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 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.

Day 358: Psalm 18:17

"He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me." ~Psalm 18:17, NIV

God loves His children. It's a simple fact that isn't always as simple to believe, but when the worst comes to worst, there's another fact to hold on to, equally as difficult to believe.

He's there. He will save you. He's saved countless others in your position - and the psalmists wrote about it. The God you believe in was the same yesterday, is the same today, and will be the same tomorrow.

The God who saved the psalmist yesterday, will save you today, and you progeny tomorrow. You will come up against enemies bigger than you can actually handle. But that doesn't mean they will defeat you - it just means you have to lean on the source of power, and believe in Him.

Day 340: Psalm 118:8

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans." ~Psalm 118:8, NIV

Logic. It is amazing, and gives us much insight. The thing about logic is that it is utterly subjective. If you have something to think about, logic is always based on prior knowledge, and connecting it together the way that you have been taught to connect things.

Thinking outside of the box then, is really just shifting the way you view your logic.

However, in light of that, we're going to look above and see why that sentence makes logical sense. David is a man of God, and he trusts that this invisible being will love and protect him ALWAYS. Humans have been proven to be fallible in his life, but God has always come to his aid when he needed it.

Therefore, if he were given the choice to trust humans or God, he would look at the track record and see that humans had failed him infinitely, whereas God had never failed him. While some people may have taken some of the events of David's life and questioned God's existence and trust (betrayal at Saul's hand, death of Jonathan, betrayal at Absalom's hand), David believed and trusted in God's good will, therefore allowing him to see everything in God's light.

So how does your logic work?

Day 339: Psalm 46:7, 11

"The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." ~Psalm 46:7, 11

Psalm 46 is a short little piece, but the above sentence is repeated twice, as noted. As we learned in 8th grade English, repetition is always used intentionally, and in the Bible that repetition is always used to accentuate some form of truth.

How else can we explain the 120-ish times the Bible says to fear not? The 600-ish times it says God loves us? The other, more subtle repetition of thoughts and ideas?

This is yet another emphasis on who God is and what that means in relation to us. What does it say to you?

Day 314: Hebrews 11:23

"By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict." ~Hebrews 11:23, NIV

In this passage of Hebrews, James is talking about different people in history who have had extraordinary faith that made them righteous in God's eyes. Unsurprisingly, Moses and his parents are listed.

From the beginning of time, God has ordained certain people to do certain things. Way back in the Old Testament, He had already chosen people like Noah, Abraham, Joseph, all the kings and prophets, and of course Moses, to do His will. These people were special, anyone could see it. The first three examples knew, heard, and obeyed God's voice. It was clear to see, but in Moses' case, it probably wasn't just adoring parents who saw something more: I suspect God had placed that "something" upon His chosen servant.

Moses' parents were just doing what all godly people should: hearing the voice of God and obeying it. In doing His will, we are right with God, even if not with the authorities of the world. But that shouldn't matter - yes, obey authority, but more than that, we are called to obey God.

Don't spurn Earthly authority, for it is a shadow of God's authority, but don't obey it if it runs in contrast to what God and His word show. Who knows - your fearless obedience may be what frees a captive nation from their bonds.

Day 306: Luke 8:50

"Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, 'Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.'" ~Luke 8:50, NIV

Jairus had asked Jesus to come to his house and heal his daughter, and Jesus, being who He is, said yes. On the way we know that another healing took place, one that 'cost' time. Messengers told Jairus his daughter was dead, and that he didn't need to bother the teacher.

The situation probably seemed hopeless to Jairus, but Jesus knew better. He said something I love to repeat: Don't be afraid; just believe.

Our situations often seem hopeless, because we have a very limited perspective and struggle learning God's perspective. But He knows what He sees, and He knows what He will do. And from past experiences, usually it is stunning. In your hopeless situation, don't let fear consume you, but believe He is watching and waiting and going to act in you.

