Day 213: John 14:27

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." ~John 14:27, NIV

We as Christians tend to look to Jesus when we need an immediate source of comfort, and it's no surprise - He did die for us, after all. Not only that, but His death brought about life for us, and life to His words - like the ones above.

In the verses surrounding this one, Jesus is comforting His disciples after telling them He would die. He promises them the Holy Spirit (who IS our current comforter, and an ever present help in trouble) and peace.

Note the verbs are in present tense, so He gave it then and gives it now, as you need it. Perfect!

Day 212: Proverbs 22:4

"Respecting the Lord and not being proud will bring you wealth, honor, and life." ~Proverbs 22:4, NCV

This is a statement of truth, but remember that not all statements of truth in the Bible will apply literally to your life at all times.

Humility and fear of the Lord... these are tough things to own in life. I mean, it seems to be a natural human thing to be proud. We are encouraged to take pride in our actions. But is that all pride is?

Not really. But denying the pride that makes us act poorly and instead taking on an attitude of honor towards God will make our lives infinitely better, and while God might not shower down bricks of gold on your for obeying Him, you'll get a lot of other benefits. Like:

-friendships!

-positive familial interrelations!

-the generosity of others!

-the joy of knowing who you are in God!

-etc!

And all of those things add up to a place in your mind where you will disregard your fears. Which is pretty awesome.

Day 211: Psalm 4:5

"Do what is right as a sacrifice to the Lord and trust the Lord." ~Psalm 4:5, NCV

Psalm 4 is titled simply as "an evening prayer". It's like a reminder to be calm, believe in God, and go to sleep. This verse in particular, however, is important.

Do what is right as a sacrifice... an interesting phrase, is it not? Doing what's right is a gift to God. And we can't do it because we're awesome, we do it because it's about God. It's not about me or what I can do, it's about God and what He does. Doing the right thing is rough quite a bit of the time. Being honest, sharing His love, standing up for your beliefs; you can't know what's going to happen.

But the fear of "what if" can't stop you from doing what's right. It's the duty you owe God. You do what's right, and trust Him to take care of the rest. That's all it is - your responsibility is to obey, He will do the rest.

Day 210: Psalm 5:11

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." ~Psalm 5:11, NIV

Day 209: Zephaniah 3:2

"She obeys no one, she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God." ~Zephaniah 3:2, NIV

This is a description of Israel. She's not doing anything to conquer her fear or to live a life of righteousness. In fact, verse 1 says "Woe!" to this state of existence.

Conclusion: do the opposite of what this verse literally says. This would be to,

Obey all authorities, accept rebukes and correction. Trust in the Lord, better yet, draw near to your God.

There. Now we have a command - a course of action we must follow. Check out the rest of Zephaniah 3 for more!

Day 208: Job 39:11

"Will you rely on it for its great strength? Will you leave your heavy work to it?" ~Job 39:11, NIV

Job's story is well known as that part of the Bible you read to give yourself hope in dreadful sickness. The tale is simple. Job gets sick. His friends come and console him by telling truths about the world that don't apply to him. He asks God to explain what the devil happened. And God does.

That verse up there... that's God talking to Job. He's basically established that He is God and whatever He does is good, that He is all-powerful and that He knows what is going on in Job's life. As He does this, He challenges Job. "What do you trust in? Oxen? Money? Servants?"

"Is that what you're going to rely on?" He's asking. "I'm your God. I made those things, to show that I love you. So, what'll it be?"

Day 207: Psalm 64:9

"All people will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done." ~Psalm 64:9, NIV

I love this verse - and this psalm as a matter of fact. David is writing to "voice his complaint" v1 about the wicked. He describes his innocence, then launches into a description of his enemies, how they succeed, and asks God why. Why are the bad-guys winning!?

Then in v7, that all changes, and David pulls out the big picture. "God will shoot them with arrows, turn their tongues against themselves." In other words, God will bring about justice, in His own timing.

