whom then shall I fear?

Tuesday, March 6, 2018 (5:21 a.m.)

First things first Dearest Dad, thank You! Thank You for singing Your presence in my fearful thinking throughout the darkness. Yes, Lord. Thank You.

Now for the ask… I would like to know what song it is that I keep getting snippets of.

Thank You. Thank You again. I asked. You answered. In the very next keystroke. Thank You Father. Matt and Beth Redman’s ♪You Never Let Go♪

(6:55 a.m.)

And here comes the smile. As I search more about the song and it’s history, I learn more about others’ walk with You.

I’m confessing to You right now a lingering dissatisfaction with myself. I have fallen headlong back into comparing myself with others and finding myself severely lacking.

(7:40 a.m.)

You have so much more for me than fear. Thank You Father. Thank You that as I look deeper into this song the impact of Your Truth grows within.

Inspired by Psalm 23:4, the song was written in opposition to what Mr. Redman “describes as the daily drumbeat of the ‘dark, disturbing, depressing news’ that fills our TV screen on a daily basis” (songscoops). Thank You God.

Thank You that as my mind begins to take me in one direction, I again hear ♪O no, You never let go♪ start singing to me. ♪Through the calm and through the storm… In every high and every low… - Lord, You never let go of me♪

You are so good Blessed God. I know this. I believe it. I trust it. So here I ask You to empower me to living it.

♪Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death Your perfect love is casting out fear And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life I won’t turn back; I know You are near And I will fear no evil For my God is with me And if my God is with me Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?♪

Whom then shall I fear? Indeed.

Holy God, if I genuinely believe this to be true [which I absolutely do] why do I so often falter? In fear. Even the phrase “Thy rod and Thy staff” has often made me think more towards discipline than comfort.

As I look deeper at this well known verse, I find words that give me pause. Where I am most used to the idea of walking through the valley of the shadow of death and fearing no evil, I confess to these being words I mainly recite. Not necessarily act upon.

Reading the various translations, I consider “deepest darkness; death-dark ravines; Death Valley” and question my understanding. The Life Recovery Bible reminds us that You are “our Shepherd [who] knows what we need better than we do”. I believe this.

“God wants us to have what is best for us. As long as we make Him our Shepherd, He will lead us to places of safety. He knows how to direct us away from places where we may be tempted to stumble. Even when we fall, He can deliver us from our failure, pain, and suffering. God will help us avoid the places we have stumbled in the past and guide as we journey toward recovery.”

I have experienced Your guidance Father. I have. Why then do I fear? And again I confess, I do fear. Help me with this debacle, wouldn’t You Lord?

Your comforting rod and staff are also described as “a walking stick with which to guide and one with which to help” (New Life Version). Console. Protect. Reassure. Make me feel safe; secure. Give me courage. Guarding, guiding all the way.

The Passion Translation tells us, “Lord, even when Your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for You already have! You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of Your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for You are near.”

I long to live this Truth Dearest God. Unquestionably unafraid. Solidly trusting Your will and Your way. Show me. Lead me. Guide me. Help me. Yes Father, help me in all the areas I lack skill of my own.

I look to You. I lean on You. I trust in You. Thank You, Father. ♪Whom then shall I fear? Whom then shall I fear?♪ Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(759 words ~ 9:45 a.m.)

all

Monday, March 5, 2018 (7:15 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

(7:37 a.m.)

Thank You. Thank You that You are good. Holy. Kind. Loving. Mighty. Powerful. All…

Ephesians 4:6

Micah 7:18

♪Mercy ~ You delight in showing mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment♪

Yes Father. Thank You for all the directions my mind takes me. I think of You as all powerful. All loving. All mighty. All merciful.

Blessed God, I am so grateful to You for the hope I find in reading Your Word. I confess to focusing far too often on the mistakes I regularly make. How comforting it is to read, “Where is another God like You, who pardons the sins of the survivors among His people? You cannot stay angry with Your people forever, because You delight in showing mercy” (Micah 7:18).

Here I again smile while hopefully rereading the lyrics to a song sung in church yesterday. ♪My past embraced My sin forgiven I’m blameless in Your sight My history rewritten You delight in showing mercy Mercy triumphs over judgment♪ Oh that I would truly believe and trust Your mercy and grace.

Blessed Father, how I ask You to teach me to forgive myself. I long to allow You to do the work You would in me.

Illustrated Bible Handbook for Chapter 7. Misery and Restoration ends with, “Micah’s closing image of a God who will ‘hurl all our iniquities into the depth of the sea’ is a beautiful picture of the completeness of forgiveness. As His redeemed our sins too are forgiven… and gone.” What hope I find in this.

Turning again to Ephesians 4:6, I ask You “the perfect Father who leads us all, works through us all, and lives in us all” to do all You must that I would live this day as You wish. Straighten my thinking to Your best for each of us. I love You. I long to serve You. Worship and adore You. In Jesus’ most holy name I pray. Amen.

