Hope in Troubled Times

Crime is escalating. Murders increasing. While some deny there’s a problem, those directly in charge are frantically searching for solutions. Meanwhile demands for change grow louder.

The increase is blamed on many things, such as Covid-19, decrease in police presence, easy access to guns, racism, lack of jobs, anger from hopelessness, and more.

Suggestions to reverse the trend include tighter gun control, heavier penalties for criminals, institutionalizing the mentally unstable, educating offenders, financial handouts, providing diversionary activities, and the list goes on.

Will any of these fix the problem? I believe it will take more than natural efforts to address the need effectively. I fear it will get worse before it gets better.

Our fight is not against guns or a political party. It’s not against criminals or even flesh and blood. As the apostle Paul puts it, we wrestle against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).

We are in a spiritual battle. Evil spirits will not be defeated by taking away guns, increasing education, providing activities, or strengthening laws and punishments.

Changes need to be made, but first we need to change our focus and attend to spiritual issues. That is the only way we can get to the root of the problem.

How did we get to where we are? The simple answer is sin, but we took some significant specific steps in our recent past that determined our course.

In 1962, we outlawed school-sponsored prayer in public schools. In so doing, we took an official position that pushed God to the side.

God said, “Thou shalt not kill” (Deut. 20:13), but in 1973, as a nation we approved the killing of babies in the womb. Recently the boundary was further relaxed, as some states legalized murdering babies postpartum. Medically assisted suicide is also now sanctioned in 11 states.

Ignoring God’s commandment opened the gates to principalities and powers. Legalizing murder invited evil spirits in, giving them legal ground to operate in our midst.

Our nation has recently embraced lawlessness. Some government officials have allowed, publicly approved, and at times even assisted in criminal destruction of personal property, businesses, government buildings, and the officials who are hired to uphold the law. As our elected officials, their actions involve all of us, even when we don’t agree.

For decades, moral guidelines have been eroding, with things normalized that were unthinkable as recently as at the turn of the century. Formerly unacceptable standards are now being embraced, taught, and pushed on young children in our schools.

Progress toward true racial integration is being disrupted by new tension and turmoil. In addition, theft, discord, hatred, dishonesty, name-calling, and use of gutter talk by public figures has become the norm.

We are now seeing what happens when we turn our backs on the living God and choose to embrace evil instead. Evil is rampant in our midst.

It’s threatening to destroy all that we stand for. The world as we know it seems to be falling apart. What can we do besides watch it crumble?

When speaking of the devil, Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10).

What a contrast! Life versus stealing, killing, and destruction. What have we chosen? Life? Or death?

As a nation, we’ve apparently chosen stealing, destruction, and death.

The good news is that the “thief” and the principalities and powers who do his bidding do not have the last word.

The enemy has been defeated. Jesus won the victory on the cross. His power is far superior to any evil spirits that seek control. As believers we must choose life over death.

It’s tempting to grumble and wring our hands in dismay at daily news reports; or, we can refuse to watch the news. But we have a choice. We can look to the living God for answers. Instead of shaking our heads in disbelief, we can stand firm on the Rock and in the life He gives.

Paul’s preceded his insight about wrestling with principalities and powers by saying, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11).

Afterwards, he tells us, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, . . . “ (Eph. 6:13-14a). Stand.

God is still sovereign. Stand. Put on your armor and stand with God. Don’t be sucked in by evil. But how do we stand?

Paul continues with a description of the armor of God in terms of our need to put on truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Spirit of God, and with an encouragement to pray “always with prayer and supplication” (Eph. 6:14-18). We “put on” those qualities as we look to Jesus and abide in Him, drawing from Him even as the branch draws life from the vine.

Changes need to be made in our society, but we’re not helpless and it isn’t hopeless. Jesus has already defeated the principalities and powers of darkness.

He won the victory through His crucifiction and resurrection. If we are children of God, we are co-heirs with Jesus. We can enjoy that victory with Him.

If we put on the armor of God, pray with prayers of supplication, keep our eyes on King Jesus, and march in step with Him, we will be filled with expectation to see what He will do. In His time, we will see the victory!

Looking around at what is happening, it’s easy to believe we gone too far, to not have hope. But think about it, what was it like for the Israelites when they reached the Red Sea with the army advancing behind them? What did they see to give them hope? It seemed hopeless with a sea in front of them, rugged mountains on each side, and an army in chariots charging from behind. But God delivered them.

Years later, the helpless army of Israel fled from Goliath for days—until a lad with faith in God volunteered to face the giant with his slingshot. Did Gideon have confidence of victory when God called him to action? Likewise, Jehoshaphat knew he was doomed with kings joining together to defeat him. But he wasn’t without hope; he cried out to God to come to His aid.