And in that moment, not just the wicked or just the righteous, but all the people will fear, will respect God, or at least what He's done. And like all of the posts before this one, they will put into practice what's been preached - announce what's been done (Jesus on the cross, anyone?) and ponder His works (the change in me?). And if God can stop the baddies and leave us with just these two things, then what's to stop us?

What's to stop us from ruminating on His goodness instead of what could go wrong? What's to stop anyone from thinking on what is pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praise-worthy or just plain awesome instead of the "what-ifs"?

What if we shifted our focus from us to Him?

Day 206: Job 5:20

"In famine he will deliver you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword." ~Job 5:20, NIV

Remember Job, the guy who lost everything he had because God let the Devil kick the snot out of him? His friends came, talked to him, and reminded him of who God was. In this verse we see "He's a deliverer", that He provides a way.

Job's friends gave him what they knew to be true. Job knew all of this as well, and it must have seemed terrible to hear the above in his time of trouble. Deliverer? God was not delivering him from his ailments, from his losses. But just because God was not delivering Him at that moment did not change the fact that God is a deliverer, that He delivers from famine, saves in battle.

Just remember, because God is not acting now does not mean His nature has changed. He still loves You with all of His heart and is working hard through circumstances to make the best You possible. If, despite your circumstances, like Job, you can remain righteous and not lash at God... You can be all the stronger when God "finally" pulls through.

He's working right now. And He will save you.

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Day 205: Isaiah 40:9

"You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"" ~Isaiah 40:9, NIV

A lot of people are afraid of public speaking. Even if what they're saying is good, right, and true, stage fright takes over and often incapacitates them. Back in Bible times, almost everything could be considered public speaking, because they weren't so sheltered as to be able to anonymously post something on the Internets.

And back in Bible times, if you were thought to be saying blasphemy you could get stoned. As in have rocks thrown at your face until you died. Telling God's good news to a perverse generation might have been pretty scary.

But if you have hope to give to people, if you've got good news waiting for them, God tells you not to be afraid, and to tell as many people as you can. If you're a messenger of God (read: if you're a Christian) then you've got a message that can't be drowned - Jesus died for our sins, and we don't have to lay dead forever, cut off from God.

Don't be afraid to give that word! Don't be afraid to tell someone! Don't be afraid to give a little hope to the darkness. It's a bright light.

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Day 204: Deuteronomy 20:1

"When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you." ~Deuteronomy 20:1, NIV

When the Israelites took over their promised land, they had to fight wars to get God's promise. Nowadays we usually try to avoid war; try to avoid killing unnecessarily. But that doesn't mean we don't have to fight against enemies.

Politicians have to fight to get to the top. People with careers have to fight their way through a myriad of jobs before they can achieve their dreams. Novelists have to fight publishers and their own poor editing to get that book on the shelf. Some of these fights seem ridiculous, but there's one that every Christian fights that is life and death.

It's the fight against Satan.

On one hand, it sucks to fight Satan because he is the dirtiest fighter in the business, and he knows every single trick and tactic to get you to trip up. And if you've tripped once, he doesn't have to work half as hard to get you to trip again, and again, and again. He's got all the power of Hell and millenia of practice at tricking humans into miffing our relationship with God. When you fight him and see all of his victories all over the world, the wars he's started, the messed up people he's marred, the trends he sets... it seems like his army might be greater than yours.

But this verse says that when you see that army, you are not to be afraid. You aren't to get intimidated, you are to remember that God promises to be with you. And God himself, let alone the armies of Heaven, is enough to take down that filthy scumbag.

And He will help you.

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Day 203: Psalm 31:19

"How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you." ~Psalm 31:19, NIV

Like any father, God wants to give us good gifts. For those of us with the right attitude, for those of us who know God will take care of us, "those who fear [God]", we've got a promise right here that we'll get these good things.

When we put our confidence in God and allow Him to take away our fear, He blesses us. So it's a win-win situation to choose Him. But that's still all it is - a choice.

