Scary World

Psalm 34: 4 "I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.  He freed me from all my fears."

Today as always, there is much to be afraid of.  ISIS, Zika, North Korea, the plunging stock market, Trump and Clinton all give me reasons to worry!  But David tells us in Psalm 34 that all we have to do is pray to the Lord and give him our fears.  He will answer our prayers and calm our nerves.  Our hope, our trust and our strength is found in him.  In a crazy world, that's due to get crazier, today I place my trust and my fears in his hands.  

God today I give you my worries and fears.  Help to control what I can, and give you the rest.  Amen.

The Blind

John 9:39 "Then Jesus told him, 'I entered this world to render judgement-to give sight to the blind and to show those who think that they see that they are blind.'"

Jesus has just healed a blind man and the Jewish leaders are having a hard time making sense of it.  They aren't sure who Jesus is and are skeptical of his claims.  Jesus tells them he came to show people (religious leaders alike) how they are blind and missing the point.

How am I being blind?  Am I seeing Jesus for who he is?  Am I doing all that he's asked of me?

Dear Jesus, help me to not be blind when it comes to you and your kingdom.  Help me see clearly today.  Amen.

Failure to Act

Numbers 27:13 "After you have seen it, you will die as Aaron your brother did, for you both rebelled against my instructions in the wilderness of Zin..."

God calls Moses up to a mountain to show him the Promised Land.  God tells Moses that he will die and that another leader (Joshua) will be commissioned to lead the people.  Moses is not allowed to enter the Promised Land due to his rebellion against God.  Moses failed to act and failed to lead, so he now is banned from the Promised Land.

Essentially Moses is not allowed to enter the Promised Land because he failed to act.  He lacked courage and faith at a critical time, and God banned him from Israel's future.  As a follower of Jesus and a leader, I need to know when to act.  I need to have the courage and the faith, at the right time, to do the right things.  Sitting on my hands, burying my head in the sand, or ignoring problems will lead to failure and sin.  What do I need to act on today?  What decisions do I need to make today  What conversations have I been avoiding?  What action have I been hesitant to take?

Dear Jesus, help me to do what you have called me to today.  Help me have the tough conversations, make the tough calls, and do today what others are unwilling to do.  Amen.

Where Else Would I Go?

John 6:68 "Simon Peter replied 'Lord, to whom would we go?'"

Jesus has just finished teaching a fairly difficult lesson.  He told the crowds that his true followers will eat his flesh and drink his blood.  This by the way led early skeptics of Christianity to assume that Christians were all cannibals!  Either way, Jesus was of course referring to his crucifixion and the resulting tradition of the Lord's Supper or Eucharist.  Many found this talk of eating flesh and drinking blood to be a bit too wacky for their taste, and they deserted Jesus.  Jesus turned to his twelve disciples and asked them if they too would now leave him.  Peter responds by saying "Where would we go?"

Where else do I have to go?  If I am not following Jesus, what other hope, what other future, what other plan do I have?  Certainly there are other religions and philosophical systems out there to be followed, but let's be real, they're all pretty much a sham.  There is only one who predicted his death and resurrection, and pulled it off!  I need to keep my focus and my aim on Jesus.  I'm not drinking the Kool Aid or buying into a false bill of goods, I am choosing to follow the One who came and died for me.  He died for me while I was yet a sinner.  He died and he rose again for me.  Where else would I possibly go?  Who else would I possibly follow?  Who else could possibly deserve my heart?

Dear Jesus, help me to keep my eyes on you.  Help me to recognize all other suitors as they are-as phonies and idols.  You created me.  You love me.  You died in my place.  I will go nowhere else and I will follow no one else.  Amen.

Caleb and Joshua

Numbers 13 and 14

The Israelites had been led to the wilderness and were on the doorstep of the promised land.  God instructed them to send twelve spies into the land to check it out, bring back some samples of the local grocery store, and assess ways to conquer the people.  Upon returning, the spies reported that the inhabitants of the land were giant, fierce, and unconquerable.  Well all of them said this except for Caleb and Joshua.  These two brave spies tried to convince the people the other spies were wrong, but instead the people panicked.  Fear seized the Israelites and they chose to trust these ten, rather than God.

Caleb and Joshua showed great courage in this story.  The ten other spies were not lying.  I am sure the inhabitants of the land were in fact big, strong, and scary.  No doubt conquering them and the land would be a challenge.  Yet in the face of these odds, Caleb and Joshua remained courageous, and more importantly, keep their faith in God.

What big, strong, and scary issues am I facing today?  What fears have I allowed to gain a stronghold in my life?  Will I have the faith and courage to go where God is leading me, despite the risks?  To be honest, I struggle with worry, anxiety and fear.  I have for awhile.  Today I need to be strong.  Today I need to find my strength in the one who can conquer, and has conquered all.

God, today I give you my worries and my fears.  Help me to trust in you no matter the risks and no matter how big the Amalekites, Hittities, or Jebusites in my life are.  Amen.