Category: Fear Not

Fear Not 365, for you are a man most beloved…

March 7, 2017 by ChristianHolinessDaily Leave a Comment

I remember little about my real father, for he died when I was so young. One thing I do remember is, on one particular morning, he held me in his arms and read me the Sunday morning comics. When we were done, I asked him to go to the backyard and push me in the swing. For some reason, my brother, Bill, ended pushing me. I remember, though, my dad leaning against a nearby fence with a smile on his face.

At that moment, I felt like he loved me more than anything else in the world.

Sometimes, we are so wrapped up with anxiety that we forget our Heavenly Father is nearby, watching us, smiling, proud of us. He is just close enough to reach out and grab us if something goes wrong.

There are many pictures of God in His Word, but the one of a loving Heavenly Father is my favorite.

In Daniel chapter 10, the prophet is visited by an angel. At its appearance, Daniel is stone-cold scared. The angel greets him by calling him “a man greatly beloved” (Daniel 10:11).

The words didn’t sink in right away. Those are wonderful words. One wants to know God’s love. Daniel though, trembled with fear.

Father, help us not to be so wrapped up in the things of this world that we cannot hear you’re words and feel your love.

Fear Not, for you are a beloved child.

Fear Not 365 – God Hears You

March 5, 2017 by ChristianHolinessDaily Leave a Comment

I have seen a meme that says God invented the first instant messaging; it’s called prayer.

Whoever came up with that instinctively knows what scientists spent a fortune to prove. Electronic devices are as addictive as heroin.

Some of us spent hours daily in front of a screen, looking for fulfillment that once came from personal relationships with Jesus Christ, friends, and family. The hope of finding anything more uplifting than momentary pleasure in the internet or in an app is a false hope. At most, one might find a pale substitute for face-to-face relationships.

Real significance is derived only from personal interaction with God and with others. Texting a loved one, whether it be a spouse, or a parent, or child, is fine in a pinch, but how long would a marriage remain stable if we ignored time with our spouses? How would a child grow up who never knew a personal touch of a parent?

How would we grow our relationship with Christ if we never bow in prayer?

Do not swap time with your earthly family for time with your electronic devices. Do not swap time with God for time with your handheld false gods.

Lock yourself away from all electronic devices, grab a Bible – in book form – and bow down in prayer.

Fear Not, for God hears you. He will answer your prayer.

Fear Not, and Tear Down Altars

March 4, 2017 by ChristianHolinessDaily Leave a Comment

In Judges 6, the Angel of the Lord appears and tells that Gideon will defeat the nation’s enemies. Gideon is a young man in a small clan, in a small and fragmented tribe of the Nation of Israel, and is doubtful about his ability to do what the Lord is telling him to do.

Regardless of Gideon’s lack of experience, and in spite of his doubts, he agrees. The first task that the Lord assigns him, though, is not to go out and face his enemies. Rather, it is to tear down the altar of Baal.

Baal was a false god originally worshipped by Israel’s enemies. Many in Israel found it easier to worship Baal than the real God, because Baal-worship appealed to human lust and emotions. One of those who worshipped Baal was Gideon’s father, and it was his altar that the Lord commanded be removed.

Gideon did exactly what the Lord asked. He tore down the altar, chopped off the idol, and built an altar to God on its foundation.

Before we can serve God in the way that He asks, we must be rid of the false gods in our lives. We must tear down the altars of pride and self-indulgence and chop off the idols of materialism and vanity.

If we wish to be holy as God is holy, we must solely focus on Him. Our lives are to be built on His foundation, even if it means we anger those around us for tearing down the altars of false gods.

Fear Not. Tear down the altars to the false gods and construct an altar to the holy God who created us.