

Why?  Why shouldn’t we get all kinds of anxious?  Don’t you know what’s happening in the world?  Don’t you know what’s happening in my life?

Sure, lots of things are going on.  But here’s why we shouldn’t fret.

confidenceFirst, we don’t need to get anxious because of what that produces.  “Do not fret – it leads only to evil.”  Think about how much evil, how much done wrong, how much that causes pain to others comes out of worry and fear.

Fear is a dangerous thing.  Fear leads us to do things we normally wouldn’t do.

As Christians, as the church, we can’t and we shouldn’t be fearful.  First, because it can cause us to act in ways that just aren’t Christian.  Fear affects our tongue.  It affects our actions.  It affects so many things.  Don’t fret – it leads only to evil.

And second we shouldn’t fret because we know who is in control.  God is not surprised by anything that happens in our lives; He is not surprised by anything that happens in the world.  He has it.  Seriously.  Don’t fret.  Don’t be afraid.  Don’t worry.  It’s ok.

Live a life guided by confidence in God, not shaken by the fear of the unknown, or even the known.  Don’t fret. Trust.  Obey.  It’s ok.  God has it.  Be faithful.  He’ll take care of the rest.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

When You are Scared

Posted on by

0

fuzzy-tv-screenLast night at Bible Study, we were talking about ISIL and other things in the world that can really make most worried.

Someone said; I was watching the news the other day, and I said, that’s your problem! Don’t watch the news. Turn it off. It will drive you crazy!

I was joking, sort of. But we went on to talk about crazy things can look in this world and but part of the reason is that 20 years ago, there weren’t a million 24 hour a day news stations looking for stories to fill up the space with.

So, today everything is breaking news. Everything is blast across our screens. Everything is HUGE. And it can really terrify us if we allow it. We can feel like things are getting out of control.

So, what do we do? We stop. We breathe. And we remember. God’s got this. We are faithful in the task that God has given us today. And we remember that God’s got this.

He does. Remember truth. Listen to the words of Psalm 4: 6-8 this morning:

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!” You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace, I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

In peace, he will lie down and sleep. For God makes us dwell in safety.

God makes us dwell in safety. Not our own might or power, not our own security. Not our own plans.

God. He watches over us. He leads us. He restores us. He guides us.

So, when we get scared, when we get worried, when we watch too much TV and get too bombarded by the stuff of this world, remember who lets us sleep in safety.

Remember who gives us peace and protection.

Remember who holds us, in difficult times in life.

Remember.

In God, we rise, and we sleep in safety. In Him, we have no fear.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones, and you thought our app, you can now watch our worship services from Asbury too!

Fear and Faith

Posted on by

0

There are two things at war in our minds at most times.  Fear and faith.  As Christians, that’s a tough battle, and quite often a battle that we feel guilty about fighting.  We believe!  We should have faith. We shouldn’t be afraid.

But yet, we are. There are things and situations we are afraid of. Shouldn’t we be better than that!  We shouldn’t be afraid.  We should have faith.

But we do fear, and then we feel bad. We feel like failures.

Let’s look at Abraham this morning.  In Genesis 12, God called him to leave behind his home, and go to the land that God would show him.  And he responded and he followed.  He believed, and he obeyed.  He did what he was supposed to do.  Now, a few chapter later through, this is what we find.  Listen to Genesis 15: 1-6:

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

0bd2cbd30bc7f1b2a234d42c9c028c2fGod comes to him and says this first off – fear not.  Why?

Well, quite often in scripture that’s God’s first word to someone, don’t be afraid.  Don’t fear. But, here for Abraham, there was something bigger going on.  God had promised him so much.  Land.  Children.  Family.  And now, he had no child.  He was afraid.  He was afraid the promises weren’t going to happen, he was afraid that all that he wanted wasn’t going to take place.

So, God comes to him and says, fear not.  I am your shield.  Your reward will be very great.

Believe.

And Abraham believed, and it was counted as righteousness.  He trusted.  He had faith.

Fear and faith. That’s the battle of our lives sometimes isn’t.  We want to have faith.  We want to believe.  But we are afraid.   We are scared.  We doubt.

We’ve all been there.  Fear and faith.  Fear and faith.

Today, have faith.  The only thing that conquers fear is faith.  The only thing that gets rid of fear is faith.  We have to believe, we have to hold fast, we have to hope, even when it’s tough.