Jairus' daughter was raised from the dead. What's He gonna do for you?

Day 293: James 5:16

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." ~James 5:16, NIV

The context of this verse is the "prayer of faith", as described to be capable of asking for and receiving anything. Our fears can stem from many things - nature, nurture, spirit... But prayer brings faith, prayer hands the issue off to God so you don't have to worry about it anymore.

And while the Bible does tell us to pray for ourselves (ask and you shall receive) we are the body of Christ, and in a body, if one cell is sick, there's damage to the whole body. You are important to the body, and it's up to God through (disclaimer: not always) the body to take care of you.

It's also our responsibility as the body to take care of each other, and prayer is the "least" we can do - yet look at what James says! Prayer is powerful and effective. So it's not a small thing to do, and isn't it so simple? And can't we banish each other's fears by asking God to do so? And don't we foster a loving, caring atmosphere that growth easily comes to when we do so?

And don't we break down barriers that humans erect when we do so?

Day 290: 2 Timothy 1:12

"That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day" ~2 Timothy 1:12, NIV

Paul, after changing ways on the road to Damascus, was one of the most fantastic apostles in the Bible. He gave everything to God's cause, and as he tells Timothy in the verse above, he suffered for it.

But he didn't mind, because he trusted that God was able to guard his soul, his life, that which he had entrusted unto God. What's a little struggle in light of eternity?

When we give God our will, He takes it and gives back so much more: He gives us fulfillment, purpose, His love. We don't have to be afraid of surrendering ourselves: just believe He is good and that His plan is great.

Day 289: Mark 5:33-34

"Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.'" ~Mark 5:33-34, NIV

The context of these verses is powerful - a leader asked Jesus to come heal his daughter, and Jesus acquiesced. On the way to the leader's house, Jesus was surrounded by a huge crowd. A woman who had been sick for nigh 2 decades, in faith, came up and grabbed His cloak. She was instantly healed: she knew it, and Jesus knew it.

But He didn't know who had been healed, so He asked "who touched me?" Ask that in a moving crowd of people and see the response. It's ridiculous. But Jesus stopped everything in order to give glory to God with the woman's faith.

She knew what happened, and was afraid. And sometimes we are too, when God blesses us beyond belief. But God intends for us to live in a life of blessing, and wants us to reach out to Him with faith and child-like trust in His goodness.

Jesus frees us from our suffering. And He wants us to go in peace and share that fact. We aren't to cower in the corners anymore, we are to stand tall and walk in that knowledge.

Another thing to note is that God takes the time for everyone. He might be "in the middle" of something, but that's never been a reason for Him to ignore His people - even the lowliest of us. He loves us all with an immeasurable love that put Him on the cross for our sins.

Amen.

Day 279: 1 Samuel 17:32

"David said to Saul, 'Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.'" ~1 Samuel 17:32, NIV

Ah, David... speaking the word of God even in his youth. We all know the tale of Goliath. A giant serving the Philistines, he was massive and inspired unparalleled terror in the soldiers of Israel. David had come to visit his brothers, but when he saw what a disgrace this Philistine was being to God's people, he stepped up to the plate.

Sometimes we have to be the difference. We have to be the change. We have to decide that we will not be afraid, that we will take courage, and we, with God's help, guidance, and assurance, can do something.

When we see something that terrifies others, it is our responsibility, to an extent, to give them what hope we have. Our talents, our strengths, we as the body must all pool them together to make something stronger. And if there's a bacteria in the way, well, let the white blood cells go kill it!

David was such a cell. He saw a threat, received the resources he needed to go destroy it, and then did. Just as the whole body can become sick because of a few bad cells, so a whole nation, a whole people can stop dead in their tracks because of fear.

Counteract that. It's your choice to be the change - if it takes courage, then take it. Be like David, go tell others what you're going to do, and get fired up for your God. Then do it.

