The phrase "Fear not" appears in the Bible many times.
It is strange that God has to remind us constantly not to be afraid. The Almighty God of the Universe loves us, and yet we are constantly afraid of a thousand things that might or might not happen. We need constant assurance that God loves us and is watching over us.
When my children were small, I often held them on my lap and read the Bible to them. We lived on a farm in Oklahoma, and there were thunderstorms and tornadoes. One stormy night, I was reading the Bible to my children and read, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. . . . " At that very moment there was a blinding flash of lightning and thunder shook the whole house.
My four-year-old son said, "Mom, I think Jesus is knocking on our door, and you'd better let Him come in because He sounds mad!"
There is a lot to fear in the world-fires and floods, earthquakes, crime, tornadoes and hurricanes, disease and car accidents. The world can be a dangerous place. Every time we walk out the door, we risk not returning. We have plenty of reasons to be fearful, and one reason not to be fearful: God.
God holds us in the hollow of His hand. He loves us. He doesn't want us to be fearful or worried. He wants us to rest in Him, trust Him, and enjoy life. "The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid" Psalm 118:6 (NIV).
God, forgive me when I worry about small things. Forgive me for not trusting You to take care of me.
Crying Wind is the
author of Crying Wind,
My Searching Heart, When the Stars Danced, Thunder in Our Hearts, Lightning in Our Veins, and Stars in the Desert. This article is taken from the Council Fire daily devotional. You can order your copy by using the form on p. 18, or contact us at Indian Life Ministries (IndianLife.org).
