Delivered from fear

Psa 34:4  I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

We all have fears…fears about our health, fears about our finances, fears about the future, fears about many things.  There is a place of calm, a place of peace, a place of safety and security.  It is found in the presence of God.  When we seek Him, He hears and delivers.  Don’t allow Satan to cause you to live in fear and anxiety.  Seek your heavenly Father for His assurance and deliverance.

Trust and obey

Psa 37:3  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Psa 37:4  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Here is the key to a good life: do good and trust God, or as the song says “trust and obey”.  God has promised to provide for those who do good, live righteously, and trust Him.  God has promised deep satisfaction to those who find their deepest joy in Him. 

Follow Him

Joh 12:25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.  Joh 12:26  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

To be a disciple of Christ means to be willing to live as He lived.  This includes living a life of holiness, but it also includes being willing to suffer with Him.  It means being willing to sacrifice the pursuits of this life, if necessary, to be faithful to Him. This seems a price too high for many, but the reward of eternal life far outweighs the cost in this present world.  To follow Him here, means to be able to be with Him in eternity.

Whosoever will, come

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Here is an open invitation to come and find eternal life.  Salvation is freely offered.  Eternal life is extended to all who truly desire it. What a shame that so many are missing the most important thing in life when it is so readily available.  Let’s do our part to echo the call “Come, take of the water of life”

Contentment

Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Very, very few people today are content.  Very, very few professed Christians are content.  Our society is saturated with a culture of covetousness.  We are instructed to seek our contentment in the security of knowing that God is faithful.  If God is watching over us and has promised to take care of us, what more is there to be desired?  I pray God help us to find a greater satisfaction in Him, a greater trust in Him.  I know of no greater witness to our generation.

God is just and fair

2Pe 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

I am thankful that we are not left alone in this world.  God knows how to take us safely through temptations, trials and difficulties.  God also is aware of those who do evil.  No one will get away with anything.  Our God is merciful, but He is also fair and just.   

His seal

2Ti 2:19  Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

In a time of great confusion as to what it means to be a Christian, the seal, or stamp of God’s ownership remains the same.  First, God knows His own.  He is not confused or deceived by anyone.  Secondly, true children of God depart from iniquity.  True children of God live with a purpose to do right all the time, in every situation.

He will deliver

Joe 2:32  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Joel affirms that our God is the great deliverer.  Notice that whosoever calls on the Lord shall be delivered.  God is fair, impartial.  You are not too insignificant to be seen and heard by God.  In the city of God, in the home of His family, there is deliverance. God has promised, and He is faithful.

Our rock

Psa 62:1  Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. Psa 62:2  He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

There is only one source of help.  In all of our problems, in all of our difficulties, there is only one to whom we should look for our deliverance.  Our God is faithful and true.  He is a rock, solid, stable, unmoved by the storms of life.  He is our defender, He is our hope; therefore, we can stay steady, waiting and trusting.  He will deliver.

 

Keep sowing

Psa 126:5  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

 There is sowing before and reaping can be done.  Sowing involves work, but it also involves risk.  We are investing our lives in sowing for good, without the ability to bring a harvest.  I am thankful that we serve the God of the harvest who is faithful to bring the increase.  It is only after a period of faithful sowing that we will see the faithfulness of God, and our joy will be overflowing.

Satisfaction

Psa 107:9  For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

 There is a longing that only God can fill. Those who hunger and thirst after God and His way will be blessed.  People chase after all kinds of things seeking to be satisfied….it is only those who long for God that really find a place of satisfaction.  

 

A blessed life

. Pro 10:27  The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Satan will always tells us that we are the loser for living right.  The opposite is true.  A reverence and respect for God that results in an obedient life tends to a long and full life.  It tends to happiness, lower anxiety, health and prosperity.  The disobedient, the wicked, are the ones who really lose, both in this life and the life to come.

 

Use the opportunities

Ecc_9:10  Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

We are to give effort to the opportunities that God in His providence provides for us.  This echoes Jesus admonition to work while it is day.  We are to give diligent effort to the affairs of this life, and especially to the work of the kingdom of God.  Discouraging times can cause us to slack in our efforts, but we need reminded to stay diligent in the affairs of this life while we have opportunity.  We only have this life to accomplish these things, and most importantly, we only have this life to accomplish the things which pertain to the kingdom of God.  

The Lord is my helper

Heb 13:6  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

There are many fearful things to be faced in life.  Yet, with God as our helper we need not fear.  Who can stand against God?  Who is a match for the mighty Creator of the universe?  We can say boldly, without fear “God is my helper”.  We can face the future with confidence and assurance.

Be blessed

Psa 115:13  He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

God is not respecter of persons.  It doesn’t matter how important we are, or how insignificant we feel, God will bless us if we show Him the proper respect and obey Him.

 

Cease from anger

Psa 37:8  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Anger is a natural emotion to certain situations.  It is a natural emotion to being done wrong.  However, it is also very dangerous.  Evil is never far away when we are angry.  We should seek to calm our anger, cease and forsake our anger.  Don’t allow your anger to cause you to act or speak in a way that is not becoming of one who claims the name of Christ.

 

Worthy of praise!

Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Oh how much our Lord is worthy of praise!!  Everything that was created in this world was created by Him and for Him.  We need to keep a proper perspective on this life.  We also were created by Him and for Him.  Let’s allow our hearts to well up in awe to the Creator God.

Steadfast

Psa 16:8  I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

An awareness of the presence of God can keep us steady.  The expression “at my right hand” reminds us that He is ever presence, close at hand.  We “set the Lord before” us by staying aware of His presence.  In doing so, we will find the strength to remain steadfast.

Merciful

Mat 5:7  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

It is easy to forget the great mercy and forgiveness we have received. When someone does us wrong, it is easy to want to “even the score”, to “make things right”, to take revenge. We are reminded that it is the merciful who will receive the blessing of mercy.  Let us ever keep this in mind as we deal with others.