Day 89: Psalm 116:8

"He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling." ~Psalm 116:8, NLT

An easy way to move past present fear is to remember past rescues - when has God come through for you or your family before? And if you can't think of any, look no further than your Bible!

David probably wrote this psalm, and God certainly saved him from death many times! Let's see, there's lions and bears while he tended the sheep, Goliath when that time came, Saul when that time came, Philistines and other enemies of Israel, and that's just David! Jonah got saved from certain doom aboard a ship, Jeremiah got saved from dying in a sieged Jerusalem, Elijah got saved from starving during the famine...

God rescues His people. Are you not one of His sheep? Then what are you afraid of?

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Day 88: Isaiah 7:4

"Tell Ahaz, 'Be careful. Be calm and don't worry. Don't let those two men, Rezin and Pekah son of Remaliah, scare you. Don't be afraid of their anger or Aram's anger, because they are like two barely burning sticks that are ready to go out.'" ~Isaiah 7:4, NCV

These are the words of the Lord given to king Ahaz of Judah through the prophet Isaiah. Samaria and Ephraim had just made an alliance, and Judah became very afraid for their safety. In light of this, God said, "Be calm and don't worry. Don't let them scare you. Don't be afraid."

Yes, God does also say, "Be careful." I often have to remind myself to use my brain and let common sense guide my steps. I'd like to believe that God will guide all of my steps - every single movement, from sending the thought to lift my foot to shifting the muscles to make the next footprint. God didn't give us rocks to think with! He teaches us how to move, and then expects us to follow Him. Don't let fear freeze you in your tracks, obey Him, take an account of all of the things He's done for you and keep going!

Day 87: Psalm 111:10

"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!" ~Psalm 111:10, NLT

This verse connects very well to yesterday's verse. Fear of the Lord - respect and an understanding of who He is - is the foundation of the wisdom that gives peace and no fear of harm. Obeying God's commandments results in growth of this peace-giving confidence-inspiring wisdom. And here we even have one such command: praise Him forever!

Praise, lift your eyes past your problems, grow in wisdom which will give you peace to handle your fears, and grow in friendship with God - the most essential thing in life anyways.

Day 85: Deuteronomy 1:29

"Then I said to you 'Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them.'" ~Deuteronomy 1:29, NIV

Here, Moses is recounting to the Israelites the events that caused the wandering in the desert. After having sent out the twelve spies to see what the Promised Land was like, the spies said a lot of things that terrified the people. But Moses knew what was up, and tried to remind Israel that God was on their side.

But the Israelites would not be comforted in the promise God had given them. They were terrified, and wouldn't go into the Promised Land as God commanded them. So He banished them to forty years wandering in the wilderness.

Will you listen to Moses' words? "Do not be terrified, do not be afraid of them." Whoever 'they' are in your life, 'they' are nothing in comparison with God. Even if 'they' are giants, even if 'they' could bat an eye and crush you without God - you aren't commanded to go without God. You are commanded to go forth in the name of Jesus and to proclaim His victory. In the name of Jesus. With Him by your side. Who exactly are 'they' to think they can separate you from God?

Don't be afraid!

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)

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Day 79: Proverbs 28:1

"The wicked are edgy with guilt, ready to run off even when no one's after them; Honest people are relaxed and confident, bold as lions." ~Proverbs 28:1, MSG

Honest people. Also known in other Bible versions as "righteous" people. They are marked by a relaxed, confident manner, as opposed to wicked people who are ready to run off at even the slightest provocation.

See, in today's verse I see something I desire. I desire to be the type of person who walks around as bold as a lion. We've already had the discussion about lions in Daniel, so remind yourself what a lion is and how majestic they are. Now remember that's who you can be - if you want to. If you live with God, if you trust in His promises, YOU can be a lion! Relaxed and confident in who God is and how much He loves you, you can stand up to any and everything.

And that's exactly what God calls us to do.

Even when we fail sometimes, even when other people or other things tell us otherwise, we can choose to walk around with confidence and faith in a God who can take us beyond our best. It really comes down to whether or not you believe what God says about you. And oh the things He says! Oh how good He is!

Go through the Psalms - how about starting with Psalm 23, or Psalm 145? Find your own favorites. Read them. Believe them. Talk to God about them. Ask Him to help you, and start walking around in the confidence of His love. It's the most powerful thing you've ever seen.

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Day 78: Psalm 32:7

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." ~Psalm 32:7, NIV

We can go to God with any problem, any trouble, any fear, and He will protect us. When the world closes in, we can take sanctuary in the peace of who He is. We can sing songs of deliverance - because that's what God does to those who love Him. He delivers them.

The thing I find remarkable about the psalmists is the assurance they exude through their words. For example, look at the verbs in this verse. "You are my hiding place; you will protect me... and surround me with songs." To my untrained eye it would seem that despite the fact that they are describing true facts about God, they had to choose to believe that these facts were true and would apply to them in any and all situations. We can do the same!

Another thing I like is the direct approach in this verse towards God. It's "You are" as opposed to "He is." It makes things a little more direct and personal, which is a part of who God is. It's also in the present tense - "You are", at this very moment, my hiding place. Brilliant, isn't it?

