"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?" –Psalm 27:1
I think it's important for each of us to be
informed on what's going on in the world. But, sometimes that can be
pretty frightening.
Things were probably just as alarming at the time the Apostle Paul wrote these words to his young protégé Timothy:
"For
God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and
cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and
of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and
self-control." -2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP) (Photo by: Ronit Geller)
This verse has really been on my mind as I thought about the first few months of this year.
How many of us are plagued at times with fear, in whatever form it may present itself?
Fear prevents us from reaching out to
someone else, from communing with the Lord, and from thriving in the joy
in which God has designed each of His children to live.
(Side note
here: joy is not defined by circumstances, which may or may not be
favorable—it means being empowered each day by the strength the Lord
affords us, namely His joy; see Nehemiah 8:10)
As
we look around at the world we live in—as Believers in Jesus Christ—we
can't help but notice the mounting persecution against faith on all
fronts, and in all places.
In many non-Christian nations Believers are
imprisoned and worse for their faith; the womb is increasingly under
attack everywhere, and ideologies that are derogatory to family values
are quickly becoming the norm.
It would be easy to give in to fear.
Except that none of this is a surprise to
God. And even in these times, He has equipped us to walk in His love,
with hope and faith.
2 Peter 1:3 says, "For His divine power
has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life
and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called
us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue)." (AMP)
This
morning, looking around the internet at the various headlines; the
aforementioned persecution; terrorism; wars and the "powder keg"
situations that exist in countries that seem on the verge of war; the
natural disasters in just the last 5 years alone and the increasing
frequency of asteroids and comets near the Earth . . .
(Photo: Guardian.co.uk)
Every generation from the first century till
now has thought they must be in "the end times." Perhaps we are, and
then again, maybe not.
Whether we are or not isn't as much the
issue as knowing and staying close to Jesus—in these times; in every
time.
The future may be unsure and unclear but it doesn't have to be filled with fear.
You can look at current events each day and
bring them to the Lord in prayer; interceding for others and then asking
for His peace that passes understanding to guard your heart and mind.
(Phil.4:6-7)
In this way we, as Believers, can be ready
to receive His direction—instead of being so preoccupied with fright,
that we can't even move.
In this way we will be able to live—regardless of our situation—in God's power, love and with a sound mind.
(Photo: jdshankles.wordpress)
I call this "reading the headlines with Jesus."
As long as "in Him, we live and move and
have our being," then nothing can overtake us that He does not allow,
and whatever it is we walk through—He is with us in every step.
"Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees . . ." -Hebrews 12:12
". . . For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" –Hebrews 13:5
"Behold God is my salvation, I
will trust and not be afraid; for Yah, the Lord, is my strength and
song; He also has become my salvation."
–Isaiah 12:2
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." –Hebrews 13:8