We serve the same God, and He doesn’t change. If there was hope for them, there is hope today. Our hope is in God, not in the circumstances.

The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy. Jesus brings life, not death and destruction. Let’s stand on God’s side. Let us march in step with Jesus so we will be filled with hope–and will see His victory in our midst.

May the Almighty God be glorified so the world will know that He is God!

Finding Courage in Trying Times

I have been distracted and busy with health issues and moving. I finally have another post because as I read Psalm 27 this morning, I was struck once again at how timely the Word of God is. I’m blessed with how David’s words are so fitting for today. I hope it’s a blessing to you too–and that I’ll be more faithful to get my thoughts posted in the future. Bless you!

David, a man after God’s own heart, faced great troubles in his life. When he was young, King Saul and his army tried to kill David. In his latter days, a son opposed him and sought to take the throne. David was specifically chosen as a target for destruction. He knew hard times.

Psalm 27 was apparently written during one of these seasons, but it is written from a place of faith and of hope. David began the Psalm with “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?”.

He closes the Psalm with another reminder to himself. “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say on the Lord.” (Ps. 27:14)

Why would David speak of courage and having his heart strengthened unless he was anxious, even afraid. Today, anxiety and fear are high as the whole world is virtually helpless in the midst of the onslaught on our health and economy. No clear solutions are evident. Like David, many of us lack courage. We need for our hearts to be strengthened.

Whether it’s health, finances, relational issues, or other stresses, when we are out of control, feel threatened and the future is unknown, we often feel helpless, leading to anxiety and fear. We can learn from David how to obtain courage in the midst of trials and uncertainty.

David discloses insight into the source of his stress in verses 2 and 3. He mentions the wicked coming against him “to eat up my flesh,” and the army encamping against him. But his confident response is, “My heart shall not fear.”

His confidence seems to grow from seeing God’s faithfulness in the past, and his resolute focus on the Lord.

David moves immediately to the source of peace, beginning in verse 4.

“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek:” (v.4) David’s desire, his purpose and goal, the thing he sought was to dwell in the house of the Lord—to be intimate with God, to be dependent on Him for all things needful.
(2) “To behold the beauty of the Lord” (v. 4) Can you see David sitting at God’s feet, resting in His beauty of goodness and faithfulness.
“And to inquire in His temple” (v. 4) The temple is a place of worship, praise, and learning of God and His ways. David grew in confidence as He learned o f the workings of God.

Why were these the things that David desired and sought? Why was dwelling in the temple in fellowship with God his goal when in the midst of stress? David tells us. He said:

“For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion, in the secret place of His tabernacle” (v. 5). A pavilion is a place of safety. A secret place is an intimate place. Only the closest friends know of it.
“He shall hide me;” (v. 5) We need to be hidden, to be tucked away from the enemy’s taunts and lies, even when an army is not chasing us.
“He shall set me high on a rock.” (v.5) High, above the fray, above the enemy, seeing beyond the immediate.
“And now my head shall be lifted (as in honor) above my enemies all around me” (v. 6) The Lord will vindicate in His time. We can rest in Him.
“Therefore I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord” (v. 6) In the midst of the storm, confidence of God’s love and faithfulness leads to a heart filled with praise, not anxiety and fear.

David is confident, but he also knows his weaknesses. The next verses are revealing. They show David’s awareness of his neediness, his abject poverty in the midst of trials. They also reveal that David knows where his help comes from.

“Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!” (v. 7) When the days of trial seem unending, how often do we wonder if God hears our prayers?
“Have mercy also upon me and answer me.” (v. 7.) Don’t we always need mercy?
“When you said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’” (v. 8) We are to seek first the kingdom of God—always, but specially during trials. Are we seeking a solution, or His face?
“Do not hide Your face from me;” (v. 9) When the Lord doesn’t answer when we expect Him too, it can feel like He’s turned His back on us, can’t it?
“Do not turn Your servant away in anger;” (v.9) When we question God’s goodness and love, we need to be honest with ourselves and with God.
“You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.” (v. 9) David was apparently very low. He needed to be reminded where his help came from.
“When my father and my mother forsake me. Then the Lord will take care of me.” (v. 10). Sometimes the reminder needs to be repeated. We need constant reminders of God’s love, goodness, and faithfulness.
Teach me your way, O Lord,” (v.11) His ways are not our ways—or ours His. We need to be taught His ways, and to trust Him as we learn.
“And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.” (v. 11) Even when our enemy is an invisible little virus, don’t we desire a smooth path through to the other side?
“Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence.” (v. 12) David had two-legged adversaries, but many have experienced violence, devastation, and loss from our invisible enemy, COVID-19.