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Day 77: Psalm 118:9

"[It is] far better to take refuge in God than trust in celebrities." ~Psalm 118:9, MSG

This verse is a statement of self-evident truth - trust God, and no one else, even if they're famous and well known for positive reasons. Even if they are rich and good, they aren't worth trusting in completely; you can't take refuge in their words like you can the Bible.

Only God knows where you are and where you're going. And He'll guide you there. We have to choose to trust in the One we can't see rather than they whom we can. And we can.

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Day 72: Deuteronomy 1:21

"Look! He has placed the land in front of you. Go and occupy it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don't be afraid! Don't be discouraged!" ~Deuteronomy 1:21, NLT

"Look!* God has placed His plan for your life right under your nose. Don't shirk from it, don't be afraid of the fact that it's a little bit (or a lot) out of your comfort zone - God promises that if you take the first step He'll fill in and do what you can't.

Don't let this plan intimidate you! Don't let giants and the exaggerations of ten spies get you down! Listen to the two little voices of Joshua and Caleb that say you can occupy this land. It's your birthright, it's your destiny, whatever you want to compare it to - it's God's purpose for you. Don't be afraid. Take courage in the fact that God is gonna stick up for you, because like we said yesterday - God's plan for you might not be an easy one, but it is good."

*ultimate paraphrase of above verse. Not to be taken as the Bible, but as a supplement to what's already there. I'm only human, everything written might not be right.

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Day 71: Romans 8:28

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose." ~Romans 8:28, NIV

This is one of those beautiful self-explanatory verses. It promises that those who love God and are following His purpose for them will be under God's wing. Even if you're undergoing a really rough patch, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him." He's working overtime to craft you into the very best person I can become, using circumstances that you might wish to avoid. (Moving far out of your comfort zone, anyone?)

But if we really love God, we've got to trust that even in the blackest situation, He's doing something good to/for us. It's a good thing to serve our God. Keep on keeping on!

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Day 70: Exodus 15:11-13

"Who is like you among the gods, o Lord - glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders? You raised your right hand, and the earth swallowed our enemies. With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In your might, you guide them to your sacred home." ~ Exodus 15:11-13, NLT

This is the God I serve. A God "glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders," one who has "unfailing love" for "the people [He has] redeemed." This is the God taking care of me. This is the God who protects me. This is the God who loves me. This is the God I trust.

This is not a complete picture of my God, but it is an encouraging one, is it not?

Day 66: 1 Chronicles 28:20

"Then David continued, 'Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.'" ~1 Chronicles 28:20 NLT

Sometimes when I'm afraid to do something, it's because of a fear of failure. What it I don't do it up to everyone's expectations? What if I ruin someone's day? What if people laugh at me? What if, what if, what if I fail? This is probably the situation Solomon may have fallen in.

But Solomon's dad had the right idea. He split up the task into three simple-sounding things.

DO

- be strong

- be courageous

- the work

DON'T

- be afraid

- get discouraged

BECAUSE GOD

- is with you

- will not fail you

- will not forsake you

- will see to it that everything is finished correctly

I think there are two most important things to take from this. #1, grit your teeth, and DO the work. Even if you're afraid, even if you get discouraged, just DO it. #2, if God told you to do something, and you just DO it, He'll make sure that everything is finished correctly. He won't let it fail. Even if you thought it failed, take something, learn, and move on. God uses human failure for the furthering of His kingdom too. Believe that you did the right thing by obeying, let God handle the rest, and keep on keeping on!

Just sayin', Solomon worked on the temple. God made sure it was finished correctly. And it was amazing.

Day 63: Psalm 119:41-42

"May your unfailing love come to me, Lord, your salvation, according to your promise; then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word." ~Psalm 119:41-42 NIV

Psalm 119 is chock full of incredible verses. These are just two of them - I highly recommend reading the other hundred-or-so that make this Psalm the longest chapter in the Bible with a journal, a pen and a heart that's ready to listen.

Ready?

David did not have a very peaceful life. In fact, his life was so bloody that God wouldn't let him build the Temple. But he wrote Psalms, and in those Psalms he tells of God, and He talks to God. He tells God that sometimes it was hard, being king and all, being the youngest son of Jesse and all, being best friends with Jonathan and all, being a father and all, etc. He got taunted. His brothers probably jeered at him and told him he was a good-for-nothing shepherd. David's brothers might have intimidated him, just like our problems can intimidate us. David had a lot of brothers, we have a lot of problems.

David also knew that God was the answer to all of his problems. David knew that God was the only one who could save him from those problems. And David knew that God's unfailing love is the one thing to fall back on not only when all else fails, but all the time. So he did what God wants every child to do: he asked for help. Asking for something means we admit that we can't handle it on our own. It tells God that we are aware that He is all powerful. It means we have to trust God, we have to trust that He's bigger than our problems and that He can take rescue us.

It all starts with a choice to ask for help. And "according to His promise" His unfailing love will come. His confidence will come. He will take care of you.

