Has God calmed your fear?

Wednesday April 02
This week's promise: God cares for the persecuted
Has God calmed you fear?

In my distress I prayed to the Lord and the Lord answered me and rescued me. The Lord is for me, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me. Psalm 118:5-7 NLT

Prayer offers us a way out of our fear. It is all a matter of calling upon Jesus' name. Only in His name is there help. The more we call upon His name, the more we will experience this truth.
Mother Basilea Schlink (1904-2001)

The Lord is for me
Today's verses tell us that the psalmist was in a frightening situation. But in his distress, he cried out to God in prayer. Because of God's presence and strength in response to his plea, the psalmist could look in triumph at those who hated and attacked him. For every difficulty and trial, God has prepared a way. His eyes are on those who trust in him in their distress, and his ears are attentive to their cries. You can know and rest assured that just as God was for David, he is for you! And because the all-powerful Lord who is on your side is your shield and defender, you do not have to be afraid. The Lord is greater than any problem, greater than any fear, greater than any person opposing you. Thank him for his help in past situations when there seemed to be no way out, and trust him and thank him for being "for you" today.
LORD, thank you for answering me and helping me in my distress. Thank you for being for me! That truth is amazing to me and assures me of your concern for me. Help me to resolve not to be afraid because the Lord of the universe is on my side!
Adapted from The One Year® Book of Praying through the Bible by Cheri Fuller, Tyndale House Publishers (2003), entry for May 21.

That was in my email today. How much it resounds with me and my "situation." The Lord is for me--who EVER can be against me? I mean, sure the devil can try, but when God determines to do something, when He makes a promise, no power of hell can put a stop to it. Psalm 138:8 says, "The Lord will work out His plans for my life--for your faithful love endures forever. Don't abandon me, for you made me." I love that verse...it covers SO many things!

For one, "the plans of the Lord stand firm forever" (Psalm 33:11). He knows the beginning from the end--in fact, He IS the beginning and the end (the Alpha and the Omega). He has numbered our days and has recorded every one, before we were ever born. Why? Because He loves us. His love is the basis for ALL things that the Lord does. His creation, His beauty, His blessings, His plan for salvation through Jesus Christ, and even His justice--all are based on His great, enduring love for us. Just as Paul writes, "And now these three remain--faith, hope, and love--but the greatest of these is love." He also refers to love as "the most excellent way."

Why do you think the Word of God places so much emphasis on love as THE most important concept in our Christian lives, above spiritual gifts, above giving, and even above faith and hope? Because our God IS love. Love exists because God exists. Love is God's essential character--thus, all that He does and is stems from that.

I empathize completely with the psalmist's cry--"Don't abandon me, for you made me!" Isaiah 43:7 says, "Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them." I find myself thinking, Lord, how do you get glory from this? Don't abandon me--you made me and you did it for Your own glory! Show Yourself God, please! Kind of like Moses--for the glory of YOUR name, Lord!