40 DAYS FOR LIFE: DAY 2, DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SCRIPTURE:

"Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them." -- Psalm 34: 3-4, 7

REFLECTION:

Fear of what man may do to us, or fear of what the future may hold, keeps many in bondage to the lies of the enemy.

A young woman may fear her boyfriend won't love her if she doesn't engage in promiscuity. The young woman who has an unplanned pregnancy may fear what the future holds because she has believed the lie that her life and her future are over because of the child in her womb. The post-abortive woman may fear she is unworthy of love and deserves to be punished by both God and man. We may fear what people think or what man may do to us because we stand for righteousness, and stand in the gap for the unborn and the woman with child.

But Scripture tells us to fear the Lord! In fact, the theme of the book of Proverbs is that the fear of the Lord is the starting point and essence of wisdom.

In this context "fear" is a reverence for God expressed in submission to His will. It is a reverent awe of who God is and what He does. When we understand His unique and immutable characteristics -- that He is Omniscient(all-knowing), Omnipotent (all-powerful) and Omnipresent (everywhere present) -- our reverent awe is a natural response.

When we add to that knowledge the fact that God is Love, His ways are perfect, and "All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28),we understand why this "perfect Love casts out fear" of the enemy, of man, and what tomorrow may bring our way.

Let's put fear in proper perspective as we magnify the Lord and cast all our fears at His feet.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, you are the Lord Our Peace. Help us to reflect your peace as we encounter those today who are in the bondage of fear.

We acknowledge that you are indeed all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present. Thank you for your love and faithfulness to us. As we commit to fear You alone, give us your wisdom and discernment to help calm the fears of others and redirect them to Truth,and a reverent awe of You.

In the name of Your Son, Jesus, upon whose name we can boldly come before You, we pray, AMEN.
-

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