Night Watches

9:00 PM

Friday Feb. 1st



Night Watches

Psalm 4: 4 Tremble and do not sin, meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still. Selah

Night Watches
We all have times when we cannot sleep at night. I wonder what are you thinking about when you are awake at night?
Are you restless, tossing and turning?
Are you peaceful?
God's word has a lot to say about those night watches.

Psalm 63:6. When I remember Thee on my bed, I meditate on thee in the night watches.

Psalm 119:148. My eyes anticipate the night watches, that I may meditate on Thy word.

Psalm 1:2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 42; 8 The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime and His song will be with me in the night. A prayer to the God of my life.

Psalm 77:6. I will remember my song in the night, I will meditate with my heart.

Psalm 149:5 Let the godly ones exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.

Lam. 2:19. Arise, cry aloud in the night at the beginning of the night watches; pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord; lift up your hands to Him for the life of your little ones who are faint because of hunger at the head of every street.

Psalm 16:7-11 I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore, my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely. For Thou wilt no abandon my soul to Sheol; neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay. Thou will make knows to me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy; in Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.

I encourage you to anticipate the night watches...use it as a time of prayer, praise, memorizing, meditating and singing. Let the night watches instruct you in the night as His Word says.
He will make known to us the path of life and in His presence is fullness of joy and in His right hand there are pleasures forever.


Let's not be like those who use the night watches to scheme and plan evil things. For it will only bring evil into our lives.





Psalm 34:8  Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!


Anger

A Soft Answer (Proverbs 15)

1:09 AM


Proverbs 15
Verbal abuse permeated my home as I was growing up. And I, also, became quite skilled in being able to use my tongue to lash out in anger with no empathy for the impact of my words. It took a lot to make me angry, but if those buttons were pushed, I reacted with a spewing of word vomit that would make your head spin. With the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I began to recognize the harmful effects my words and tone could have and I wanted to change that dynamic. A small but powerful book that is treasured in my library is the book “Verbal and Emotional Abuse” by June Hunt. Here is her description of verbal abuse:
“Verbal abuse is a form of overt, emotional abuse. A skilled woodsman wields his weapon carefully, chopping repeatedly on a precise spot until the targeted tree falls. This lumberjack takes pride in controlling himself and his weapon, never striking a careless blow. Likewise, a verbal abuser uses his tongue as a weapon to hack away at another person. This abuser is skilled in his ability to strike a blow- wielding words that caustically cut heart and soul.”
Throughout the Bible, the tongue is described as a weapon or tool for potential harm. If we allow our anger to be unrestrained, our words will reflect the sinful, foolish, and emotionally charged or foolish condition of a heart that is not submitted to God. “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”(2)
Anger is an emotion that we will all experience. Some of us will have shorter fuses than others. Growing up, we may have observed and learned wrong, sinful responses to the behaviours and actions of others. We may have become super sensitive and over-reactive instead of being able to calmly and objectively react and respond as God would desire. “A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” (18)

How much power does the tongue have? 
“The tongue has the power of life and death” ( Proverbs 18:21). 
“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.” (4)
This is such an important understanding to grasp. “Our words”, “ our reactions”, “our chosen responses” have a powerful impact. We can use our anger to fuel destructive, sinful responses that will likely stir up anger or hurtful responses in others or we can submit our anger to Spirit-controlled responses that reflect healing and peaceful outcomes.  
If you are a victim of verbal abuse or if you are one prone to expressing your anger with harmful words, seek knowledge from the Bible and scripture based books to help you change how you use your tongue to react and respond. “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.” (28) 
n her book, June Hunt reminds us to love unconditionally. 
  • “Love is not a feeling. But a commitment to do what is right”.  
  • “Love looks for ways to meet the needs of another”.
  • “Love says ‘ I care enough about our relationship to work to make it a positive one’. “
Let God’s love and not hatred be the driving force behind the words you speak to others. “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs” (Proverbs 10:12). It will be a process that requires submitting to God and learning healthy responses to others ( including how to set healthy boundaries ). May I encourage you to weigh every word you speak, being mindful of it’s potential to have a positive vs harmful impact. Sometimes, we may find that changing our tone or how we say something is key. Timing also becomes important so that we are not being merely reactive, but focused and submissive to God’s direction. Some circumstances require time for prayer and reflection and God’s guidance regarding when, how, or even if we should speak.
“A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (23)