David’s list of supplications is much longer than the other parts of this conversation with God. Many people don’t pray for themselves because they feel it’s self-centered, but David thought otherwise. When we’re anxious or afraid, our needs are real. We need His salvation.

Not only are the needs real, but God delights in meeting them. He promised to never leave us and is waiting for us to ask.

David’s next words give comfort and direction for when we want to give up. Comfort, because it confirms that we’re not alone. David had similar struggles. Direction, because it shows us where we need to turn our eyes and heart.

David said, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” When we’ve lost heart, we need to ask the Lord to open our eyes to His goodness.

If we are anxious or fearful during this time, we can learn from David how to cope. He closes with “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” (v. 14).

The Lord is faithful, and we can be of good courage knowing that He will strengthen our hearts as we wait on Him.

When I Am Afraid

What are you afraid of?

Rejection? Failure? Heights? Snakes? Cancer, Alzheimer’s, or some othe Image result for image of fear r disease? The unknown? The list could fill the page. Some fears are rational, some irrational, but I’d guess that we’ve all faced fears at some point in our lives.

Fear is common to man, but if we trust the Lord to be who He says He is, there is no need to fear. We can rest in Him.

Last week, I got a health report that quickly led to fear. It isn’t a big thing compared to what many people face, but it could greatly impact my quality of life. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I was fearful about having a possible procedure and also fearful to not have it.

I prayed, gave it to the Lord, told Him I trusted in Him to guide me, knew that He’d be with me, and so forth. But I still lacked peace. The little nagging fear persisted..

Then, while traveling, I went with our son a study of the 23^rd Psalm, led by Jeff Wiggs. The Lord spoke to me anew through probably the most familiar chapter of the Bible, which is also one of my favorites. While it won’t do justice to Jeff, I’d like to share some of what God showed to me through his teaching.

When in the care of our Shepherd, we can live without fear, for:

He watches over us so that we have no wants.
He abundantly provides for us and makes us rest in lush green pastures. (In a barren land, like Israel, this speaks of great abundance and generosity.)
He gives us refreshment and quenches our thirst by leading us to quiet waters. (Sheep won’t drink from running water, they need still waters. The good shepherd meets their particular need.)
He is concerned for our inner man too, restoring our souls when we become anxious, troubled, or fearful.
He guides us—not just to physical provision, but He leads us to the path for our lives—the path of right relationships, right choices, for the work that He has prepared for us, but especially for relationship with Him. But it’s not because we deserve it. It’s because of Him and because we are His—i.e. for His own name’s sake.
When we walk through the dark and difficult times when there seems to be no hope, we don’t need to fear evil, because
- He is with us and will never leave us
- His rod (for fighting off enemies) and staff (for rescuing and caring for us) are ever ready to be used for our protection. Therefore, we can rest in Him.
He prepares a (rich, plentiful, lush, banquet) table for us. It is available even while our enemies are all about, threatening us. There is no need to fear their threats and jeers when we sit at His table with Him.
He anoints our heads with oil, symbolizing honor that is only bestowed on His special guests. That’s you. And me.
Our cups run over. There is an abundance of His love, care, and generosity.
Indeed, His goodness and mercy will follow us each and every day of our lives. Not just in the hereafter, but now. Here in this wicked world. All the days of our lives.
And we will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Even today. In fearful situation.

God is real, more real than anything earthly we experience, any trial we face, any fear we have. Furthermore, He’s unchanging. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8).

When we fear, we do not experience the fullness of Psalm 23, or of the salvation that’s available through Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd (Heb. 11:20-21).

Indeed, when we are aware of the fulness of Psalm 23 and/or the salvation we have through Jesus, we will not be afraid.

So, what causes us to forget the great love and care that our Lord has for us? How do we miss out on His generous provision and protection?

Could it be because we are distracted? As we sit at the table that is prepared for us, is our attention consumed by the majesty of our Host and the blessings of the banquet with Him? Or, do we look at the enemies all around us?

Fear comes as we turn our attention to the enemy.

When we’re afraid, we need to turn our eyes back on Jesus, all that He is, and all that He’s done for us. When looking into His face, we know we can trust His protection from any danger that surrounds us. When our eyes are on Him, His grace is sufficient.

It doesn’t mean that we won’t have trials and persecution. After all, He warned us that we will, but we can rest in the knowledge that He will be with us. When we are afraid, we can be assured His grace will carry us through–if we trust in Him.

Why Do We Need to Fear God?

I want to love God with all that I am and to more completely know God’s love, so that my life is dictated by that love.

