Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wed, 16 May 2007 16:45:20 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna (May 17); BP: Ps. 91; RBTTY: Jn. 5:25-47; I Chronicles 1-3
May 17 “Not Afraid”
“He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings shall you trust;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid for the
terror by night nor for the arrow that flies by day nor for the pestilence
that walks in darkness nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.”
Psalm 91:4-6
Abiding is the antidote for anxiety and faith the fortress against
fear.
Fear.
We call it by many names nowadays: Panic attacks, free-floating
anxiety, worry, stress, paranoia, schizophrenia, etc. But, in reality
they’re all basically fear—of the unknown and the known.
Now, in some ways fear is a good thing. It keeps us from getting to
close to the edge of a cliff, touching a hot stove, throwing caution to the
wind in some daredevil activity, going “where angels fear to tread, etc.”
However, if given free-reign in our lives, fear becomes a “stronghold” of
the evil one whereby he taunts and torments us day-and-night.
That’s why today’s Manna is both assuring and applicable in our daily
pilgrimage of faith. It reminds us that “God is our refuge and fortress—the
One in Whom we will trust” (v.2). It also reminds us that the Heavenly
Father, Who holds the galaxies in the hollow of His hand, is also the One
Who watches over us each minute of the day.
Like a protective mother hen, He gathers us up in His loving arms and
holds us close to Himself during those times of danger and fear. His Word
becomes our spiritual “shield and buckler” as we recall His never-failing
promises and provisions.
That’s why we need not “be afraid for the terror (Heb. ‘pachad’—‘a
sudden alarm, dreadful thing or event, to be startled, make to shake, etc.’)
by night nor for the arrow that flies by day nor for the pestilence that
walks in darkness nor for the destruction that wastes (Heb. ‘shuwd’—‘to
swell up, devastate, deteriorate, etc.’) at noonday.”
As we can see, this covers anything and anytime. In this “Age of
Anxiety” there are many things that alarm us: Terrorist attacks. . .tainted
pet food. . .exotic diseases like bird flu. . .global warming. . .drunken
drivers, etc. Likewise, almost everything has a warning label or disclaimer
on it nowadays, telling us of the potential dangers that accompany use of
the product.
No wonder the temptation to fear is ever-present!
That’s why we need to stop, step back, take a deep breath (inhaling
God’s promises) and slowly exhale (releasing our petitions to Him) whenever
we feel fear’s icy fingers getting a grip on our throats. Repeating this
routine will not only slow down our rapid breathing and pulse, it’ll also
calm our soul as we “capture every thought and bring it under Jesus’
control” (II Cor. 10:5). May the Holy Spirit help us today to say with
David, “. . .I will fear no evil, for Thou (Lord) are with me” (Ps. 23:4b).
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