Final Thoughts:
Satan wants to hurt and wound us through the words of others, stirring up our sinful responses to anger. Satan wants to use us to wound others with the words we speak. 
God wants to heal us through the power of “His Word”. God wants to use us to heal others through the impact of the words we speak. 
“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing”. (Proverbs 12:18)


Anger

Dealing with Anger Over Lemonade! {Ephesians 4:17-32}

8:30 PM


 ~ Ephesians 4:17-32

Aaaaaaah done!! I looked up at the clock just as I finished washing the kitchen floor and saw that I still had a few minutes to get everything ready for my guests that were due to arrive in about 10 minutes or so.

I immediately started to put the last finishing touches on the luncheon I was hosting when my children, seizing the moment, ran into the kitchen looking for refreshments! (They knew that at this moment I’d consent to just about anything just to get them to cooperate while I was busy with friends)

JD was thirsty so I told him he could have a glass of the lemonade I had just made that was still sitting in the pitcher on the counter. Too busy to pour it myself, I went ahead and allowed him to pour it. My daughter was also looking around for something to snack on. We were lighthearted and laughing about something when suddenly I turned around only to catch JD continuing to pour lemonade from the pitcher into an overflowing cup that was now not only running all over the counter, but down onto the floor! The FLOOR I HAD JUST CLEANED!! And it was the syrupy sticky kind of lemonade from concentrate!!  

For a moment I stood there in shocked silence! I stood there motionless and stared at all the lemonade running onto my floor while JD sat there laughing at his sister and not even paying any attention to what he was doing!!

Until finally something from waaaay down within me came spewing out, “JD!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!?” He finally turned his attention back to his cup and stopped pouring, but it was too late!

I read him the riot act! Up one side and down the other! I chopped him down to peanut size until finally he stood there trying desperately to hold back his tears and said quietly, “I’m going to my room.”

And I lifted my arm with my pointer finger erect, just in case he had forgotten in which direction his bedroom was, and shouted, “GOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

JD slowly turned and walked out of the kitchen heading for the stairs and his sister silently followed right behind him. I guess she feared my wrath at that moment too and wanted to make a quick, silent exit.

I instantly felt convicted by the Holy Spirit. I not only broke my son’s heart, I’d ripped it out and crushed it to pieces!! I felt a moment of remorse, but my eyes quickly glanced back to the clock and to the sticky mess all over my clean kitchen and I immediately set to work cleaning everything up, for my guests would be arriving any minute now.

 And when they did, I slapped on my best hostess smile and went along as if nothing had happened!

Except I felt like a crumb on the inside. The Lord wasn’t going to allow me to get away with it that easily. My little ones remained quiet as little mice. I doubt my company even knew they were home, but my heart and ears were tuned into the silence coming from upstairs, and I couldn’t wait for my company to leave so I could climb those stairs and wrap my babies in my arms and beg them to forgive me.

I honestly can’t remember who came over that day, but as soon as I read, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil… Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”  (Ephesians 4:26-27, 29-32) my mind instantly flashes a picture of those minutes in my kitchen when I crushed my son’s heart to bits. It will always be available for me to press "instant replay" in my brain.

Both of my children now have children of their own; some even older than what they were at the time. I believe they are both far better parents than I was while they were growing up! They would make any momma proud. I don’t know if they even remember that day or that incident, but I know I will never forget it; especially now after almost 30 years!

What I wonder most is:
  • What if I hadn’t run up the stairs after my last guest departed? 
  • What if I hadn’t scooped them up and begged their forgiveness? (Little ones always seem to forgive more readily than us, adults). 
  • What if I had allowed the enemy to indulge my pride and self-righteous anger and never did ask forgiveness? 
  • What if I allowed my little ones to think my guests and what they thought of me was far more important than they were and what they thought of their momma?

Our actions have rippling effects. What if I had allowed a root of bitterness to begin to form in my children? These kind of things happen, and the Bible assume that there will be times when we grow angry, (Be angry and do not sin) but it’s what we do with our anger that can make all the difference. And when and if we do become angry, we need to go as quickly as possible to make it right.

Though I don’t believe it’s ever too late. If your conscience still bothers you about something... if you have a scenario that still plays in your mind at times, stop what you’re doing and go and make it right, for it still matters to God.

