Discover His heart: He keeps safe those who trust in Him
One morning a couple of years ago I was sitting in my family room having devotions when the doorbell rang. It was early, I wasn’t expecting anyone and wasn’t dressed for the day, so I decided not to respond. After repeated ringing, I looked out a security window in the door to see a young man. Moments later I turned to see him peering in the family room window across the house right where I had been sitting. When I heard glass shatter, it didn’t take long for me to realize that he was up to no good.
I grabbed the house phone, my cell phone and ran out the front door, robe and all, and started phoning 911 and my husband as well as yelling to my neighbors. The police arrived in four, I repeat, four minutes and caught the man as he circled around to get his car left in my driveway. Now, a little advice to any would-be felons out there, it’s not terribly smart to park your car in the victim’s driveway and, of course, even less smart to be a felon. Although the police said my response was textbook, it was a terrifying experience. Even now when the doorbell rings, I sometimes feel the chill of fear for a brief moment, but then fear of man comes in a variety of ways.
@ Proverbs 29
“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.” (25) People who experience a frightening situation like I did often become too afraid to live a normal life. Others are so afraid of people that they won’t leave their homes. These individuals are afraid of what man may do to them. Abraham, the great man of faith, was so fearful of the Egyptian men that he told them that his wife, Sarah, was his sister. I’ve always wondered how this made her feel – fear makes us do unnatural things. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times out of fear for his life, and I think we know from scripture how his behavior made the Lord feel. Fear will turn us into something we don’t want to be.
Sometimes we fear what people think of us, and that is every bit as debilitating as fear for our lives. Moses almost missed his mission in life of delivering the Israelites out of Egypt because he was afraid they wouldn’t accept him, afraid that they would question his authority. Many of the Old Testament prophets feared that their messages would be rejected and mocked by the people. “Fearing people is a dangerous trap” and may keep us from fulfilling our calling.
Fear may keep us from sharing the gospel with others because we are afraid they will reject our message or laugh at us. Fear may stop us from using our gifts and talents for the Lord because we are afraid of making a mistake in front of others. Fear is a tool the devil uses to stop us cold, and that is why it is so dangerous.
However, “trusting the Lord means safety.” To overcome fear, we need to change our perspective and who better than God to help us do that, “I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?” (Isaiah 51:12) God is the eternal One, not man, and He holds our eternal souls in the safety of His hand. He is the one who keeps us and protects us. When we focus on the faithfulness of Almighty God instead of fearing mere humans, there’s nothing left to stop us from pursuing all that God has for us and those things with eternal value.
Moving Forward: I can pursue all that God has for me today because I’m trusting in Him, not fearing any man.
Tomorrow @ Micah
Phyllis Benigas 