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Do Not Be Afraid
Andrea Lende • March 7, 2021
Deuteronomy 1:28-30
Do Not Be Afraid
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Do-Not-Be-Afraid-err958
Deuteronomy 1:28-30
“To what are we going up? Our brethren have made our hearts melt, saying, The people are bigger and taller than we are; the cities are great and fortified to the heavens. And moreover we have seen the [giantlike] sons of the Anakim there.”
“Then I said to you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.”
“The Lord your God Who goes before you, He will fight for you just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes.”
We, as people, are often afraid.
And right now, there seems to be many things to be afraid of.
Our lives have changed significantly since we have been living under this pandemic.
The way we work, school, shop, communicate, congregate, and so much more.
Our normal has ceased to exist.
And now fear chases us down the street.
The Israelites were continually afraid as well.
Their lives as they knew them had completely changed.
And not for just a year, but for forty years.
They were continually on the move.
They didn’t have food except that which the Lord provided.
And although they lacked nothing, they weren’t in control of anything either.
One moment they were traveling in the direction the Lord told them to go, and the next they were setting up camp.
I’m not sure I would have acted any differently than the Israelites did way back then.
I’m sure I would have complained as they did.
I’m sure my faith would have waivered as theirs did.
And I may have even turned my back on the Lord as they did.
But as we read about them, we can see that the Lord was always thinking about them.
He was always with them.
He always provided for them.
Maybe not in the way they were used to, but the Lord did provide for them.
It gave me pause to look at my actions and reactions during this difficult time.
I am saddened that I haven’t responded better.
I could have had more peace, more hope, and complained a whole lot less.
I could have allowed the Lord to show Himself faithful far more times than I did.
I could have watched Him do many more miracles if I’d relied on Him more.
As I read this passage today, I was reminded to trust the Lord knowing He will go ahead of me and fight for me.
I need not be afraid or dread what lies ahead.
Today I choose to rely on the Lord and pray He increases my faith so that I am secure in His watch over me.
May you find the Lord is watching over you and caring for you in all ways so you can live your life with confidence and in peace.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for reminding me that You go ahead of me and work out all the circumstances that need to be worked out. Thank You for reminding me that You go ahead of me to fight all the battles that need to be fought. You go ahead of me to secure the path for me. Lead and guide me down the path You have already laid out for me. Light the path so I know exactly where to step and keep me from stepping out in a direction that You do not want me to go. Increase my faith so I can fully trust in You and Your goodness. You are merciful and gracious to me, Father. Thank You for all You do for me and all You are. Help me look to You for all things. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I go ahead of you My child and work out all things, so you are able to walk into My perfect plan.
Response: Help me follow You into the plan You have for me, Father.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.