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,  leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24)




Anger

Dealing with Anger - Listening and Doing {James 1:19-20}

12:00 AM


Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Read:  James 1:19-20

When we talk too much and listen too little, we communicate to others that we think our ideas are more important than theirs.  James wisely advises us to reverse this process.  Put a mental stopwatch on your conversation and keep track of how much you talk and how much you listen.  When people talk with you, do they feel that their viewpoints and ideas have value?

These verses speak of anger that erupts when our egos are bruised.  “I AM HURT.”  “My opinions are not being heard!”  Now when injustice and sin occur, we should become angry because others are being hurt.  But we should not become angry when we fail to win an argument or when we feel offended or neglected.  Selfish anger never helps anybody.

 Image result for James 1:19-20

I recently heard a phrase and it has been nailed to my head and heart.  Most days I run errands during my lunch hour, but I always have Moody Radio on in my car and I try to listen to the program that’s on, but I am driving and concentrating on getting to and from my destination.  However, every now and then, I catch something, and this was it –

“We have to learn to love them more
than we hate what they do.”

Do you ever find yourself in the situation that you are giving advice?  It’s good advice.  And the person you’ve been speaking to does the exact opposite?  Or their opinion does not align with yours?  And you walk away, or hang up the phone, or close the email or text and find yourself angry.  Maybe you are hurt because what you told them would save them from the activity or situation they are in. 

I’ve been there.  I have thought ‘but I don’t think my ideas are bad’  -- ‘ they just don’t listen.’  And the more I whine about how this person just won’t listen to me, the angrier I become.

It is really verse 21 that drove the phrase I heard home for me. 

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”  (James 1:21)

“Humbly accept the word planted in you.”  It’s important to listen to what God’s word says, but it is much more important to obey it, and DO what it says.  We can measure the effectiveness of our Bible study time by the effect it has on our behavior and attitudes.  Do you put into action what you have studied?  Or do you get up from your corner where you spend your time alone with God and completely forget what God has said?

I truly hate to admit it, but I have.  No, not every day, but certain days when I was wanting to drive my point-of-view into someone, I seemed to toss all I had read out the window.

God wants all the glory.  I have to say, not me.  He will work all things out so He receives the glory, and me becoming angry or hurt because someone doesn’t “do” or react to my words really showed me how weightless my words are.  But God’s words – they are strong and when we use them or pray that God’s word would change the person's actions or decisions, then God gets the all the glory.

I am reminded of the time the disciples tried to drive out the demon in the boy (Mark 9), and they asked “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”  And Jesus replies, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”  (v. 9:21)

Prayer is the key that unlocks faith in our lives.  So when you find yourself frustrated or angry that someone is not listening to you, stop talking to them and trying to convince them of your idea, and pray.

I have come to realize that what has gotten me angry most of the time is when someone I love is stuck in sin.  Below are ways to pray when someone you love is stuck in sin.  I have these printed on notecards and I open them up and read and pray them while I am at my desk at work.  It has altered how and when I get angry.



Pray for them to see their sin as God sees it.  Isaiah 59:2

Pray for their hard heart to soften.  Ezekiel 36:26

Pray for them to recognize the kindness of God.  Romans 2:4

Pray for them to have a desire for God’s word.  Matthew 4:4

Pray for God’s Word to do surgery in their heart.  Hebrews 4:12

Pray for the consequences of their sin to become clear to them.  Psalm 51:3-4

Pray for them to be surrounded by people who will speak truth into their life.  James 5:19-20

Pray for them to recognize that only God can satisfy their deepest needs.  Psalm 107:9

Pray for them to know how much God loves them.  Ephesians 3:17-19

Pray for them to repent.  Matthew 3:2

Anger

Dealing With Anger-Do You Have Good Reason To Be Angry? {Jonah 3-4}

12:00 AM






“Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool.” (Ecc. 7:9)

Known as the angry prophet, Jonah wasn’t a man eager to fulfill God’s will. He hated the people of Nineveh, and their salvation was the last thing he wanted. So when he was commanded by the Lord to go and preach the Word of God, he grew very angry. He knew that if the people repented, God would be gracious and merciful in forgiving them. Now you’d think that a prophet of the Lord would rejoice over saved souls. But the Ninevites were very wicked, brutally cruel, and enemies of Israel. Their actions brought about feelings of such anger in Jonah that instead of wanting them spared, he wanted them crushed. And sadly, with the current state of the world, I feel myself sharing that same type of anger. 