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Day 202: Psalm 103:17

"But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children." ~Psalm 103:17, NIV

What is the opposite of fear? Well, there's evidence that fear's opposite is love. And what is love? I tell you - God is love. And from everlasting, He is with you, and His righteousness will be with your children. Children? Rejoice! Parents? Remember what love and fear are.

Opposites. "Perfect love casts out all fear," God is that perfect love, and He can help you show and find that love, which bring you into peace. God gave us a relationship which will help you find out what fear is not.

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Day 201: 2 Samuel 9:7

"Don’t be afraid!' David said. 'I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!" ~2 Samuel 9:7, NLT

Guess where in David's chronology this verse comes from? He's just been made king of course! Saul and his sons and a great deal of the Israelite army fell in battle on the Philistines, and David has retaliated against them, throwing the Philistines into submission. That's all been done, now, and David inquired of Saul's servant Ziba if there were any descendants of Jonathan that he could show kindness to.

David and Jonathan were best friends, and David didn't want to tarnish his memory. Turned out a crippled son, Mephibosheth, was still living. So David invited him to the king's table and said the above words. David was king, and since Mephibosheth was of Saul's lineage, he certainly could have considered being killed to ensure that no new dynasty rose up to usurp him. But no, David imitating his God, says "Don't be afraid." David, like God, had made a promise. If David, a man after God's heart would do this, how much more will God?

Don't be afraid when God calls you towards Him. He's made you so many promises, from never leaving you to having the best plans for you. It's worth coming before Him, even if you are intimidated.

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Day 200: Jeremiah 10:5

"Their gods are like helpless scarecrows in a cucumber field! They cannot speak, and they need to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of such gods, for they can neither harm you nor do you any good." ~Jeremiah 10:5, NLT

This is one of the many reminders that God gave His people to not be afraid of the false gods in the lands that they lived in. And honestly, describing a god like a scarecrow in a cucumber field... Remember the Wizard of Oz, where the scarecrow couldn't scare away the birds at all? That's the kind of scarecrow the other gods are. They can't compare with a real God, they're like scarecrows next to real humans.

Note that they aren't just harmless, but they can't do you any good either. Some Israelites used to worship many gods because "it couldn't hurt" and "you never know" the god might just be able to help me out if one of the other gods that I worship doesn't help me out.

Only God can help you, and only God can allow hurt. So don't worry about the fakes. Idolatry might not seem to be a problem nowadays, but look around, and you'll see the other "gods" we trust in. They don't have to be idols to take God's place in our minds.

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Day 199: Psalm 16:8

"I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me." ~Psalm 16:8, NLT

This is another reminder that God doesn't leave us. As the almighty King of the Universe, our fears probably don't exist when we're aware of His presence next to us. As this psalmist says, he won't be shaken. Bad news? No problem, He's right beside me! Bad day? S'okay, He is right beside me!

And He loves you. Always.

Day 198: Isaiah 54:4

"Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood." ~Isaiah 54:4, NLT

Here, Isaiah is personifying Jerusalem as a woman. God was promising the city that they would be saved, that there would be future glory for them. That's where this verse comes into play.

We as humans, we as a community don't have to fear or live in shame, thanks to God. Fear not. God's command. Fear not. It's not just our enemies, it the shame they bring onto us as a people; there is none of that.

God's word is true in its entirety, and if you believe that, then you must act on it. I bring to light to you this verse; it's up to you to allow God to help you cast off fear. And God is big enough to do so.

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Day 197: Malachi 3:16

"Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name." ~Malachi 3:16, NLT

I like this verse because it shows that God is really listening to us. Not only is He listening, He's also speaking to us. In order for Him to speak with those who feared Him, both parties had to be communicating. He heard them, and did what they asked - wrote a scroll to remind and remember who belonged to Him.

