So for the last month I’ve been posting readings from one of my latest books, Waiting. I do hope that you enjoyed them!!! I dare say I have missed you desperately over this time and I am THRILLED to be back with you again, and just in time for Christmas! Yay!
This month “off” has been crazy and chaotic and feverishly fun, but honestly, I’m very ready to get back at it, so to speak. I feel refreshed and rejuvenated in my mission to teach you the Word of God daily.
This morning God took me to Acts chapter 8 to a story of a Eunuch who served a Queen. He had just been worshiping in the temple at Jerusalem and was on his way back home when Philip came along beside his chariot. Philip overheard the Eunuch reading Isaiah and asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And the Eunuch invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
God brings me back to this passage every once in a while to remind me of my mission. “Faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
In today’s Word of the Day we read about the king of Judah, Amaziah, and the king of Israel, Jehoash. In chapter fourteen Amaziah taunted Jehoash and the word that Jehoash sent back to him basically told him to “back down or else.”
“But Amaziah would not listen.” (2 Kings 14:11)
The consequence of his closed ears was dire and not just for him but for all of Judah as well. As is our consequence for not listening to the Word of God planted deep within us, begging us to choose faith over fear.
Many moons ago, as I was finishing the publishing of Waiting, I felt the LORD calling me to write about that choice we make over and over throughout each day. The choice we make between the route of faith or fear.
Each leads to very different places, yet begins at the same point, the point where our feet currently reside. We are continually faced with this decision in life. Will I choose the path of Faith, or Fear?
Often the paths look contrary to their names. The path of Faith looks wrought with difficulty and uncertainty. Whereas the path of Fear appears to be the easiest and smoothest. Ahhhh, but looks are often quite deceiving aren’t they? It often occurs that when choosing to walk in Faith as we set down the path that looks most ominous we find ourselves suddenly surrounded in hope and light and life. We become transported to an altogether different place than where we began. Most likely because God has lifted us up from where we were and carried us through the hard time we were facing.
Then there’s the choice of Fear. It’s the choice we make because we’re afraid and this path appears to be the way out of that situation that is causing us fear. But we find that when we begin to walk down that seemingly harmless path, it isn’t long before things start to change for the worse. And the path that appeared to be the path of the least resistance becomes the path of the most resistance. And we find ourselves worse off than when we began.
For this next month I will be focusing on choosing Faith and not Fear. And providing scriptures to combat the Enemy in those moments of decision so that you can remember God’s words and say to Satan, “It is written….”
In a few weeks we will be crossing over an invisible line. One second it will be 2013 and the next it will be 2014. Have you ever really sat and thought about that for a moment? Literally one second later and it’s a completely different year. And this is just one instance when this happens. It’s usually the most celebrated of the year, but there are many more that follow it. Take your birthday for example. We generally celebrate it as a “day”, but if you want to be technically precise, it’s a second thing too. One second you’re 33 and the next you’re 34; one little tick on the clock and the label changes. Time marches on, stopping for no one and nothing. Yet life doesn’t. Life has its ebbs and flows. It changes with time and over time. That never ceases to amaze me. How one moment things are this way and then the next they’re different.
It’s all very exciting, and yet at the same time there’s a little bit of trepidation that goes along with it too. There is an inherent fear in the unknown future, the unforeseeable happening and catching us unprepared. Yet time marches on, there is no stopping it because you’re not ready to face that next season, or label. Time marches on, pushing you forward against your will toward the blackness that is the unknown future. “Is there a cliff?” “Will I fall?” “Is it a mountain?” “Will I fail?”
Yet who is it that holds the future? Who is it that has time in His hand? Who is it that knows all and sees all and LOVES YOU?
Jesus.
When we live our lives surrendered to Christ, we can rest assured that no matter what happens and catches us off guard; it has NOT caught Jesus off guard. And He is with us through it all. He never leaves or forsakes us; He never abandons us in our time of need. He is that ever-present help in times of trouble. Look upon the shepherd and his sheep in your nativity set as we march into Christmas and out of this year and hear these words from heaven for you today:
“Little sheep, hear My voice. Fear not, for I am always with you. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world. I am the Good Shepherd, and you shall not want. I make you lie down in green pastures. I lead you beside still waters. I restore your soul. I lead you in paths of righteousness for My names sake. Even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil, for I am with you; Let My rod, My staff, be a great comfort to you. I prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies; I anoint your head with oil; and I fill your cup to overflowing. Did you know that My Goodness and Mercy follow you all the days of your life? It is because you are a member of the house of the LORD and you shall dwell there forever!”
Tamar Knochel 