With Christianity being under constant attack, the rise in antisemitism, the war on Israel, the political turmoil in our own country, and the recent abortion legislation passed by the state of New York, I too have felt more like praying for God’s judgement instead of His forgiveness. But just like in the case of Jonah, such anger is wrong, ungodly, and hypocritical. Ezekiel 18:32 tells us, the Lord takes no delight in the death of the wicked, and neither should any child of His. I am to have a heart that longs for all to receive God’s saving grace. The same grace He offers so freely to me. And in such a heart, there is no room for ungodly anger.

We all feel angry at times, and anger in itself isn’t a sin. It’s when we act unrighteously based on that anger where we get ourselves into trouble. So how do we deal with feelings of anger and learn to overcome them before they overcome us? 

When the feelings of anger surface, the first thing we need to do is  pause and take a deep breath so that we can reflect instead of react. Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back.” Taking time before we respond allows us to get control of our temper; saving us from the destructive cycle of rage and regret. It also provides the much needed moments to do as Paul instructs in 2 Corinthians 10:5, and take captive our thoughts into the obedience of Jesus before they become strongholds in our minds. Next we need to truly examine the reason for our anger. Are we hurt, are we afraid, are we frustrated? Getting to the root of the problem allows us to express the right feelings in the right ways; preventing our anger from leading us into sin. (Eph. 4:26) Finally, give it to God and let it go. Tell God everything your heart is feeling and leave it with Him. Hanging on to anger only allows it to fester into a spirit of bitterness and resentment, or to manifest itself into physical afflictions that hurt ourselves most of all. 

“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20) 

What is the righteousness of God? Jonah tells us in verse 4:2 saying, “You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness.” If our goal to be more like the Lord, we need to ask ourselves the same question God asked Jonah. “Do you have good reason to be angry?” If our anger stems from social injustice or the mistreatment of others then the answer is yes. Such anger can motivate us to take action to make things right. But if our anger stems from feelings of being treated unjustly or unfairly, wanting to punish others, then no. Such anger leads to hurting others and destroyed lives. 

“We cannot control how others act or respond, but we can make the changes that need to be made on our part. Overcoming a temper is not accomplished overnight. But through prayer, Bible study, and reliance upon God’s Holy Spirit, ungodly anger can be overcome. We may have allowed anger to become entrenched in our lives by habitual practice, but we can also practice responding correctly until that, too, becomes a habit and God is glorified in our response.”....gotquestions.org



Chocolate

Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispie Squares

8:22 AM



Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispie Squares

6 tablespoons unsalted butter
16 ounces mini marshmallows 
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 
6 tablespoons peanut butter 
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal 
2 1/2 cups coarsely crushed graham crackers (about 9 rectangles) 
1 cup milk chocolate chips 
1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles, plus more for decorating 

Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, allowing 1-inch wings to hang over the edges; set aside. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the marshmallows and salt and cook, stirring, until the marshmallows are melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla (the peanut butter can still be swirly). Add the cereal, crushed graham crackers, chocolate chips and sprinkles and fold with a large rubber spatula to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish, using the spatula to spread it out evenly. Place a piece of parchment on top and then use your hands to press the mixture down very firmly. Top with additional sprinkles as desired. Let the mixture firm up in the refrigerator for 1 hour, then cut into squares.

anger

Scripture Saturday ~ Proverbs 19:11 ~ Take a moment ~ Dealing with Anger

12:00 AM

Saturday, January 26, 2019


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

This coming week's memory verse is Proverbs 19:11...

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. (NIV)

Live a life of reflective living…it makes us proactive instead of reactive people. Stop. Take a pause. Pray and seek insight and wisdom. The reality is this: What happened happened. How will anger help the problem? Satan believes that it does because he wants to control, to win, to compete, to devour, to get the upper hand, to triumph. Do we really need the anger to drive us to manipulate or to punish? Do we want it to destroy an earthly relationship and injure our heavenly one? When you are filled with anger, promptly seek your Father out. Pray that you and He can look at your heart and find out not only why you feel the way you do, but also how you can go on in a way that brings Him glory.

Identify those areas, situations, or even times of day, where you tend to have a short fuse. Take time to pray about each situation beforehand. (iWorship)

Have a blessed day and week everyone!