It's like the book of life, this scroll seems to be. And if you accepted Jesus, your name's in that book. Your name is recorded, God cannot forget you, and He will listen to you when you cry out for help. So if you need assistance, don't forget to ask. God likes to give good gifts to those who ask for them.

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Day 196: Daniel 6:27

"He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions." ~Daniel 6:27, NLT

Daniel had a rough job, being up on top of Babylonian hierarchy. His enemies fought him at every turn, and jealous peeps tried to get him killed. He was thrown into a lion's den in punishment for an unfair law that his rivals tricked the King Darius to sign. Darius didn't want to kill Daniel. Thus, after Daniel had been in the lion's den and they went to grab his body, and it turned out he wasn't dead...

Darius was elated, and immediately launched into praise of God's goodness. Even the foreign king of Babylon could see God's goodness, how He rescues and saves people, people like Daniel, and people like you. God saved Daniel, He can save you.

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Day 195: Judges 6:23

"'It is all right,' the LORD replied. 'Do not be afraid. You will not die.'" ~Judges 6:23, NLT

Gideon was the youngest, smallest, of the least clan of the smallest tribe. But God showed Himself to even Gideon, and encouraged him. The little brother was afraid to hear God, to obey God, to see God, and he knew better than most people nowadays that God is dangerous.

But what God told Gideon was reflected later by what Jesus did. Now we can enter into God's presence and know what God told Gideon is true - with Jesus, we don't have to be afraid of death. We don't have to be afraid of God incinerating us for our unholiness - because of what Jesus did, we can be holy too, and we can come before God. God has chosen you. It's all right.

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Day 194: 2 Chronicles 32:7

"Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side!" ~2 Chronicles 32:7, NLT

King Hezekiah faced some crises during his reign, foremost being an invasion by the Assyrian imperials. When that happened, he took the issue straight to God - and once God had given his instruction, he took God's message to his people. And aren't we God's people?

So maybe the king of Assyria and his mighty army isn't coming after you. You should still be strong and courageous. And there's no reason to be afraid OR discouraged, because you are on the side with more power. Seriously, the imbalance is in your favor.

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Day 193: Exodus 14:13

"But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again." ~Exodus 14:13, NLT

When God's people were escaping Egypt, God used a lot of opportunities to show His might, power, and love. Parting the Red Sea and crushing the pursuing Egyptians was just one of the many miracles He performed.

I believe that even though we're not Israelites being hunted by Egyptians, we can still take to heart the words the Lord spoke through Moses - not just the command to fear not, but especially the rest of it. "Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you." People,

Calm down and watch how God saves you.

A famous psalm writes "be still and know that I am God." Take a deep breath, and look at God. Look at the good things He's made, think about the great things He's done for you. Just breathe, and remember that God is the one who'll save you. Worrying and being afraid aren't going to help you!

Day 192: Jeremiah 39:18

"I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.'" ~Jeremiah 39:18, NIV

Do you remember the foreigner who helped Jeremiah out of the well during the Babylonian siege? You might want to freshen up your memory here. (Second half of the chapter...)

Often times, there's a cause-effect relationship in the world. It seems to be true biblically as well - if you sin, you die, if you accept and follow Jesus, your sins are forgiven, if you trust God, He'll save you.

The Lord declared it to a foreigner, and He's telling it to you - He'll save you from your fears, because you trust Him. As I've said before, He might not do it the way you may have wanted Him to, but He will save you.

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Day 191: Psalm 115:10

"O priests, descendants of Aaron, trust the LORD! He is your helper and your shield." ~Psalm 115:10, NLT

This verse was directed towards the intercessors of the Israelite people: the priests. They had a rough job, requiring them to be constantly "clean" (as opposed to unclean) with deadly consequences if they violated God's law. They also had the honor of killing thousands of animals in order to pay for the sins of the people. They were responsible to teach the people God's will and His ways, they were witnesses of God's might. That's a lot of responsibilities to place on someone's shoulders!

