Deuteronomy 31:8 - "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
"Do not be afraid" - God states these words over and over again in his Word. I once thought of myself as something other than a fearful person. Compared to many people, I am not, but when I am completely honest with myself and with God, I have to admit I do have fear in my life.
Okay, confession time! I am dreadfully afraid of snakes. I also experience claustrophobia at times but this is improving. Another fear I deal with is the fear of heights. In high places, I can become somewhat disoriented, dizzy and sometimes overwhelmed. I have actually experienced a panic attack while driving on a very high, crooked road from Durango, Colorado to Silverton.
God spoke to me very clearly one morning recently as I read the devotional and Scripture from Jesus Calling. When God says, "Do not be afraid," that is exactly what He means. God is Omnipresent and He is Sovereign. He has shown me that He is in control of even my greatest fears. He knows where the snakes are hiding (the sneaky things!) and He is even in control of snakes. Because He is Sovereign and in control, I need not fear. He made the beautiful, tall mountains and He is there when we are driving through the high and narrow roads that overlook the valleys below, so I should not fear. He is there when I find myself in a closed-in space like an elevator or MRI.
He WILL deliver me from my fears. It is a matter of trust. When I truly believe that He is Sovereign, my fears will fade away.
Lord, deliver me from all my fears. You are there (Omnipresent). You are in control (Sovereign). Help me trust You.
A wonderful thing to remember!
ReplyDelete