(338 words ~ 9:43 a.m.)

Rejoice and be glad.

Sunday, March 4, 2018 (6:12 a.m.)

Awesome God,

What would You have me do with this day? Rejoice and be glad (Psalm 118:24). Yes! This IS the day that You have made.

Thank You Father. Thank You for the smile that comes when I lean into You and Your Word. Thank You for the various ways of expressing Your Truth.

The Voice, “let us celebrate and be happy today.” Yes. Oh, yes!

Wycliffe Bible, “make we full out joy, and be we glad therein.”

Thank You for the hope and joy that comes from steeping in Your Word. Rejoice and be glad. Celebrate and be happy. Yes. Father, it seems so simple. Do all You must that this would truly be the case.

Reading further in The Message to include verse 25, “let’s celebrate and be festive! Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God - a free and full life!” Mm. Yes. Please. A free and full life.

The Passion Translation, “This is the very day of the Lord that brings gladness and joy, filling our hearts with glee. O God, please come and save us again; bring us Your breakthrough-victory!”

Think about it. You made this day. It boggles my mind. You made this day. And You care about us.

Yes Father. Do all You must that I would truly rejoice and be glad in this day that You have made. Thank You Father. Bless You. Praise You. I love You. Amen.

(246 words ~ 7:38 a.m.)

be loved by God

Saturday, March 3, 2018 (7:29 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You that we get to love and be loved by You.

(2 Samuel 22:17-20, The Message)

silly and playful?

Friday, March 2, 2018 (6:56 a.m.)

I missed it. Several hours ago I planned to announce “6:54 3/2”. And then I missed it. By a minute. Thank You God that I get to be silly and playful with You.

Silly and playful? Is that an appropriate approach to come before You? Hmmm… maybe not.

Guide and direct my thinking here Father. I love You. I want to worship and adore You. I think of having a childlike faith (Matthew 18:3) and I come back to “silly and playful”. Those words don’t often describe me. "Serious and rule-oriented” are much more like it.

Then I read Malachi 1:10 in The Message, “Why doesn’t one of you just shut the Temple doors and lock them? Then none of you can get in and play at religion with this silly, empty-headed worship. I am not pleased. The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is not pleased. And I don’t want any more of this so-called worship!” Ummm. Do I border on sacrilege?

Please Father, I long that any silly, playfulness on my part would be seen by You as childlike; not childish.

Quoting a South Bay Calvary Chapel blog ‘be-like-a-child’, “God seeks a childlike submissiveness and meekness, a gleeful childlike heart… and a childlike faith. Faith builds character, and the process starts when you are a child. Without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6)… Childlike faith, along with childlike love, are an open road to God’s heart.”

Dearest, Holy God, I come before You this morning asking, seeking, knocking (Matthew7:7) that You would guide and direct me in worshiping You in ways that You will be pleased. Grow my relationship with You exactly as You wish it to be.

I love You. I long to serve You. Perhaps somewhere in between ‘serious and rule-oriented’ and ‘silly and playful’? Freed to be precisely all You want me to be. Make it so Dearest God. Make it so. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(340 words ~ 10:02 a.m.)

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simplicity

Thursday, March 1, 2018 (6:30 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

Thank You! For SO much. A brand new month. The many things that make me smile. Numerals on a watch face that read the same upside down as they do right side up. 1:01. 6:19. Thank You Father for simplicity.

Simplicity. Mm. Even the thought helps me smile. “Keep It Simple Sweetheart”. Straightforwardness; clarity; plainness; unpretentiousness. Ah, that I would truly live a life of simplicity. Let me start with this day Dear Lord.

Matthew 6:19

'seek out'

Wednesday, February 28, 2018 (6:39 a.m.)

Deep breath, big smile.

Thank You Father. I’ve been avoiding You this morning. Didn’t know how or even want to start our time together, so I looked up the opposite of ‘avoid’. It’s ‘seek out’. And I started singing just like that.

♪Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, And His righteousness, And all these things will be added unto you, Allelu, alleluia♪

Mm, yes. Holy God, I long to truly seek You out. Thank You Father.

Turning to various translations of Matthew 6:33, I find my heart swelling with the hope that comes from trusting and believing You. Blessed God, thank You.

By reading in and of Your Word, I am reminded that “Each day there is something to find joy in, and there is strength promised for the troubles of the day” (The Life Recovery Bible devotional). Thank You Father.

The Amplified Bible tells us we are to “aim at, strive after” Your “way of doing and being right - the attitude and character of God”. “Then all your other needs will be met as well” (Expanded Bible).

We look to You Blessed God. International Children’s Bible, “The thing you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.”

All we need. Not want. Need. Illustrated Bible Handbook says, “Freed from the need to constantly worry about the material, Jesus’ followers can put God first and live each day for Him (32-34).” Yes, please.

I love You. I seek You out. Do all You must that I would follow as You lead. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(283 words ~ 7:51 a.m.)