Day 267: Esther 4:14

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" ~Esther 4:14, NIV

The story of Esther is perhaps one of the most incredible stories of courage ever. God brought her to a position of influence where she could save her people when the government of her day decided to crack down and annihilate the Jewish race.

God tasked Esther with the deliverance of her people - but He was with her the whole time. He gave her the wisdom of Mordecai. He gave her the support of her people. He gave her the favor of the king, and wisdom to know how to deal with the situation of potential death.

Esther had to trust God in everything, but she didn't do it off the bat. In fact, she requested that Israel pray and fast for her for 3 days.  We can learn a lesson - go to God with your troubles. Give Him a chance to help you. Ask Him to help you surrender your will.

And then go do it. And if you 'perish', metaphorically speaking? What of it? You were going to someday anyways. Better to do so doing God's will than not.

Day 264: Isaiah 11:2

"The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—" ~Isaiah 11:2, NIV

A lot of times in old testament books, especially prophetic books, we can hear about the Messiah, the one to come and save Israel, the descendant of David that would rescue Israel. Isaiah 11 starts out talking about this Messiah - and we know he meant Jesus.

So when we read "the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him," we know it means that God's Spirit did rest on Him, and that thanks to His gift of the Holy Spirit, we can have that gift too. The Holy Spirit that fell on the day of pentecost and is now available to all who ask Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understand, of counsel and might, of the knowledge of the fear of the Lord - we can have that upon us too.

And that Spirit made Jesus who He was - fearless, God-serving, sinless, bold and absolutely certain of His message - we as Christ's followers and children of God are called to carry that same spirit about us. How else can we follow in His footsteps? How else can we experience the prince's peace?

How else if not by the same spirit, described in Isaiah that every Christian can have?

Day 122: Philippians 4:13

"I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength." ~Philippians 4:13, NCV

Sometimes I feel afraid to try and do something new, something different. I know I have no excuse, this verse says that clearly, but I do it anyways. We don't ever have to let fear control us in new situations, because Christ, in whom we chose to believe and trust, gives us strength to do all things, or simply anything.

Now this doesn't mean we should go out and rob a bank or nab a car, just because we can do "all things" doesn't mean we should. This verse does not cancel out the 10 Commandments because it is in the New Testament, this verse should give us courage to step out in God's plan for us with faith that He can make it work, and that He gives us strength when we don't have enough.

What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail? God can make that happen, although He doesn't guarantee a fail-free life. Go on, try!

Image: MarcandAngel

Day 99: 1 Timothy 4:10

"This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers." ~1 Timothy 4:10, NLT

I don't know about you, but I don't struggle through my fears just for the sake of overcoming them. Honestly, I could live a perfectly comfortable life without ever challenging my fears. And it would be so much easier to go through life that way, just chilling in the flow of "whatever". It would be easier to stop trying to please God. It would be easier to just do whatever I wanted. It would be easier to give in to everyone who tried to beat me down. But what kind of a life is that?

It's not the one I want to live, and neither did Timothy.

I traded in that easy lifestyle for the hope of a living God. I trust that He saves all people, and particularly us believers who have chosen to accept His rescue. And I will continue to work and to struggle for Him - I don't want to cut corners on my friendship with Him. And as Paul wrote to Timothy in verse 6, I want to be a "worthy servant of Christ Jesus".

Allow me to be a Paul encouraging you, Timothy: the hard work pays off, and the struggle is worth it. Fight your doubts, fight the Devil, fight the good fight and bring glory to God, get to know Him better and put your trust in Him and His goodness.

PS: Happy Easter, the best reason to never be afraid again!