And yet, lately I’ve realized that that is not enough. I also need to fear Him more. Love and fear of God go hand in hand. We need both.

I’ve heard many more sermons and teaching about loving the Lord than I have about fearing Him. And with reason. After all, the great commandment is that we love the Lord. But there are also many verses that tell us to fear Him.

Psalm 128:1 sums it up well, “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways!” (Ps. 128:1).

That verse says, “blessed is everyone,” but it clarifies that it’s everyone who fears God and walks in His ways. The promise hinges on obedience and implies that the obedience is influenced by fear. Fearing the Lord leads to obedience, which leads to being blessed.

It also involves more than awe, reverence, or honor. I believe it includes an element of being afraid of God.

The notion that you shouldn’t fear someone you love is off base. It is good to have some fear of authority.

To better grasp the concept, consider your relationship with your parents. As a child, how much did fear of discipline from your parents or teachers influence you to obey?

I love my dad and he was a good father. However, if I was fooling around and heard him clear his throat in the next room, I straightened up quickly, because I knew that there were consequences for disobedience.

God is the Supreme authority over all things. If we don’t fear Him, we will often do our own thing.

The more I’ve thought of the relationship between love for God and fear of Him, the more that I realize they go hand in hand. For example:

Love of God makes me want to please Him, so I obey. Likewise, fear of God makes me choose to obey when I’d rather do otherwise.
Knowing God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness gives me courage to run to Him when I’m ashamed and disappointed in myself. Likewise, fear of a jealous and wrathful God compels me to return to Him when I know I’m wrong but am tempted to remain in sin.
Love of God entices me to read the Word (or go to church, fellowship with other believers, pray, . . .) so I will know Him more and hear His voice. Similarly, when the heavens seem closed and I’d rather be left alone in my misery, fear of God compels me to read the Word (go to church, fellowship, . . .).
Love of God fills my heart with joy and gratefulness because He loves someone so undeserving as me. Likewise, fear of God induces me to think on whatsoever things are good, lovely, and of good report when my heart is full of darkness.

The list goes on, but you get the message.

Love is a decision. It is more than emotions, but our responses in life are often influenced by our emotions, and they fluctuate and are influences by self-centered desires.

God gave us guidelines and boundaries to keep us out of trouble so that we would have a blessed life. It is good when we are motivated by love, and in response to His love, to stay within those boundaries.

However, fear influences toward right decisions when love does not offer sufficient motivation.

We can’t drum up fear of the Lord any more than we can manufacture love for Him. It’s a gift and it grows as we know Him better and draw closer to Him.

However, there are things we can do to encourage it.

First, we can ask God to teach us to fear Him. He wouldn’t repeatedly tell us the benefits of fearing Him if He didn’t want it for us more than we want it ourselves.
We can study fear in the Word, listing the benefits of fear and meditate on our findings.
We can make note of stories in the Bible that show consequences of not fearing God, such as David and Bathsheba,

Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God (Prov. 2:3-5).

What’s Our Problem?

What’s our problem, anger or fear?

In TheNational, Rashmee Roshan Lall contends that “Fear, not anger, is gripping voters around the world.”

Anger is filling the airwaves and is even evident in political crowds, but I tend to agree with Lall. Something happened several years ago that led me to believe fear is the real issue.

I remember the incident vividly. Robert said something minor one morning and my angry response was totally out of proportion to the offense. I quickly saw that I’d overreacted and forgave him immediately.

But I remained upset with him. Thinking I hadn’t truly forgiven, I sought God and forgave him again. And again. It didn’t help. All day long, I was an attitude waiting to happen, but I couldn’t figure out why.

I don’t like being at odds with anybody, but especially not my husband. In the evening, I told Robert I needed help and asked him to listen to me so He could pray for me. (Side note: it’s courteous to warn your husband that all he has to do is listen. Otherwise, he’ll feel the need to fix it.)

I shared my struggle, admitted it was foolish, and asked for prayer so I could move on.

Robert listened patiently, but he didn’t pray. Instead, he asked, “What are you afraid of?”

Immediately, I identified the fear which grew from the comment that morning, and the anger disappeared. Instantly, it was gone.

Instead of praying for help, we thanked God for His faithfulness and the knowledge that He will handle any incident that causes us to fear.

In his article, Lall identified major fears around the world, and how history shows us that when fear and anger prevail in a civilization, it leads to bad decisions. I would interject that the same is true in personal relationships. Simmering, frustrated fear muddles reasoning and leads to emotional decisions.

Today, there is reason for concern. When you can’t do anything to fix a problem, you tend to feel trapped and insecure. That leads to fear. When the problem continues and the fear isn’t resolved, anger simmers, looking for a target, just like it did for me that day. I couldn’t get rid of it until I recognized it.

