DO NOT FEAR...

Sunday evening was particularly disturbing. I went early to pray, but the presence of God was not there, or at least, it was not an environment for productive prayer.

I sat, longing for the presence of God for a nice prayer/conversation, but it seemed as if God was afar off.

Then, someone started throwing candy at me. Mind you, I'm knelt down, head down, eyes closed, and obviously trying to pray (this was the before service "prayer time").

With this, I arose and went outside. On the way out, someone asked how I was doing. My reply was "Just fine".

 I just lied! I was NOT fine... I couldn't pray, and somebody 30 years older than me was throwing candy at me while I was trying!

While outside, I prayed. I asked God to forgive me for lying.

When I went back in, I returned to where my wife was still praying. The person that had thrown the candy leaned across my wife, and apologized for the interruption. I said that was okay. He said- at least I got the candy.

So now, I lied AGAIN and my wife was interrupted while praying...

I could have left and gone home at this point!

At the end of the service, I was glad I stuck around. The pastor said he had asked God for a vision for the church. God's response was that it was going to be a hospital.

 I needed to hear that and know it.

Then, the devil showed himself again, teasing and taunting me. It wasn't an old man throwing candy, it was a little girl trying to get an angry reaction from me... "I just wanted to see what you would do..."

God said, "Do NOT Fear..."

I was wondering WHY I was there...

1 Peter 3:14 NASB  But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,

Isaiah 41:10-13  'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'  11  "Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.  12  "You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.  13  "For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.'

Isaiah 51:12-16  "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass,  13  That you have forgotten the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?  14  "The exile will soon be set free, and will not die in the dungeon, nor will his bread be lacking.  15  "For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea and its waves roar (the LORD of hosts is His name).  16  "I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, 'You are My people.'"

Jeremiah 1:8-10  "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD.  9  Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.  10  "See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant."

Ezekiel 3:9-11  "Like emery harder than flint I have made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house."  10  Moreover, He said to me, "Son of man, take into your heart all My words which I will speak to you and listen closely.  11  "Go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or not, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.'"

I will not be afraid.

I am blessed.

Psalms 37:8-10 NASB  Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.  9  For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.  10  Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.

Yep!

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