Image: Fotopedia

Day 98: Lamentations 3:57

"You came near when I called to you, you said, 'Don't be afraid.'" ~Lamentations 3:57, NCV

Jeremiah had a pretty rough prophethood. He was prophesying against Israel and for Babylon, which was not a very comfortable thing to be saying to a besieged city, let alone a beleaguered nation. In the lines leading up to this verse, Jeremiah is calling out to God "from the bottom of the pit." (verse 55)

Yea, and God came near and told him 'Don't be afraid.' sometimes if we need a little courage, all we have to do is ask for it. Ask and trust that God will provide a way, ask and believe He's coming and that He loves you, ask and know that your God is faithful and that He will take care of you.

Image: Fotopedia

Day 93: Daniel 10:12

"'Relax, Daniel,' he continued, 'don't be afraid. From the moment you decided to humble yourself to receive understanding your prayer was heard, and I set out to come to you.'" ~Daniel 10:12, MSG

First of all, it should be noted that the person speaking to Daniel in the verse is an angel. Daniel had asked God to receive understanding, and had been waiting for an answer from God for 21 days. Now he was faced with a terrifying angel - with a "body like topaz, face like lightning, eyes like flaming torches, voice like the sound of a multitude" (verse 4).

But the angel says "Don't be afraid." "Relax," even. Angels are messengers of God. They convey the information God wants to tell humans. Your thoughts going where mine are going?

Yes, God is holy. Yes, He can be terrifying. He's not just the teddy bear we tend to make Him out to be in the American culture. But He still loves us and doesn't want us to be afraid of the weaknesses of the world. Relax, trust God and believe that He'll come through and answer your prayers - even if you can't see how or why yet.

Image: Fotopedia

Day 84: Hebrews 11:6

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." ~Hebrews 11:6, NIV

Do you believe in God's promises? Do you believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him? Do you believe that He exists?

Do you want to please Him?

Seeking Him - it can mean believing His promises. It can mean obeying His commands. If He commands you to lay every burden at His feet... (Psalm 55:22) If your burden happens to be fear, He wants to cleanse your heart of the fear and to make you strong and courageous. Yes, that can be a choice, but it's also something God wants for you.

In the end the choice to take courage comes from a choice to believe in God - or not. You can choose to believe, yes, today you can choose to follow Him! Today you can, you must make a conscious choice to believe that He is good, and that He won't let you slip, and that He does all things for your good.

Day 81: Psalm 143:9

"Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me." ~Psalm 143:9, NLT

In choosing to trust God, we can always remember one truth - God is with us everywhere and we can talk to Him when and wherever. We can ALWAYS take comfort in Him, and no matter what's going on we can run to Him to hide us. We can - we must ask Him for help.

He loves us, remember? He wants what's good for us! And He will rescue us, in one way or another. He's already died for us, He wants to know us and for us to know Him. And if there's anything we can take from the history books (aka the Bible) it's that He can do anything, and consequently we can do all things through Him. (Philippians 4:13)

Image: Dreaming Brazil

Day 73: Proverbs 16:3

"Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed." ~Proverbs 16:3, NLT

I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one who fears failure more than almost anything else. As cowardly as it sounds, all too often I find myself backing out of an event or course of action if there's a possibility of failure. (Hmm, I think I need to fail more often.)

But say you're starting a business, where failure equates to no dinner on the table. If your plans fall through, the losses could be crushing. Not to mention you'd miss dinner for a short while.

All right, all right, maybe not. But for ME at least - the one with a fear of failure - this verse is a comfort. It tells me that if I've got my eyes set on the Lord and I'm following through His plan that I will succeed. And seeing as this is a Proverb (of Solomon, I believe,) it was written as a piece of wisdom for a young child stepping into adulthood. And since the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10) this particular piece of advice comes straight from a desire to please God.

Committing something to the Lord means two things - one, you stop trying to control it, and two, you follow God's plan for the procedure instead of yours. Letting go of control is especially difficult, mostly because it means we have to trust God completely with the plan, whatever it is. This isn't such a big deal because God is a good God and takes care of us when we trust Him, but the trusting is the hard part when you're sitting at the table and the plates are empty.

Image: Fotopedia