That's why the psalmist encouraged them to trust God with their fears. God would protect them and help them, if they allowed Him. Today, allow me to be this psalmist.

In 1 Peter chapter 2 v9, Peter describes Christians as priests, a chosen generation. We were chosen to testify God's goodness before all people, and to pray for the salvation of all. We represent God's hand on Earth. Unfortunately, if you look at pop culture and general stereotypes of these so-called "people of God"... we aren't doing too well. But that's okay for two reasons: God knows we're incapable humans and we can change that stereotype.

Today, I'd like to encourage you, chosen child of God, to trust the Lord, to cast the burdens and sorrows and troubles of your own and of this world onto Him. He will help you spread His word and He will protect you in all ways possible - He's got angels protecting you as we speak, and there are Christians praying for you to remain strong as you read.

God has given you everything you need to conquer your fears. What now?

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Day 190: Isaiah 43:1

"But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." ~Isaiah 43:1, NIV

Let's face it, guys: God created you so that you could fulfill His incredibly awesome purpose for your life. Whether you or your purpose came first, I don't know, but I do know that He who created you, He who formed you, doesn't want you to be afraid of your purpose!

You don't have to be afraid! God redeemed you and is calling you by name, because He made you, you are His, and He's got an awesome life ahead of you - if you follow Him. See, we choose whether or not we fulfill God's purpose, and when we do, life is a great, huge, totally awesome adventure! Now it's not going to be easy, but it's going to make you want to get up every morning so you can see what else God has in store for you to do.

But if you allow yourself to get afraid, you're less likely to step out and embrace your purpose, and you're more likely to end up living a placebo - thinking you're living life fully, even though you're not, not really living it the way God intended it to be fully lived.

God is calling you by name to take part in your destiny, if you will. You're the only one who can obey, discard your fears, and take up God's life for you.

May I just say...? It's worth the pain, the struggle, the ache. God's life is the best life, and anything else isn't good enough for you. You deserve the best, and God's waiting for you to take it.

Can you take it?

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Day 189: Psalm 112:8

"Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes." ~Psalm 112:8, NIV

"They" in the above verse are referring to people who fear God, God's children, His people. Actually, that's who we are. We are them, and if not, we can choose to become them. And the verse gives a very comforting description of why we should be them!

Their hearts are secure.

This means that they don't have to wonder whether or not they'll go to Heaven when they die. They're living confidently in God's hands, they've entrusted Him their lives. They don't have anything to fear from this world, because they aren't of it, and when it's gone, they won't have any reason to care.

They will have no fear.

With their hearts held securely in God's hands, their names in the Book of Life, they are aware that there's nothing to be afraid of! God's in control of their lives, and they live not for themselves, but for Him, for His glory. In addition, they know that

They will look in triumph on their foes.

In the real, spiritual world, the good guys will always, always, always, win. No matter what Satan does, in the end, he's going down. By giving God their hearts, God's people are guaranteeing themselves victory, even if not for today. But they still live in the confidence that even if today they get beaten, that they will triumph by God's side!

Are you one of them?

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Day 188: Psalm 65:5

"You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas." ~Psalm 65:5, NLT

When we're afraid, we often whisper a little breath of prayer. When facing conflict, our first reaction should be LOTS of prayer, because as this psalmist notes... God faithfully answers our prayers. Not only that, but with awesome deeds!

He can be our hope, He can give us a new name, He can reach us no matter where we are, and our prayers can reach Him from anywhere. God, our saviour, He rescues those who cry out to Him. When we bring our problems and our fears before Him and offer it up to Him, He can take it all away. He loves us. Prayers cause change.

So what are you waiting for? Pray!

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Day 187: Isaiah 46:4

"I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you" ~Isaiah 46:4, NLT

In this chapter, God is condemning Babylon for the false gods that they had. He then speaks to the captive Israelites, proclaiming that He will be their God, and that He will be with them.

