Do Not Fear

My devotions usually reflect a lesson I’ve learned from nature, and God has used many aspects of His creation to inspire my mind. Today’s devotion is not nature related but I did sense God’s direction nonetheless.

As I was reading my Bible and having my prayer time, I was directed to Proverbs 16:2 for the daily scripture selection. As I often do, I read on past that one verse to verse 4 which is, “The Lord made everything for a purpose, even the wicked for an evil day.” (CEB) BAM! I had to re-read that! Exactly on target with the message Pastor Robby shared on Revelation 13. We are living in evil days certainly, and I know that God’s plan from eternity has not changed and He is not surprised by these days in which we are living, but this passage is so plain spoken it really hit home with me.

The next verse states, “The Lord detests all who are arrogant; they surely won’t go unpunished.” (CEB) The Believer’s Bible Commentary explains it like this: There is a result for every cause, a reward or punishment for every act. Evil doers will not escape God’s punishment; there is a day for the wicked just as there is a day for believers in Heaven!

Do not be discouraged, do not be dismayed, and do not be fearful! Matthew 10:26, “Therefore, don’t be afraid of those people because nothing is hidden that won’t be revealed, and nothing secret that won’t be brought out into the open.” (CEB)

We must by faith and grace, trust our Lord’s plan of the ages and not fret. Through prayer and bible study we can have the peace that passes all understanding about our world and these days we are living in.

I have a copy of a prayer by an anonymous author that ends perfectly for this devotion today. Would you pray it with me?

Renew Your church and this world in ways only You could have foreseen and engineered.

In You, O Lord, we place our trust.

For You, O Lord, we wait in hope.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.