Day 366: Matthew 28:10

"Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.'" ~Matthew 28:10, NIV

Today concludes a strange journey I set out upon 365 days ago. I sought to see if indeed, there was a verse for every day of the Gregorian year counteracting fear, and I found... Well. This blog has documented my findings, interpretations, and exhortations of the lack of 365 verses that directly state "fear not," or "don't be afraid". The instances are many, some repeat, but the situations can be boiled down to three: God directly telling His people to fear not, God using angels to tell His people to fear not, and God using other godly men to tell His people to fear not.

After Jesus was risen from the dead, some of His female disciples went to His tomb only to find it empty. This verse is just after He's appeared to them, and they fell down at His feet and worshipped Him, and I think it's a fine word to end this year by.

Don't be afraid - in fact, take what you've learned and share it with the world. Jesus said "go and tell my brothers". His plan is that we should go and tell the whole world this very news: that Christ is risen from the dead, we can be one with God again. For this, this is the good news, and this, this is the reason why we shall never have to fear.

Have a great 2013!

Day 365: Isaiah 51:12

"I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass?" ~Isaiah 51:12, NIV

God introduced Himself to Moses as the "I am". He still is - and as this verse in Isaiah attests, He is God our comforter. Our fear of other humans is plain ol' silly in His book, and as our God, he doesn't want to see us take part in such painful silliness.

The "I am" will comfort you in your hurt, in your fear, in your terror, in your ache. We are but grass, but our God is a homeowner proud of His garden - He takes care of it, including You.

Day 364: Psalm 55:23

But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you." ~Psalm 55:23, NIV

Justice. Back in the day, mankind assumed that God's justness would manifest itself solely in this life, but Job's account disproved that. Regardless, ultimately His justice is served, as this psalmist explains.

And the righteous have nothing to fear from God's justice - for they trust in Him and as a token of their trust, serve Him. This year we've seen a lot of things written out, but in the end, it's all about one thing: your relationship with God. Is He your friend? Is He an acquaintance?

Do you recognize His voice? Do you believe, have hope in that voice? Chances are good that if you deal with fear, it's because you don't know God well enough on a one-to-one level.

Day 363: 1 Kings 17:13

"Elijah said to her, Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son." ~1 Kings 17:13, NIV

God was doing a big thing in Israel - He had forbidden the clouds to produce rain because Elijah had asked, as a sign to the evil King of the time. However, that also meant that the people were suffering, such as the widow Elijah is talking to in this verse. This widow was preparing herself and her son to die, but Elijah asked her to first make him some bread and get him some water.

She was incredulous, but did so, using up the last of her resources. When Elijah told her to go back and make something for herself, oh shock! All of the resources had been replenished!

Elijah was God's voice to this widow, telling her not to be afraid, that He was going to take care of her through the prophet. And today we can also hear God speaking through Elijah, promising to take care of us, to deliver us in our time of need.

He is here, and He loves you, and wants to be as near to you as you will let Him - nearer, more present, even.

Day 362: Psalm 9:9

"The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." ~Psalm 9:9, NIV

Who is God to you? Is He the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent Ruler of the Universe that He really is, or have you somehow managed to put Him in a box in your mind? Is He good, or do you doubt His goodness?

If He is good, then His word is true, if His word is true, then this verse tells us something lovely about the nature of God - He's on the underdog's side. The people that society oppresses? He loves them, too. He is their strength, and can be ours too, if we align with Him.

Is He your refuge, your stronghold in times of trouble? Do you trust Him, do you believe in His goodness?

Day 361: Psalm 31:1

"In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness." ~Psalm 31:1, NIV

The psalmists, oh we've heard an awful lot about them this year, and it's been mostly the same thing - they made a lot of good choices. In the end, they always went to their wise and good God to give them strength and courage, and to take away all their fear.

It is a choice, something we must choose every day. It's not a one time decision - it's an every time we get scared, every time something big and bad comes up decision. We can do it.

Because all it involves is having a little faith and enough hope that God is good and faithful, strong enough to save us. Amen?

Day 360: Ezekiel 34:28-30

"They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid.I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord." 
~Ezekiel 34:28-30, NIV

First off, Merry Christmas! May your household be filled with the peace of our loving Father and His son, Jesus Christ.

I'll try to make this brief - God's ultimate will is that everyone would be able to live in a relationship with Him. On that day, He can bring peace on Earth and goodwill among all men. This verse describes the plan God has ultimately for Israel, that they will not be under attack from their neighbors, that they will live in safety, that they will have a fertile land and that the world will cease to hate them.

The one, vital step to that plan was the existence of one man, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. I've said it before, but we celebrate the day that our God's progeny came to die. On this day, remember what God's ultimate plan requires: that no one should perish, but that all might know Him and have everlasting life.

The way the verse is set up, it looks like it's a cause and effect verse - when God creates this paradise for Israel, then they will know He is their God and they are His people. But I would say it's the opposite. Because they know that the Sovereign Lord is their only God and Savior, He will be able to grant them that goodness. Either way, it works.

Has God given you prosperity? Then know that He is the Lord your God. Do you know He's God? Then know that His ultimate plan is to prosper you greatly, be that in this life or not.

He loves you. He sent His son to die, and today we remember that. May God bless you.