This verse shows that God won't leave us or abandon us - He is always God, and that fact never changes, and He will always take care of us - He made us, after all! It's a promise to be faithful, even if we aren't. Knowing God's in control and love us?

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Day 186: Job 9:33-34

"If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. Maybe he could remove God’s punishment so his terror would no longer frighten me." ~Job 9:33-34, NCV

Here Job is expressing a desire to speak with God face to face. God allowed Satan to test Job, and Job was feeling beaten down, torn apart from his friendship with God. He wanted to cry out in protest, but under the old law he was defiled, unable to speak with God. "If only there were a mediator!" he moans. He feared for his life - Satan had taken everything from him.

I've got some news for you today. Now, there is a mediator. We can be brought close to God despite the fact that we are unclean, sinful. He removed God's punishment for our sins by taking it upon Himself, so we no longer have to fear God's terror. His name is Jesus, He died on a cross to pay for our sinfulness, and then rose again to live in glory in Heaven and to actively reconcile us with God - if we accept Him.

If we accept Him, we no longer have to fear God, we align ourselves on His side, and therefore have nothing to ever fear again. Remember that.

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Day 185: Psalm 34:4

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears." ~Psalm 34:4, NIV

The other day we talked about seeking God. When David was broken and terrified, he found his strength in God. He sought out God, followed His instruction, and ended up saving all of the families of his men. He literally followed out this verse.

We can do the same. We can seek Him, He wants to reveal Himself to us, He wants to bless us, but we've got to take the first step. We've got to be the servants. He fulfills all of His promises.

He delivers.

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Day 184: 1 Samuel 30:6

"David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God." ~1 Samuel 30:6, NIV

David had a long and interesting history before he became King. Among other things, he was on the run from Saul and lived outside of Israel with his men for some time, doing bounty work for the kingdoms around Israel - specifically the Philistines. They made their home in the city of Ziklag. In the context of this verse, the Amalekites had raided the city while David and his men were out and about, and had kidnapped the women and the children - all the families of all of David's men, not to mention their loot. David's men were crushed, and "were talking of stoning him".

David was living in the land of his enemies - he had every right to be afraid. Not only that, but now his men were talking about turning against him, and these were people he probably considered his friends! But as bad as it was, David was truly a man after God's heart and shows us what we should do: find our strength in God.

When it falls apart - regardless of whether the feeling in your stomach is of fear or sorrow - seek God. What does that even mean, to seek God? It means to pray, to ask for strength, to praise, to thank Him for what He's done, to ask Him what to do next. Often times people fast when they seek God. Essentially, it means to focus solely on Him.

Why? When you are focused on Him, you can hear Him, He can help you. The problems lose their magnitude in comparison with Him, and you're reminded of how much He loves you and how He's got the whole situation in His hands. With that in mind, it's a simple matter to face your fears and get your act together, like David did in Samuel.

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Day 183: Luke 1:37

"For no word from God will ever fail." ~Luke 1:37, NIV

I know it's the middle of the Summer, but we need to quickly review the Christmas story. In the most basic of terms, God decided to send His son through a virgin, sending His son as the Messiah and savior of the world. This virgin was an engaged woman named Mary. Mary's cousin in her old age was pregnant with a son who would become John the Baptist, as was promised her husband by an angel. Mary was (presumably) out and about when the angel Gabriel "appears" to her, and starts telling her about her son.

Now we could discuss that conversation in and of itself as a model for not being afraid, but we're going to focus on the verse instead. Other versions have other translations of this statement (NLT, for example, says "With God nothing is impossible.") What do we take these statements as?

A promise, if you will.

No word from God will ever fail. God's promises always come to fruition, even when dependent on human action - the timing might not be what we expect, but God keeps His promises. And whatever God promises will happen - even the MOST impossible of things! But back to NIV's translation.

God promises to take care of us. We accept Jesus, He saves our spirit. God's word never fails. God never reneges His promises. He'll take care of you, His way - which is also coincidentally the best way.

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