Once I identified the fear, I knew God was with me, He could handle it, and I didn’t need to fear. That resolved the anger.

In the Bible, God speaks a lot about fear. In fact, He tells us to fear. However, according to the Word, our normal fear is misplaced. When they faced threatening situations in life, the Lord repeatedly tells His children, “Fear not.”

For example, when the children fled Egypt and became trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army—a position of sure doom—Moses said, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” (Exod. 14:13-14).

Did you notice in that verse what we are to do, and what God will do on our behalf? Through Israel’s fear, we learn that even mighty armies are not a threat if we stand still and trust in the Lord to fight for us. If He can rescue untrained, unarmed slaves from an attack by the Egyptian army, He can take care of anything we face.

When His children were afraid because of their situation—whether in the nation or as individuals—God said, “Don’t be afraid.”

On the other hand, the Bible is full of reminders to fear the Lord. Furthermore, He promises mercy and blessing if we fear Him—rather than fearing what may happen or what others are doing. A few examples are:

“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Prov. 29:25).
“You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you” (Deut. 3:22).
“Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land” (Ps. 85:9).
“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:11)
“He will bless those who fear the Lord, both small and great” (Psalm 115:13).
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:10).
“He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them”(Ps. 145:19).
“In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge (Prov. 14:26).
“But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil” (Prov. 1:33).
“The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil” (Prov. 19:23).

When faced with doom, we don’t have to adopt anger as a way of life; instead, we need to identify our fear.

Unfortunately, the longer we remain angry and focus on the thing that is causing fear, the more likely we will see our fears come to pass.

The solution to our troubles will be found in God. He will work for us.

When Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water to meet Jesus, he looked at the waves around him and began to sink. Then, he looked to Jesus and held out his hand for help. Jesus lifted him up from the threatening waves.

The waves are dashing against us. They’re unrelenting. And anger does not help. In fact, it makes matters worse.

But we don’t have to be gripped by anger or by fear.

It’s time to lift our eyes and hands and reach for the Lord. He will lift us up. He will also fight for us and we can hold our peace.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7), and “He will ever be mindful of His covenant* (Ps. 111:5).

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chron. 7:14).

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*Learn more about “His covenant,” where He promised to be our shield and protection (and much more) in The Great Exchange: Bound by Blood. You’ll learn the seven exchanges of the ancient covenant ritual and the significance of each. It also shows the significance of the covenant in the lives of believers. Our problems become small when we are in covenant with the living God.

How Does Insecurity Relate to Anger?

“We are all insecure and we all put false devices around ourselves to shield us from hurt. When they are challenged, insecurities and fears are exposed to ourselves, and we fear exposure to others,” according to Mark C.

Mark was studying Uprooting Anger: Destroying the Monster Within on Ephesians 4:26, “In your anger, do no sin.” It led him to question why we choose to react to situations in anger. He shared his insight with me.

He recognized that anger is inevitable. Things happen that cause us to react in anger. It is a natural response. But Mark sought deeper understanding of what drives the anger. Why do we choose anger as our response when we feel threatened or hurt?

He decided that it comes from our insecurity, and our fears that others will see our unseemly flesh.

I believe he has a point. Much of our anger grows out of our desire to defend ourselves. We want to look good and for those around us to think well of us. We don’t want them to see our flesh, our weaknesses, insecurities, and flaws. We feel vulnerable.

Consequently, we erect somewhat of a demilitarized zone around ourselves. Mark described it as encircling ourselves with china plates to keep others out. However, when someone challenges us, it’s like their rocks shatter the china-plate barrier.

The sharp edges of the plates then cut into us and hurt us more than the “sticks and stones” that were tossed our way. The familiar saying, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me” is not true. Words can leave wounds that last longer than bruises and broken bones.

However, the reason we’re devastated is that words penetrate our false sense of security. They shatter the phantom barrier of defense, the “china plates” that we use to hide our flesh. Consequently, our unpleasant flesh is uncovered.

Mark said, “Anger is a cover-up of the flesh.”

We don’t like our flesh exposed. When trapped or exposure is threatened, we revert to anger because it makes us feel bigger and more powerful. We wield it like a weapon. Anger rises to regain control and spews on anyone who gets too close.

But there is irony in our scheme.

When we resort to anger, we draw attention to our weakness and insecurity. We shine a spotlight on the very thing we are trying to keep hidden. The louder, longer, and harsher the anger is, the brighter the spotlight, and the more it exposes our flesh.

Anger is a self-defeating defense. Even as we get our way, we expose our weakness and vulnerability. We reveal the flesh we so desperately wanted to hide.