1 John 4:4

Overcoming Fear - No fear, but Power!! (2 Timothy 1:3-7)

9:00 PM


Today's reading: 2 Timothy 1:3-7
As we close this week we can be sure of two things:
- Fear is one of the greatest weapons Satan uses against us, as it attacks our minds. Filling it with doubts and insecurities; debilitating our faith and taking away our peace. These thoughts affect us all, he picks on everyone; no one is spared.
- We do not have to live in Fear, because as children of God, in Him we are overcomers! (1John 3:1)
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].” (2 Tim. 1:7)
Paul is saying that this kind of fear hinders what God has given us: His power, love and sound mind (self-control). This kind of fear is not of God but of the enemy. But how can we fight against this?
Our God has equipped us to overcome by giving us of His Power: 
Spirit of Power: This is His Holy Spirit that dwells inside of us   It is same the Spirit of God that he promised to His timid, fearful disciples and transformed them into bold apostles! (John 16:5-7, 33; Acts 1:8, 2 Cor. 5:5).  The Holy Spirit works in us to preserve us daily and help us to live a life that is pleasing to God.

 Spirit of Love: Another characteristic of the Holy Spirit is love.  Jesus said in John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
"But if we love one another [with unselfish concern], God abides in us, and His love [the love that is His essence abides in us and] is completed and perfected in us." (1 John 4:12b)

 Yes, if we live in obedience and total surrender, we will live in His Power. (1 John 4:7-21) -You can also read here -
The Holy Spirit, who is given to us, gives us confidence (not fear) in whatever situation we may encounter in this world. This perfect love of God casts out all fear because “there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1), and He gives confidence in the Day of Judgment.
I remember years ago when my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he would not only suffer from the anxiety of this illness, but of his salvation. Our God gave me the privilege to lead him to His Savior and whenever satan would accuse him, he would call me over the phone and through God’s Word and prayer, my father received His peace as he waited for the final day when Jesus would take him Home!
Spirit of Self-Control:  Whenever we are tempted to fear, His Holy Spirit will clear our minds and bring our thoughts to His Word, taking captive those thoughts that are not of Him 

 “ The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ,” (2 Cor. 10:4-5)

 Our hearts and minds are renewed and restored in Jesus Christ (physically, mentally and spiritually). Romans 8:29 tells us that those who are foreknown by God are “predestined to be conformed into the image of His Son.
 “The Christian doctrine is a trust committed to us; it is of unspeakable value in itself, and will be of unspeakable advantage to us. It is committed to us, to be preserved pure and entire, yet we must not think to keep it by our own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us; and it will not be gained by those who trust in their own hearts, and lean to their own understandings.” M. Henry

Fear and timidity will keep you from using the gifts God has given you for His Purpose: to reach His people and a needy world. God wants you to take His power, His love, and His sound mind to overcome fear, so you can be used by Him with all the gifts He has given you! 

Remember, we can face this 2019 with the assurance that we are under the care and direction of the Holy Spirit. In Him “we are more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37) because “He who is in you is greater than he that is in the world”!! (1 John 4:4).



Blessings my sisters,

Mari




Becky Austin

The Good Shepherd

3:31 AM


David was a courageous and mighty warrior. But, David knew fear. He had to live on the run, fleeing for his life when King Saul was in pursuit of him to kill him. In many of the Psalms, we are privy to the expressions of David as he entrusts his circumstances to God. In the most known of all Psalms, David paints a beautiful picture of the relationship between sheep and their shepherd which parallels the relationship that we have with God. It is a relationship of love and protection that can calm our worries and fears.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
David was a shepherd in his youth and he knew that being a good shepherd was critical for the well being of a flock of sheep. Sheep are completely dependent on a shepherd for their needs. On their own, they would not survive. We, too, have spiritual needs that can only be met in the care of our Creator. David took comfort in being dependent on the Lord for he knew that he would be well cared for and have the best quality of life. Shepherds knew their sheep so well that they would give them individual names and the sheep would respond to the voice of their shepherd. Jesus promised us an intimate relationship like that. 
“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”
John 10:14 

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: 
Sheep needed nutrient rich pastures. The shepherd would seek out and move the sheep to varying places to ensure they had good pastures to graze in. Because the sheep were fearful creatures, and usually fearful of running water, the shepherd would often find quieter pools of water for them to drink from.  The quiet and nourishment helped the flock remain calm and rested. 
God provides spiritual nourishment for us through His Word and promises us rest for our souls. The more we know His Word and seek his counsel, the more comforted and at peace we will be. Our time with the Lord should be like a restoring oasis, helping us deal with the depleting trials of everyday life. 

