Tuesday, September 5, 2023

From Tuesday, October 27, 2020

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. (Isaiah 43:1)

I remember when I was growing up, there were some things that my mom and dad said almost every day. One of the things I heard a lot was, “Be careful.” They said that because there were so many opportunities for danger. Another phrase was, “It’s time to get up.” They said that because they wanted to make sure that we successfully met the demands of the day. Another common command was, “Go, take your bath.” They realized that hygiene was an important part to health. Those are the things my parents said to me, and those are some of the things I said to my children.

We are made in God’s image, after His likeness. There are some things God has said that bears repeating. “Fear not” is one of those things. Some bible scholars say that this phrase is used 365 times in the Bible, one for each day of the year. God does not want us to be afraid, so He tells us this often. He does not want you to waste your time experiencing fear, because He knows that every situation that comes to you, had to come through Him. Fear is a time waster. Our God goes before you, to fight for you, to bring you the victory. You cannot lose, so why fear?

Prayer: There have been times when I have wasted valuable time afraid. I’ve been afraid for my family, myself, and others I love. I have spent more time fearing the future than enjoying the present. Redirect my thoughts so that I trust you in all things. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.