So, what’s the solution?

Rather than fighting to appear strong and secure, we need to run to Jesus. He is our rock, strength, defense, fortress, and strong tower. He will watch over us.

If we abide in Him, it won’t get rid of our flesh. We won’t be perfect. We’ll still have weaknesses.

However, the more we identify ourselves as being hidden in Him, the less we will be threatened by insecurity and a sense of vulnerability. The more we believe we are in the Strong Tower, the less we will need imaginary, flimsy china plates surrounding us.

God did tell us to be ready to defend, but it was not about defending ourselves. He said, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you (throw sticks and stones at you) as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed” (1 Pet. 3:15-16).

We are to be ready to defend the hope that is in us—which comes from abiding and identifying with Christ.
We are to defend ourselves with meekness and fear (of God, not of being exposed), not anger.
As we do so with a good conscience, those who revile us will be ashamed, not us.

When we find our identity and security in Jesus Christ, rather than ourselves, we will be able to defend the hope within us and to respond in meekness and fear of God.

Help us, Lord, to run to You and abide in You.

Forward by Faith

A long time ago, in a far-away place—or so it seems—but, it was actually when we had two small children, Robert was in seminary in Atlanta, and we lived in student family housing. Our apartment building had six connected units lined up side-by-side. The building was perpendicular to the parking lot, so the family in the sixth unit had to pass all five others to get to their car, class, or anywhere, except in the woods.

On the other side of the sidewalk, was a strip of grass that was narrowed near the parking lot and edged by a wooded lot. A playground nestled in the trees.

It was a supportive community. Mothers visited while children played hop scotch, rode big wheels, rolled down the hill, or climbed monkey bars. Birds chirped and squirrels chased each other through tree tops It was a perfect setting to rear children.

Apparently, a squirrel thought so too. He decided to build a nest on a limb that hung over the sidewalk between apartment #1 and the playground. (Note: Male squirrels build the nests, but don’t help with the babies.) He was the center of attention as he gathered twigs and scampered down the limb to weave them into a nest.

Every time we went down the sidewalk, we looked for our new friend and checked the nest for progress. Everybody anticipated baby squirrels scampering about, and he became the topic of conversation.

But there was a problem. Twelve adults and approximately twenty-five children passed under the limb every time they went anywhere—and most families made multiple trips daily. Furthermore, big wheels, tricycles, and bikes made their turn-around just beyond that limb. There was a lot of traffic under the nest.

It complicated the squirrel’s progress. If he was on the limb and somebody got too close, he’d freeze, flattening himself from his nose to the tip of his tail, trying to disappear. He resumed work only after he knew danger had passed.

We limited bikes, big wheels, and play time on that end of the sidewalk. But, life continued, and we couldn’t stay indoors. The sidewalk was our entrance to the world.

After each interruption, the squirrel stayed frozen in place longer and longer. We wondered if the nest would be ready in time for babies that were likely on the way.

Then, one day, we didn’t see the squirrel. We watched for days, but he was gone.

We had been rooting for the squirrel, eagerly awaiting the babies he prepared for. We didn’t wish him harm. But that didn’t matter. The squirrel left because of imagined danger.

Were there babies? Were they cute? Did they survive? We don’t know. He was gone.

What I do know is that I’ve been like that squirrel. At times I’ve been uncomfortable, froze, and wished to disappear. The risk seemed too great to venture forth. I preferred to hide. To stay quiet. I was frightened by perceived danger.

I’m not proud to say that it’s happened when I’ve had an opportunity to share the hope and joy within me, to witness of God’s goodness. Fears of being too forceful, strong, or offensive caused me to hesitate, or stay quiet, rather than sharing the joy that is within me.

However, when I give in to imagined fear, it costs me. I know I’ve disappointed God, and missed the chance to plant seeds toward building the kingdom of God. cOver the years, I’ve grown better at seeing that my fears are mostly fantasy fears. They’re baseless and costly. I’ve learned that if God opens a door, He’ll be with me to walk through it.

Consequently, with a prayer that I can be a blessing to someone else in spite of my discomfort, I try to hold tightly to God’s hand and venture forth.

When I make that choice, God is always with me. I’ve forged new friendships, grown in confidence in God and myself. Furthermore, I’ve missed God’s blessing and my opportunity to bless others, along with the joy and satisfaction from seeing God at work in somebody else’s life.

Recognizing danger is important to avoid harm. However, if we let it, imagined danger distracts and prevents us from attaining God’s goals and experiencing fullness of life, as well as receiving God’s blessing.

On the other hand, mustering courage to walk through fearful situations opens opportunities to grow in the Lord, know Him better, and participate in building His kingdom.