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 
Shepherds often have to lead their sheep through precarious places, and it is imperative that the sheep stay on the safe path. If the sheep were threatened by predators, the shepherd had the weapons and tools to fight off the attackers and the tools to reach for and retrieve any lost strays. Jesus has already defeated our greatest enemy, Satan. No power of evil can prevail against him. We have been given the gift of eternal salvation and we have been made righteous through Christ. We do not have to fear death.



Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 
We do not live in a perfect world. We have enemies to deal with and we will have illnesses and varying trials as well. Jesus promises to be with us and to help us, providing care and comfort. Even in the midst of evil, we can know the blessings and provision of the Lord. Shepherds often used oil to attend to physical impairments and injuries the sheep suffered and we have the Great Physician as our minister. God wants us to entrust our fears, our sufferings and worries to His wisdom and provision. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
David knew many trials in his lifetime but his outlook remained positive because he focused on God’s goodness and mercy and on the eternal future promised to him. Our focus on the goodness of God and all that awaits us in heaven can help us dispel the fears of the unknown. Day by day, step by step, we need to trust that God will guide us, care for us, and bless us as we humbly submit to His leadership and are obedient to His will. 


Additional Reading:
1 Peter 2:25

Faith

Rejecting Our Fears? {Joshua 1:1-9}

8:30 PM

Reading for Wednesday, January 23rd is Joshua 1:1-9,

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses… 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:1-9 emphasis mine)


Can you imagine being assigned the duty of filling Moses’ shoes? I’d liken it to being asked to fill Billy Graham’s today I suppose. It seems like an impossible task!

 Moses is gone and Joshua is now responsible for not only leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, BUT having to lead them into battle to destroy the Canaanites and take the land for themselves!  

Joshua had been by Moses’ side for years, but he never quite had the relationship with God that Moses had. AND not only did Joshua need to take the people into the Promised Land and conquer it, he also needed to make sure the new settlements were divided fairly and according to God's plan, while constantly reminding the people that they were only there because of The Lord’s great love for them! This would be a huge task!

So God comes to Joshua and tells him:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go...Only be strong and courageous. (Joshua 1:9, 18b)

It gets really interesting when we look a bit more closely at the meaning of each word above:

Commanded —  Tsavah has military overtones, as would befit a military commander. God gave Joshua not just an order but a commission to reject his fear. "Have I not commanded you?

 Strong — Chazaq means to strengthen, but it's more than that. It means to be firm, prevail, withstand. The meaning of the word almost assumes success. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong..." 

Courageous —  'amats, is similar to chazaq, but  speaks of being alert and brave. Strength is good, but it needs a direction, which 'amats begins to give. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.

Frightened —  'arats  means to tremble with fear, to be terrified. Joshua, who had watched God work through Moses, and had been one of two ready to take on the Canaanites forty years ago, (Numbers 13), was shaking in his sandals. His task seemed overwhelming, and he suddenly didn’t feel up to it. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened,

Dismayed — Chathath means to be so dismayed and afraid that you shatter into pieces. Joshua was that afraid!! "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,"

Have you ever know such fear? To be so afraid that you’re body trembles?

I have! My heart has beat so hard I thought it was banging on my chest! I can remember even feeling sick and trembling, for things far less severe than all Joshua had to face at this moment.

Which is why I found it odd that God orders Joshua to reject his fear, to be firm, to prevail against his enemies, and be brave in the face of impossible odds. I completely understand his fear in facing what seems impossible, but how was Joshua to dismiss his fears completely?

The key for all of us when we’re facing insurmountable mountains is found in The Lord's next statement:  

God didn't leave Joshua to do it on his own. He made a way through a promise: "...for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."


God promised to go with Joshua. That’s faith! Joshua would be stepping out in faith… in God and not himself. But there is another key element we all need to remember:

The LORD was going to be with Joshua because Joshua was going where God wanted him to go. God could promise Joshua that He would be with him because He knew Joshua would follow His leading and encourage the Israelites to do the same.

This means we too can reject our fears, stand firm, prevail against the enemy and bravely face what seem impossible odds. We too can step out in faith; knowing God goes with us when we’re following Him. And we can also encourage others to do the same!