“I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
There it is – that old chestnut again – fear – right when you think you have got yourself all sorted – that you know a thing or too, when you’re picking up some pace and leaving that old stuff behind – it’ll sneak up behind you and bite you right in the pantyhose. Or maybe there’s some well-worn track in your thought life where fear just likes to hang out – like it has a right to be there. Either way – it gets too much airtime, it has far too much to say – – – and we go and listen like it knows something we don’t know. Fear – it takes the tiniest slither of truth and then calls itself Goliath – it struts and brags and tells us – look how big and strong I am – you haven’t got a chance.
— Let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together.
But fear – what does it know?
It doesn’t know the power of Christ within us, or the truth His word tells. It doesn’t know about His love that makes us strong – that makes us done with fear, that shows us a better way, so we’re no longer captive to it.
Fear doesn’t know what God has done for us, or the miracle that has taken place in our hearts.
But we know.
I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
We know His love is bigger than fear. (1 John 4:18) We know that like a strong tower we can run into Him and be safe. (Proverbs 18:10) That we can give Him with upturned hands, without shame every last thing that worries or frightens us because He cares eternally for us (1 Peter 5:7) and we know His peace – the kind of peace that goes way past anything we understand (Philippians 4:7)
I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.
And we have this amazing gift of praise, that’s within our very mouths, right on our tongues – that takes our eyes off earth and lets us glimpse heaven – right into the throne room – to see what God sees – then fear gets frightened – it runs a mile.
Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
Not afflicted, not ashamed – but loved and raised up, strong, our hearts set on freedom. It puts me in mind of this:
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25
Fear – it hasn’t got a chance.
Love to you all
Tracey
Friday Night Connect
A few of us have been getting together for coffee and a short bible study/chat on a Friday night while youth is on. 6.45ish. It’s very relaxed and a good time to shake off the week and connect with friends. Join us!!! We meet at one of our homes so just let me know if would like to come and I’ll send you the details.
Recent posts from Water into Wine
Five Minute Friday – Here: http://waterintowineblog.com/2015/08/09/five-minute-friday-here/
That Old Thing – Fence Paling Planter: http://waterintowineblog.com/2015/08/05/that-old-thing-fence-paling-planter/