As Philip Nation said, “The mission of God is never advanced by men & women of caution. Count the cost. Take the leap of faith. Risk it all.””

Lord, give us courage and strength to not be like the squirrel on the limb, but to walk forward in faith and not be hindered by imagined fears.

When Terror Strikes

Horrific attacks on innocent victims in Paris stirred emotions of horror, disbelief, and sadness that humans can stoop so low. It’s impossible to hear the reports and see pictures of the carnage and not identify with the victims.

Next, come thoughts that it could happen here. In my neighborhood. At one of my gatherings. Or worse, the victims could include my loved-ones.

Fear creeps in, threatening, as you tell yourself that it’s across the ocean, not here. But deep down, you know that next time it could be here. The wave of fear doesn’t heed the reassurance. It refuses to completely subside.

We’re also fed sales pitches that promote fear of getting the flu, or shingles, or . . .. Then we’re bombarded with news of robberies, murders, school shootings, and possible economic decline. We won’t mention thoughts of possible persecution if you choose to identify as a Christian and stand up for your beliefs. It seems evil prevails, threatening decency, peace, and well-being.

Like the frog in the kettle, we adjust to the onslaught and don’t realize how much fear has invaded our lives. Neither do we see how much it influences our decisions.

The Bible has a lot to say about fear, and the message is consistent and clear. It can be summed up in the verses, “You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him, and swear by His name. You shall not follow other gods …” (Deut 6:12-13).

The Word repeatedly tells us to fear God and nothing else. If we trust in God, we are not to fear the things happening around us.

These verses reveal something else we need to consider. Fear is linked to worship. The verses tell us to fear only God, worship Him, swear by His name, and don’t follow other gods. When fear rules our lives, we follow the thing we fear, not God. Our fears, and how we respond to them, are an indication of who/what we trust (to care for us), and who/what we are following.

In other words, fear is a signal that we are not trusting/fearing God.

The threat of ISIS is real, and the possibility of being a victim of a robbery or murder is too, much less the possibility of catching the flu. However, rather than being anxious and listening to fear-talk within and around us, we need to look to God.

When God cut a covenant with Abram, we’re told, “the word of the Lord came to
Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you, your reward shall be very great’” (Gen. 15:1).

If God is our shield—and He promised in covenant He would be—do we have a better option for our protection? Is anyone or anything more sure than God?

Furthermore, He is always with us. When Joshua was leading the children into the Promised Land, a land of strong, armed giants, God said, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9).

God is not only the best defense system imaginable, He is with us always.

We can listen to(trust) the fear-mongers, or we can trust the Lord to be our shield.

I am not strong or courageous. When I consider the world today, I’m filled with questions and uncertainty about tomorrow. Then anxiety and fear silently creeps in.

However, my spirit soars when I turn my gaze on the Lord and remember that He is with me, that I am His, and He is my shield. I am strengthened and my fear subsides. When I read of His faithfulness in the Word, confidence and peace increase.

“Perfect love casts out fear” (1 Jo 4:16). God’s love for us is perfect. He will care for us, no matter what happens. If we find ourselves fearful, all we have to do is run to Him and His love.

When terror strikes, we don’t need to fear. we can cry to Him to help us, because, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Ps. 23:1). He “is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?” (Ps. 27:1).

Learn more about the blood covenant and God’s promise to be our shield in the book, The Great Exchange: Bound by Blood. Knowing the seven exchanges of the ancient ritual of cutting covenant strengthens faith as you see the depth of God’s promises to His people through covenant.

Snares for Today’s Christians

I’ve recently been increasingly aware of the difficulty of walking in righteousness–in healthy OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA relationships with God and with each other. It seems the world is fighting to destroy Christianity with carefully aimed attacks against faith and obedience to God. However, our greatest danger might actually be hidden traps that could ensnare us.

The attack against morality has become so loud and visible that the Supreme Court ruling was no surprise. The rise in hostility, anger, and hatred across the land is also blatant. Likewise, dangers of killings by terrorist or deranged people are quite obvious.

Most of us aren’t tempted to join these actions, but we can easily be drawn into unrighteousness because of them. For instance, when we’re pushed, the natural reaction is to push back. If someone speaks in judgment and anger, it’s natural to respond in kind—in thought if not in words.

That’s the danger. No matter what the nature of the assault—and I believe we’re under assault—our nature is to respond in a similar spirit. It’s natural. We often do it without being aware of it.

In other words, we respond in the flesh.

When we feel threatened—from terrorists, the quiet person that suddenly goes berserk, activists that want to change society’s norms, financial instability . . . When we feel threatened, our natural response is fear.

