Fear Not: God Is Your Helper

The psalmist recounted his personal experience of God's goodness, faithfulness, and enduring love during the time when he was distressed. He was hard pressed and desperately needed help. He knew that God was his only Hope. He turned to the Lord to be the Source of his deliverance in those difficult times. By acknowledging (and reminding himself of) what God did for him in the past, he's ready to face anything with confidence and without fear. God is there with him to be his Helper. When you face troubles or difficulties, who or what do you turn to for help? Fear not; God is also with you and He is also your Helper. Cry out to the Lord. He listens, He cares, He answers, He liberates, and He helps. He is attentive to our needs. God can and will set us free from whatever constrains us or holds us down (ex: worries, fears, discouragement, weariness, etc.) God's presence with us makes all the difference in the world. Our Helper is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. Thus there's nothing and no one we need to be afraid of whatsoever. All we need to do is to rely upon Him, Who is our Refuge from the storm and the enemies. The Lord God Almighty is our Defender; we shall triumph.

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

⁴     In God, whose Word I praise--

in God I trust and am not afraid.    

What can mere mortals do to me?" (Psalm 56:3-4)

“Prayers which come out of distress generally come out of the heart, and therefore they go to the heart of God. It is sweet to recollect our prayers, and often profitable to tell others of them after they are heard. Prayer may be bitter in the offering, but it will be sweet in the answering. The man of God had called upon the Lord when he was not in distress, and therefore he found it natural and easy to call upon him when he was in distress. He worshipped, he praised, he prayed: for all this is included in calling upon God, even when he was in a straitened condition.” (Charles Spurgeon) 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Helper and Defender! My life is in Your hand. There's nowhere else I'd rather be. Thank You for listening to and answering my prayers! Your unfailing love, grace, power, and faithfulness have sustained me throughout my life and I know that they will continue for the rest of my life. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of  my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:6)

Fear Not: Jesus Has All the Power and Authority

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me.'" (Matthew 28:18)

This verse is an introduction to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus wants to give His disciples encouragement and assurance for the task He assigns for them. Jesus has not only all power but also all authority in Heaven and on earth. God the Father gave Jesus complete sovereignty over everything and everyone. He has the right and freedom to do whatever He pleases in all creation. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. His authority is the basis of the evangelization to the world. We Christians can make a difference in the world when we abide in Christ and go out to reach the world with His gospel under His authority. "I AM the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from Me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5) He promises to be with us always to the very end of the age. He has enough/unlimited power and authority to enable us to carry out the Great Commission, in spite of our weaknesses and/or any obstacles and persecution. "I can do all things through Him (Christ) Who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13) 

"What do you need that Christ doesn't have?" (David Robertson) Great question, isn't it?! Ponder it and your fear will dissipate.

Fear the Lord and Shun Evil

Do not be prideful and arrogant. Do not think you know better than God how things should be. We are to trust God (including trusting His will, way, and timing) with all our heart, instead of trusting and relying on our own wisdom. God has infinite wisdom; we don't. Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. It's far better to humbly fear (revere) the Lord, completely trust Him, and reject evil. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. It's about submissive reverence with awe. A life of surrendering to God, trusting in God, and obeying God begets health and nourishment benefits. As with all Proverbs, the purpose is to impart wisdom as guidelines, not prophecy with guarantees. When we trust and obey God (follow God's wisdom), peace, joy, strength, success, well-being (physical, mental, emotional, & spiritual), blessings, good results generally ensue. It makes total sense that when we live wisely according to God's wisdom and avoid evil & foolishness, our physical, mental, and emotional health will be better off. Less mistakes. Less troubles. Less heartaches. Less regrets. Less worries. Less stress.

"Be not puffed up with vain conceit of thine own wisdom, as if that were sufficient for the conduct of all thine affairs without direction or assistance from God, or without the advice of others." (Poole)

Prayer: O Lord, Your wisdom is perfect and infinite! Thank You for being my Guide and Shepherd who leads me and watches over me! Please forgive me for the times I neglected to seek Your wisdom and guidance. I'm so grateful that Your answers are always wiser than my prayers. Please help me to always seek You first, submit to You, trust You, and obey You. Please grant me wisdom from above to pray for peace and cling to love. Please teach me to humbly receive the sun and rain of Your sovereignty.