Day 62: Proverbs 14:26

"Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge." ~Proverbs 14:26 NIV

Children pick up on a lot of adult emotions - especially stress and/or depression. If a parent is stressed, the child can also become stressed. If a parent is depressed, the child can also become depressed. But if the parent is confident in the love and faithfulness of God... the child can also tap into that trust, and won't be stressed or depressed. I suppose that the same is true of family and close friends. Human empathy causes us to pick up on other's emotions, and to mimic those emotions. We can be a positive influence on the people around us by choosing to believe that our God will protect us, and will use everything that happens to further His kingdom through us.

You can pray the words below, if you'd like!

Dear Jesus, I ask today that You would help me to choose to focus on You. Don't let my mind think about the things that paralyze me, but help me to stay aware that You have a perfect plan for me and that everything that happens, happens as a part of Your purpose. Remind me every moment that You can use the good, the bad, and the frightening events in my life to shape me into Your image.

God, if and when I start dwelling on things that scare me, please remind me that I can choose not to think about those things. Remind me that I can choose my thoughts, and that I can choose to believe that You are my secure fortress, that You will protect me and that I can do all things through You.

Thanks, and amen!

Day 59: Psalm 91:14-15

"The Lord says, 'I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who call on my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.'" ~ Psalm 91:14-15 NLT

Sometimes when things get tough, I feel helpless. I know I can't do something. I know I'm not going to make it without some intervention. (Or at least I feel that way...) But here God says that He will rescue me. He says that He will protect me - provided that I call upon Him and love Him. If those criteria are fulfilled, He will answer my calls. He will be with me in my trouble - whatever trouble it might be. He will rescue me, but not only that - He will honor me. What for!? For calling out!?

God in His greatness will not only take me out of an impossible situation, but after I am thoroughly humiliated, He will honor me. The key here is that God will be with us. And if He's with us, there's nothing that we can't do. NOTHING. With God protecting us, there is nothing we should fear. Get that? Nothing. God is bigger than everything and He loves us more than anything else. What exactly was it that you were so afraid of, with such a great God backing you up?

Day 47: Proverbs 3:25

"Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked." ~Proverbs 3:25 NIV

The blood of Jesus, when we accepted Him into our hearts and asked Him to forgive us, took our sins and eradicated them. And He does this every time anyone asks for forgiveness. Now, in Proverbs, the wicked are people who have hardened their hearts against God and have not asked Jesus into them. Do you have Jesus?

Then why are you afraid of the disasters that occur to the wicked? The ruin? You are not wicked, and if you are, all it takes is a sincere apology and change of habits to be rescued from your fears! Thus, you have no need to be afraid. God says so. And if God says so, by gum, you shouldn't need me telling you too!

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Day 44: Hebrews 10:31, 35

"It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. [...] So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the reward that it brings you." ~Hebrews 10:31, 35, NLT

I recommend actually reading Hebrews 10 for today. I don't think you will regret it. Put on a Red's "Take It All Away," and you'll be set. Read. Pray. Praise.

Trusting God isn't JUST something I should instinctually do. It's also apparently something I'm rewarded for. Even if that reward is "just" peace of mind at the time. The way I've set up the verses above makes it sound like a threat... which is why I maintain that YOU read the entire chapter. But also don't forget to maintain your confident trust in the Lord.

Here, have a link: Online Bible

And another link for the song: "Take It All Away"

Day 43: Acts 18:9

"One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and said: 'Don't be afraid! Speak out! Don't be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.'" ~Acts 18:9-10, NLT

"One night the Master spoke to Paul in a dream: 'Keep it up, and don't let anyone intimidate or silence you.'" ~Acts 18:9, MSG

These commands to Paul that came during one of his stays in Corinth are blatantly applicable to today. After all, the only difference between Paul and me is the fact that I live in the 21st century, and Jesus did not blind me when He revealed Himself to me. Truth is, our goal in life, our purpose - it's the same as Paul's was. We are to spread God's word, spread His truth, reflect His light. God's command to us, then, is to not be afraid, to speak out, and to not remain silent! God's word today and everyday is to keep up the good fight, and not let anyone or anything intimidate us into silence about Him.

Lord, help me to remain indomitable in the face of adversity against You. May my voice ring out through the dark, proclaiming Your truth and Your hope!

Amen

Day 40: Deuteronomy 31:23

"The Lord gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: 'Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you." ~Deuteronomy 31:23, NIV

I always felt bad for Joshua, being the son of "None." I mean Nun, of course! (To use a prevailing Shakespearian sentiment, who needs to know how to spell?) Okay, okay, wordplay aside I'm actually really jealous of Joshua. As I read the book about him, God is always telling him to be strong. And courageous. God's always promising Joshua great things.

But wait!

God breathed the word - He wrote it for us too! So... all those times God tells Josh to be strong, to be courageous, when God promises Joshua all of those amazing things over his life, He's telling it to us! So the Lord's command to you, son/daughter of _insert your parent's name here_, is:

"Be strong and courageous, I myself will be with you."

I hope we will follow God's command today. We want to please Him, after all. So take courage, little heart! Your God LOVES you. He's got BIG plans for you, plans to make you great in His sight, to change your world for Him!