Tag Archive | Fear

Who May?

Mar28

O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?

He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.

He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear the Lord;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;

He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken. — Psalm 15

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

“Good Behavior”

Mar13

For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. — Romans 13:3-5

When I was a younger woman I always feared authority. Probably a good thing in my teens. Fear in itself is not a bad thing depending on what and who you fear. Fear of something can keep you from danger and regretful consequences. Who you fear can make you respectful to persons and to avoid getting involved with others.

As I matured my fear of authority changed a bit when I realized the One I should fear, God, was the authority over all authority. So, do I want to have no fear of authority? Then I must do what is good.

One of those “do what is good” things, for conscience sake was to obey God’s Word about obeying the law of the land set by and enforced by those in authority. You know the unwritten rule that says you can go over the speed limit by 5? Well, my conscience said that the law says, “Limit” which means the maximum. So, yes, I am that annoying person in front of you going the speed limit.

I’m not writing this to brag but I’ve learned a lot about obeying God by following the speed limit. Like: is it okay to disobey when everyone else is? Is it okay to disobey if I’m inconvenienced (in this case, running late for work)? It’s okay to disobey just a little if I’m anxious to get to my destination, right? I thank God for my limits that keep me safe and my conscience clear. Now that, my friend, is peace.

And I like to think that God blesses my obedience, even when I am tempted to be disobedient (in this case speeding), by blessing me with green lights, merging on the freeway clear of any traffic, no traffic delays, etc. Once again, I made it to work on time. Amazing!

That’s my God, AMAZING!!!!!

Are you trusting God by being obedient?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Sing To The Lord

Nov28

Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place. — 1 Chronicles 16:23-27

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Skipping Calves

Oct4

“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. — Malachi 4:2

I hope you had time to meditate over yesterday’s devotion. It really is a great gift our Lord God has given us to be forgiven AND to have our sin Covered. And then today to look upon the one who can do that. Can you help but fear or reverence His name? Loss of sin, healing begin. It is enough to make me “go forth and skip about like calves from the stall”. I hope you really experience the happiness that come from a heart forgiven, a life healed and a reverent relationship with THE NAME above all names.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Give Thanks

Sep13

“Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you — 1 Samuel 12:24

Do we really consider all the great things the Lord had done for us? If we did we would reverence Him more, serve Him better, seek Him with all our heart and be more content where we are. Thank Him today for all the great things He has done for you. Let’s “give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ His Son”.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Promise: Mercy and Righteousness

Aug29

But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, — Psalm 103:17

What a great promise to cling to and remember. God’s lovingkindness (mercy) is forever. When we received His mercy through the cross it extended down through generation after generation to us and it will never end. It is hard to fathom the depth of this mercy we receive for all who reverence God.

And if His mercy weren’t enough but His righteousness is to thousands who love Him and keep His commandments. Passed on to children’s children. His righteousness will not go away. Our God is righteous and nothing can change that.

Share your righteous God who keeps His covenant and shows mercy from everlasting to everlasting to your children so they may pass it to their children who pass it to their children for a thousand generations. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. His righteousness is ever progressing.

Praise You, Lord God for your lovingkindess and righteousness! The promise that is everlasting.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Promise: You Are Mine

Aug28

But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! — Isaiah 43:1

The Lord, our Creator who formed us says, “you are Mine”! As I read this verse I thought of my daughter who is about to deliver my first grandchild. When our granddaughter arrives my daughter will call her by name. This is a name that her and her husband picked out especially for her. Every time they call her name it acknowledges that they know her and she belongs to them.

My kids will protect her and when she fears I can imagine them saying, “Do not fear”. They would give their lives to redeem her. But as much as they would want to they will never be able to redeem her from her sins. Only Jesus can do that. Even though they will love their daughter with all they are, they will never be able to love her as God loves her.

No greater redemption or love will be yours except through Jesus Christ. So when you read the promise “you are Mine”, know it holds so many more promises for you. Every promise is yours that is written in the Word of God because “you are Mine”!!!!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

All My Heart

May8

Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. — 1 Samuel 12:24

When I consider all the Lord has done for me — relocated from on high to a dark world of sin; endured extreme pain, ridicule, being mocked; experiencing rejection and ultimately on the cross loneliness, shame and sin — how can I not believe with all my heart in Jesus Christ.*

He has given me life worth living filled abundantly with love, peace, joy, contentment and a journey beyond all my expectations. Let me make it clear that I am not perfect and make many mistakes while the Lord conforms me to His will. I still have freewill and that “will” many times has a hard time trusting. But I will continue to return to God with all my heart.«

I choose to fear and serve Him with all my heart. I choose to seek Him, love Him, observe and keep His law, hold fast, walk in His ways giving thanks and doing it with all my heart. The more I practice these the more my trust toward the Lord increases so that I trust Him with all my heart.

As I trust my Lord I rejoice and exult Him with all my heart!»

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

*Acts 8:37
«Joel 2:12
»Zephania 3:14

Seek Peace Where?

May7

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ — Isaiah 41:10

I often wonder why we go about without the peace of God within us. I also wonder how the Lord must feel about it. His peace is given to us in abundance but we reject it. Why?

Do we enjoy living in fear of what tomorrow will bring, or are we too proud to admit our need for God’s peace? Maybe we just have to be the one in control until life becomes out of our control. Maybe we are just seeking peace but in the wrong places.

First, God is with us so we need not fear — anything — because He will not leave us nor forsake us. He keeps His promises for He is God. Why then do we look anxiously about us for the peace that is only found in God alone? Second, we need to seek and trust Jesus Christ. Seek the Father’s peace that only comes through a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus.

God loves us so much and wants us to come to Him because He is the one who will strengthen us, help us and uphold us with His righteous right hand. He is the sure way to true peace. To God be the glory through His wonderful, marvelous, ever present Son, Jesus Christ!

Go in peace.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Fear of the Lord

Apr25

O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. — Psalm 34:9-11

O fear the Lord – “worship Him and make conscience of your duty to Him in everything, not fear and shun Him but fear and seek Him”.* Fear the Lord, you His saints – people of God^; believers^; godly ones«.

We, His children, in seeking our Lord find all we want. He fulfills every desire we have in Him. Not the desires of our sinful flesh but the desires that come from our personal walk with Jesus. We are satisfied because our hearts seek the heart of God, truly being what we want.

The Word promises that those who seek the Lord will not be in want of any good thing. He does not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly. How do we walk uprightly? By fearfully seeking Him and keeping His commandments. Remember that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

The Lord gives grace and glory and His praise endures forever.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. –Psalm 84:1
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever. — Psalm 11:10

*Matthew Henry Commentary
^Dictionary of Bible Themes – saints
«Psalm 31:23