DO NOT BE AFRAID

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die."

Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."

The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Exodus 20:18-21

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Picture yourself among the people of Israel that followed Moses out of Egypt.

You have watched the Lord divide the Red Sea so you could pass through on dry land, you then watched God crash the walls of water down on the Egyptian ruler, Pharaoh, and his pursuing army, eliminating your enemy in incredible fashion.

You saw God change bitter water to water that was drinkable with a piece of wood and then took it one miraculous step higher by bringing water from a rock to make sure you didn’t die from dehydration in the wilderness.

When you became hungry, He sent quail and manna from Heaven to nourish you.

And you saw how He delivered you in the midst of an attack of the Amalekites, keeping you safe and sheltered from danger and harm.

Indeed, you have made it through so much to be at this place and time, at the foot of Mount Sinai and in the presence of the Almighty God who has displayed His amazing, unmatched power to you all through your exodus.

It’s here that your leader Moses has gone up the mountain and into the presence of your God and as you stand and await his return, having been warned to not step onto the mountain unless you wanted to experience God’s judgment.

So you wait and as you do, you see that the sky begins to loudly rumble with thunder and flash with lightning. Out of this, you hear a trumpet sounding off but can’t see any evidence of a player. The great mountain before you gets immersed in smoke.

It had to be an incredibly frightening scene and so it’s easy to understand why the Israelites began to tremble in fear.

And then, Moses comes to them.

What a relief this must have been to these fearful people of Israel. They long for some word from their leader that might give them comfort and assurance in the midst of their trepidation, a trepidation that had to bring some questions rising to their minds.

Was God angry with us to the place where we’re going to perish like Pharaoh and his army?

Could God lift up the mountain as He did the seas and then send it crashing down on us?

Unsure of what was about to happen, we find the Israelites crying out to Moses, saying:

"Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die."

 And with that, we see Moses working to put his brothers and sisters at ease with four simple words:

“Do not be afraid."

Are these words you need to hear today as you face your own life circumstances, circumstances that can often include trials and challenges, uncertainties, poor health, brokenness, or any other form of hardship? Any one of them could lead someone to fear tomorrow or their future.

And so if you are experiencing anxieties, fears, stresses, or worries today, know that the Word of the Lord is speaking to you. Your God is just a prayer away and He longs to hear from you, addressing whatever you’re going through with the same four words Moses spoke at Mount Sinai:

“Do not be afraid."

Of interest, this message is spoken a whopping 65 times in the Bible, always at a time when the listener was in dire need of consolation and hope.

In the New Testament, we also find important words, words that I have always called God’s prescription for stress, anxiety, worry and fear. Speaking through the Apostle Paul as He writes to the church in Philippi, He says:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Essentially, God is saying to us:

"Don’t try to shoulder all of life’s burdens as if you have no source of help. Just trust Me. Have faith in Me for I am all capable, all powerful, and all willing. There is nothing beyond the work of My Almighty Hands so lay everything at My feet and leave them there. I can handle it. Lift up your needs to me in prayer and let Me deal with what is weighing you down, setting yourself free to be able to do My will and fulfill My purposes. If you do as I command, you will experience liberation and peace through Me, a peace unlike no other, a peace that transcends all understanding. And once you get to that place, a place of divine relief, I will give protection to your heart and mind.”

Friends, my prayer today is that you will first be obedient to this command and then gain all that your Lord is promising you.

It all starts with you trusting Him and choosing to not be afraid.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.