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Fear EscapeProverbs
      1:1-7
 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is
      their help and their shield. (Psalms 115:11)
 
In our increasingly
      dangerous world, think of what we have to fear: Ominous terrorist
      threats, frightening crime rates, increasing natural disasters, sobering
      energy crisis, . . . God. 
Yes, God. Ironic, isn’t it,
      that in a world full of fearful things, the single source of our refuge
      and safety is also the One we are instructed to fear? 
Consider Solomon’s words:
      “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children
      will have a place of refuge” (Prov. 14:26). Then look at the next verse:
      “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.” 
We try to avoid life’s
      fearful things because they interrupt our peace. Yet we are told to move
      toward fear—the fear of God. For those who “fear the Lord, . . . He is
      their help and their shield” (Ps. 115:11). 
Our faith in God can
      deliver us from the fears of the world (Ps. 23:4)—but only because our
      faith relies on a fear that is different from worldly fear. Proverbs
      29:25 says, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the
      Lord shall be safe.” 
To fear God is to sense His
      awesomeness. When we acknowledge that greatness and trust in Him, we no
      longer want to sin against Him. He becomes our refuge from the fears of
      this world. In Him we find peace. 
PRAYERDear Lord, help me to put my faith in you and to let
      go of my fears.Amen.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAYThose who fear God need not fear the world.
 
 
Christian Education Forum,
      Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church |