Because God is good.  And true.  And faithful.  Fear and faith.  That’s the choice we have to make, each day.  Have faith, today, even when it’s hard.  God is good.  He won’t leave you.  Trust.  Have faith. And He will drive away your fear.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones, and you thought our app, you can now watch our worship services from Asbury too!

For Fear

Posted on by

0

After the resurrection happens, something very unexpected, and sort of shocking, when you think about it, happened.  At Easter, the stone was rolled away, life triumphed over death, evil was defeated, good has won.

All is great.  That’s what happened on Easter morning.

Yet, look at what happens later that same day.  It says in John 20: 19-21:

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

locked_doorThe disciples had just witnessed the miracle of resurrection. All of them had heard that He was alive.  They knew the tomb was empty.  They heard that truth and good had won. They knew it. But, they were still afraid.

They were afraid of the ones that had crucified Jesus.

They were afraid that they were coming for them now.

They were afraid of what could happen.

There were just scared.

So, they went up to the room. And they locked the door. For fear.  They locked the door, they shut themselves off, they locked away the world.  Out of fear.  And what does Jesus do?  He shows up, through the locked door and says – peace.

Today, you may have things that you are really afraid of. Things that are killing you spiritually/emotionally/physically.  You may be really afraid.  It’s ok.  We’ve all felt that way; we’ve all been there. And what we want to do when we are afraid is lock the doors.  Shut people off, shut people out. For fear.

We want to lock the doors of our heart.

Don’t do it.  Hear the words of Jesus – peace.  He has this.  It’s ok.  He’s alive.  He has overcome.  You don’t have to be afraid.  You don’t.  Trust.  Love.  Laugh.  Live.  You don’t have to be afraid anymore.  You don’t have to lock the doors of your heart anymore.  You don’t.

Life overcomes fear.  You can trust.  You can. Today, and each day.

Don’t lock the door of your heart.  Don’t give into fear.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones, and you thought our app, you can now watch our worship services from Asbury too!

Calm

Posted on by

1

We talked yesterday in worship at Asbury about God’s promise for us to not be afraid. Fear can be a powerful thing in our lives. We can have thing that are “real” that make us afraid, and we can have things that are not “real” that make us afraid.

Our past experience can make us afraid, our context can make us afraid, the things in our mind can make us afraid. Fear is something that we all know, that we all understand, and that we’ve all dealt with before.

So, when we talk about fear, listen to what we see in Matthew 8:23-27:

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

1435669599_45ff54895b_oJesus and the disciples are in a boat. And what they face is a real fear. It’s something to really be worried about. These are experienced fishermen. They know a thing or two about about storms. This isn’t their first rodeo.

And whatever it is about this storm, it terrifies them. These normally brave fishermen, in their element are so scared that they think they are about to die.

And how does Jesus respond to their fear? Why are you afraid you of little faith. Then he rebuked the wind and sea, and their was calm.

This is a God that controls the wind. The sea. All of it. Every last bit of it. There is nothing in creation that He’s not in control of, that He doesn’t have power over, that He can’t calm.

Even us.

Calm.

Today, you don’t have to be afraid. You don’t have to live in fear. You don’t have to live in worry. You can be calm.

Because God is bigger. You can trust in Him today. You can rely on Him today. He’s bigger than the wind, the waves, the storm, all of it.

He has got this. So you can be calm.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Live Unafraid

Posted on by

0

Greetings from Shiloh Camp Meeting.  My first night of preaching went great last night, I’ll be preaching today at 11 a.m. and again at 7 p.m. today, and each day through this coming Sunday.  If you’re around the Jackson area, come join us!

unafraidIn life, fear creeps up, doesn’t it? Fear of the unknown. Fear of the known. Fear of the past. Fear of the future. Fear of the present sometimes.

Fear of others. Fear of so many things.

It’s so easy for us as people to be afraid. To give into fear. To give into worry. To give into the things that terrify us.

It’s so easy. And we do it so often.

That’s why one of the main commands of scripture that we see over and over again is this – do no fear. Do not be afraid. To not give into that killer of fear.

Listen to this command in Psalm 56: 10-12:

In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you.

I love that encouragement. I just in God. What can man do to me? Seriously? What can man do to me, or to you?

God has us. God has our back. God is on our side. God goes before us. He is our light, our shield, our fortress.

Why should we worry? Why should we fear?

Who should we fear?

No one. Live today unafraid. For you have no one to fear. God is for you. Who can be against you.

Live with that courage and that confidence today!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones