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Do Not Be Afraid
Andrea Lende • April 30, 2020
Luke 12:7 and 25
Do Not Be Afraid
You can also listen to this meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Do-Not-Be-Afraid-ede1ma
Daily Word:
Luke 12:7 and 25
“But [even] the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm; you are of greater worth than many [flocks] of sparrows.”
“And which of you by being overly anxious and troubled with cares can add a cubit to his stature or a moment [unit] of time to his age [the length of his life]?"
These verses are such a comfort to me.
Jesus is talking to the people as he shared so many words of wisdom.
Fear is real.
It grips so many of us.
Especially in these uncertain days.
If I let it, fear can work its way into my mind and spirit.
I can let it deter me.
I can let it even go so far as to destroy me.
However, Jesus said don’t.
He said can, “Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm”.
He gave a wise word when He said that no amount of being anxious and afraid can increase the length of your life.
I do not enjoy being anxious or afraid.
So, when I find myself entertaining fearful thoughts, I must turn my mind on something else.
Every time.
I cannot let my mind take a trip on the fear roller coaster and expect pleasant results.
I must replace any fearful thoughts with something else.
It doesn’t help me to tell myself not to be fearful.
I must intentionally think on something else.
Something beautiful.
Something carefree.
Turn to the Lord.
Turn to scripture.
Read in the book Psalms.
There is so much praise and thanksgiving in that book that my spirit is raised when I read a Psalm or two.
Today I choose to follow Jesus’ advice and not allow myself to get fearful or anxious about anything and allow His Holy Spirit to permeate my soul.
May you find that as you think on good and wonderful things that fear and anxiety will diminish.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for the Wisdom in Your Word. Thank You that I can turn to it at any moment and learn about You and be lifted up. Thank You for the blessing of being able to read Your Word and worship You, Lord. Thank You for that freedom today. I pray that You continue to watch over our land and continue to bless it. I pray for healing, Lord. May Your healing power go throughout this country and all other countries, Father. May we turn to You and see Your wonder working power. Turn our minds and hearts away from fear and anxiety and help us look to You and worship You. As we worship You, our spirits are lifted. May we praise You as You deserve to be praised! You are Great and Mighty! I praise You, Lord! I love to watch You work. I love to see the miracles that You continue to do in my life, in the lives of my family, and in this world. Help me not miss You, Lord. Help me see all that You are doing so that I have even more reason to praise You. Keep my eyes on You, Lord. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM working in your life and in your household and will show Myself Mighty and Great in this world.
Response: Thank You, All Powerful and Mighty God.
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.