However, Deuteronomy 6:13 says to “fear only the Lord your God.” In the Bible, we are told repeatedly that we have nothing to fear because God will protect us. When fear because of threats to our well-being holds us in bondage, we’ve been drawn into unrighteousness.

We’re denying God’s desire and ability to be our protector. The position of faith is to fear only the Lord. Furthermore, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Ps 111:10). If we are no longer walking in faith, i.e. if the fear of attack is greater than our fear of God, we’ve been ensnared.

Another trap is to judge those who are pushing their agenda on us. God is judge (Ps. 50:6). And it is unrighteous to take His place. Furthermore, He tells us that if we judge we will be judged accordingly (Mt. 7:2). When we judge, it escalates conflict–but it is easy to slip into judgment when the Word of God is clear that something is wrong.

To be clear, we are to judge with righteous judgment (John 7:24). We must discern between right and wrong. We are to consider thoughts and actions according to the Word of God to determine whether or not God approves.

But it is not our place to judge other people, their motives, and intentions. It is not our place to declare their future reward. Our judgment prevents God using us to show His love and kindness toward that person.

If our judgment blocks us from hearing and/or obeying God, then it is unrighteous. As we judge them and act negatively toward them, it gives them a wrong impression of God. If we are a stumbling block that keeps them from knowing God, we’ve been drawn into unrighteousness. (More on The Judgment Trap)

These are just examples. There are more, such as pride and unforgiveness. However, next week, I’ll share what God has shown me as I consider these hidden traps that would ensnare us.

Meanwhile, what do you see as snares that would catch us unaware and ensnare us as we strive to walk in righteousness today?

Are You Guided by Fear?

Have you ever made a decision out of fear and then regretted it? I have. Fear is not a sound foundation for decision making. When you are guided by fear, you can’t think clearly.

More importantly, fear blocks faith.

In I Samuel 17, we learn that for forty days Israel ran in fear when threatened by Goliath. In contrast, David, a young lad, was not afraid when the giant threatened. In faith, David faced Goliath and single-handedly defeated him.

I recently faced a decision that filled me with fear. It would seem to be a simple matter. I had an opportunity to visit my only daughter while Robert was out of town. I rarely see her and looked forward to the visit. But t was afraid to go.

I’ve been having migraines and wasn’t sure I could make the trip alone. A recent simple car trip with Robert gave me a 3-day migraine. I don’t know what I would have done without his help.

Traveling with a migraine is rough. The thought of traveling alone with a migraine terrified me. How could I make plans when I didn’t know what I would face? Just going to the airport could undo me, much less handling luggage, change of planes in Atlanta, and more. Because I couldn’t see down the path, the unknown loomed before me.

I prayed and agonized for several weeks, but couldn’t decide. I didn’t want fear to dictate my decision—whether “no” because of fear, or “yes” to avoid being ruled by it. After emailing someone asking for prayer, I went to the piano in search of peace, opened a hymn book, and played where it opened.

The Lord spoke to me through the words of a hymn. “What have I to fear, what have I to dread, leaning on the ever-lasting arms?” If I can lean on Robert as I travel, surely I can trust Jesus and lean on Him. David had courage and ability to defeat Goliath because he leaned on the Lord. God triumphed through David. And God hasn’t changed.

My fear vanished. I knew I could lean on the Lord and had peace knowing God would be with me. I had faith to make reservations. Proverbs 3:5-6 came to mind:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean/depend/rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.

A week passed as we waited to learn which days would be best for my daughter. I remained at peace except for a brief time of doubt. A couple of days later, Robert said, “I don’t know how you’re going to make it,” but we didn’t pursue the subject.

And yet, when we talked to our daughter, we both felt that now is not the time for me to make the trip.

Nothing changed except the direction we heard from the Lord. He led me to stay home and gave me peace with the decision. When I leaned on Him, He didn’t walk with me through the airport. He led me to a peaceful decision.

If I had made that choice out of fear, the loss would be painful. I would regret that I didn’t get to spend the week with my daughter.

I would also have questioned my decision. What ifs and maybes would have haunted me as I thought about other options. Furthermore, I would have been tempted to wonder about my lack of faith to trust God and move forward. Peace would have alluded me.

As it is, I have peace about not going. Rather than grieving the loss, I trust that it is best for my daughter as well as for me. And I’ve grown in confidence that I can hear my Shepherd’s voice.

When we’re guided by fear, it steals our peace and joy. If we lean on Jesus, we can experience peace in spite of the unknown or when the way is rough, because we know that Jesus will be with us and lead us.

How has the Lord guided and given you peace when fear loomed in your life?

Robert & Kay Camenisch encouraging and equipping relationships