Fearless Sleep - Day 17!

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Proverbs 3:24-26

Something about the quiet of night seems to amplify the voice of fear. Its persistent drone has been the cause of far too many sleepless nights. Those who trust in the Lord know the secret of “sweet” sleep. It is the conscious habit of putting your fear in the Lord’s hands for safekeeping. 1 Peter 5:7 says “Cast all your anxiety on Him because HE cares for you.” He really does care and is able to protect and defend His own! The best part is, when I entrust my fear to Father for the night, I don’t have to pick it up in the morning! Anything I surrender to Him is in the best hands possible! I don’t need to fear because He will work things out for good, every time!

For Reflection: What keeps you up at night? What could you do to formally leave that fear in God’s hands? How about prayerfully making an actual list entitled “God’s concerns” and placing it there?

Lord, You are good and I trust You. I want to place my anxious fears in Your hands, but I feel like I’m always taking them back. Forgive me for my lack of faith. Teach me to release my burdens to You and to rest in Your care.

Fearless - Day 16

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Tim. 1:7

The King James translates this verse “God did not give us a spirit of fear.” Timidity is simply the paralysis that results from unhealthy fear. Timidity is that thing that keeps us from acting, speaking, and walking in God’s best for us.

I love the apostle’s description of the Holy Spirit in us: Spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. He’s saying the Spirit is mighty enough to protect and empower us wherever He leads, loving enough to always act in our best interest, and always present to help me to discipline my fearful self into obedient action! Everything I need, to be free from fear, is right there within me!

Think of it this way…He can and He will; so I can, and I will!

For Reflection: In honest reflection, do you detect any areas of timidity resulting in fearful paralysis? If so, ask someone you trust to join you in praying that you would begin responding to God’s Spirit of power, love, and self-discipline rather than the spirit of fear.

Lord, the greatest gift You’ve ever given me is Your Holy Spirit abiding in me. Forgive me for ignoring You so much of the time. You are always with me, so I don’t need to hold back. I don’t need to be afraid! Thank you for Your power and Your amazing love. And thank You for the Spirit of self-disciple that enables me to follow You with no fear.

Fearless - Day 15

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.  Psalm 91:4-8

The image of a Father covering and protecting His children—like a mother bird protecting her chicks—is beautiful and instructive. Because of the Lord’s covering, the psalmist declares that we don’t need to be afraid in the midst of things like darkness, arrows, pestilence, and plague. He promises, “It will not come near you!”

But…there’s just one problem…those things do touch God’s children and many have died from them. So, how do we reconcile this passage with our obvious reality? First, I think it’s important to establish a base line: every one of God’s children dies. God never promises to keep us from physical death. In fact, He says the death of His children is precious in His sight, because it is simply a transition to the rest of eternal life! Don’t get me wrong, God does protect and defend His own! But when trials and even death come our way, it is very different for those who trust in the Lord. It does not “come near,” in that it does not shake them or damage their spiritual core.

I’ve witnessed the supernatural joy of godly people in the midst of horrible circumstances, and it is truly amazing. No denial, but also, no fear. Their peace is strong because they are not alone and they know the best is yet to come.

For reflection: What does it look like to trust God for protection vs. relying on other forms of security? How are you doing in this regard? When you do have to walk through difficult circumstances, how is your “peace quotient”?

Lord, I trust You to care for me and I thank You for Your protection. Help me to recognize that You sometimes protect me in difficult circumstances rather than from them. Thank You that I never have to walk alone. As long as You are with me, it truly is “well with my soul.”