Day 342: Deuteronomy 18:22

"If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed." ~Deuteronomy 18:22, NIV

This verse makes me laugh at the inconsistency therein. It could be interpreted as the Jews covering their bases - if their prophecies aren't coming true, then it's not God's fault, it's their fault. But I think that with a little faith, you can give it more truth and validity than that.

Consider the loons who have predicted the end of the world. Does May 27th ring any bells? Y2K? April 1st? Yeah, in Christ's name people seem to want to know when the rapture is - yet it distinctly says that no one will know the day nor hour, and yet. We now have a situation on which to base this verse: they claim to be prophets, yet what they said didn't come true. God told the Israelites, and now us, that He has power, so many prophecies will come true.

However, there will always be false prophets, and God doesn't want us freaking out or saying He's not real because of them. So don't be alarmed, or don't be afraid when these things happen. Doesn't Jesus say that today has enough worries of its own?

Day 341: Psalm 56:4

"In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" ~Psalm 56:4, NIV

David obviously believed in a God who controls the universe and holds tightly to what He has created. He believed in a separation of the body into body, soul and spirit, and knew that the spirit is the element that lasts forever.

David knew body and soul would eventually pass away, but the spirit would always remain. Therefore, he was aware that mortals could do what nature would by killing his body (and thus his soul), but that his spirit was in God's hand.

If the spirit lasts forever but the body exists for only a breath, why fear those who can only harm the body? What could mere mortals do in terms of eternity? Nothing. God, on the other hand, could do a lot, but David trusted as we can trust that in God's benevolence if we trust, accept and follow His son Jesus we can live an eternity of peace.

That is the God we trust and give our fear. The one who loved us so much that He gave the body and soul of His son into the hands of the devil so that when our life is sucked from us, we would not die forever.

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 338: Deuteronomy 20:3

"He shall say: Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them." ~Deuteronomy 20:3, NIV

God liked telling Moses and Joshua what to tell the Israelites. And while back in that day the people needed intermediaries between them and God, today is extremely different.

Courtesy of Jesus' death, we can hear for ourselves what God wants  us to know, and if we're afraid, I think the above serves as a good reminder for what that knowledge is.

Don't let your heart go jelly on you, and don't be afraid, don't let your heart take control of you and move you far out into the world. Just believe. Go into battle knowing that God sent you. What more is there to know? Seek the Bible for what you want to find, and let its God-given words may guide you. 

(Disclaimer: use the Bible intelligently. Look up the context and see if it actually should apply to you. Also, listen in your heart to God's nudges. And make sure they're actually God's hand, not the Liar's. God bless!)

Day 337: Luke 21:12-18

"But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish." ~Luke 21:12-18, NIV

Verse 19 continues to say that if we stand firm, we will have life - not necessarily this physical life, but life as God intended it. The fact of the matter is exactly as Jesus stated it above. We're going to face a lot of trials in our lives, some more challenging to our faith than others, and we're going to get a lot of grief for the fact that we believe He's the Messiah.

On the flipside, He's also with us. He says that "not a hair of your head will perish." You will survive, even if it's in the afterlife. It's not going to be easy, but believe, and remember that in all of it, He's with you.

Day 336: Psalm 16:1

"Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge." ~Psalm 16:1, NIV

Dear God,

I know You know everything I need. But I'm going to ask today anyways, like David did: keep me safe, please.

I'll trust You. I'll believe in You, that You'll guide me to do Your will and that it will bless me beyond comprehension. I'll choose to ignore doubts and uncertainties and obey Your voice, but please: You're my refuge. Don't let me down.

You're the one thing I know will never fail. So please... don't fail.

Thank You. Take fear away from me, and may the life everlasting come to pass. Amen.