Category: Faith

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A Light in the Dark

Have you ever been somewhere when it was completely dark? Without light we become uncertain, even, afraid.

But once there is a tiny flicker of light, we begin to have hope and as the light gets brighter confidence comes and peace comes with it. God’s first recorded action was creating light.

No one has a life with no dark moments. For some those moments may be serious, life-threatening illness, for others they may be an emotional depression or a catastrophic accident.

If you are in that place of darkness, I pray that these verses I share with you today will serve as the light of hope that you need.

“When the Lord Saves You from Death

1 I love you, Lord! You answered my prayers.
2 You paid attention to me, and so I will pray to you as long as I live.
3 Death attacked from all sides, and I was captured by its painful chains. But when I was really hurting, 4 I prayed and said, “Lord, please don’t let me die!”

5 You are kind, Lord, so good and merciful. 6 You protect ordinary people, and when I was helpless, you saved me 7 and treated me so kindly that I don’t need to worry anymore.

8 You, Lord, have saved my life from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. 9 Now I will walk at your side in this land of the living. 10 I was faithful to you when I was suffering, 11 though in my confusion I said, ‘I can’t trust anyone!’

12 What must I give you, Lord, for being so good to me? 13 I will pour out an offering of wine to you, and I will pray in your name because you have saved me. 14 I will keep my promise to you when your people meet. 15 You are deeply concerned when one of your loyal people
faces death.

16 I worship you, Lord, just as my mother did, and you have rescued me from the chains of death. 17 I will offer you a sacrifice to show how grateful I am, and I will pray. 18 I will keep my promise to you when your people 19 gather at your temple in Jerusalem. Shout praises to the Lord!” Psalm 116 CEV

Jesus knows how dark moments and situations can overwhelm us. He ministered to people in their darkest hours.

“Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, ‘I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.” John 8:12 CEV

Join with me and the writer of this psalm and shout a praise to the Lord for being your light in the darkness.

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Steadfast & Immovable

I’m sure you’ve had those moments when something pops into your mind and you say to yourself, “Gosh, I haven’t thought about that in a long time”. This morning is one of those moments for me.

I was praying over friends and family this morning and I began to pray these words. “Lord, let them be steadfast and immovable. A solid representation of Your love. Not moved by the world’s opinions but standing firm on Your infallible word”.

It was then a flood of Scriptures came rolling in. Verses I had committed to my heart years ago, verses that have been my life-line both physically, emotionally, and spiritually for many years.

Today, I liked to share them with you. Verses of victory and strength.

“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” I Corinthians 15:57-58 NLT

Steadfast and immovable. Steadfast: resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering

“If you live to satisfy your sinful self, the harvest you will get from that will be eternal death. But if you live to please the Spirit, your harvest from the Spirit will be eternal life. 9 We must not get tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time. We must not give up. 10 When we have the opportunity to do good to anyone, we should do it…”Galatians 6:8-10 ERV

Don’t grow weary in well doing.

“ To end my letter I tell you, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. 11 Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks. 12 Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places. 13 That is why you need to get God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.” Ephesians 6:10-13 ERV

When you’ve done all to stand, STAND.

“ Can anything separate us from Christ’s love? Can trouble or problems or persecution separate us from his love? If we have no food or clothes or face danger or even death, will that separate us from his love? 36 As the Scriptures say,

‘For you we are in danger of death all the time. People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.’

37 But in all these troubles we have complete victory through God, who has shown his love for us. 38-39 Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39 ERV

Complete victory: more than a conqueror.

“We show our love for God by obeying his commandments, and they are not hard to follow.4 Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. 5 No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God.” I John 5:3-5 CEV

Overcome the world.

My dear friend, your struggle is not too great for God. His word is the solid rock foundation to build our lives on. Built on His word we can be and will be steadfast and immovable in the storms and we will stand!

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Making Claims

Have you ever had to make an insurance claim? You know, you’ve been in an accident or perhaps had damage to your home or had something stolen.

You call the insurance company to report the loss. They send out a claims adjuster, he writes an estimate of damage done and then it’s filed with the company, and you wait for restitution and/or the repair to your property.

We had to file a claim on our home and one of our vehicles once because of a hailstorm. It was a lengthy process. That was the thought as I was reading this morning in Mark.

“Then so many of them came to the house that there wasn’t even standing room left in front of the door. Jesus was still teaching 3 when four people came up, carrying a man on a mat because he could not walk. 4 But because of the crowd, they could not get him to Jesus. So they made a hole in the roof above him and let the man down in front of everyone.

5 When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the man, “My friend, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Some of the teachers of the Law of Moses were sitting there. They started wondering, 7 “Why would he say such a thing? He must think he is God! Only God can forgive sins.”

8 At once, Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said, “Why are you thinking such things? 9 Is it easier for me to tell this man his sins are forgiven or to tell him to get up and pick up his mat and go on home? 10 I will show you that the Son of Man has the right to forgive sins here on earth.” So Jesus said to the man, 11 “Get up! Pick up your mat and go on home.”

12 The man got right up. He picked up his mat and went out while everyone watched in amazement. They praised God and said, “We have never seen anything like this!” Mark 2:2-12 CEV

That particular damage to the house could certainly be listed as “an act of God”.

These four friends wanted to bring this man to Jesus, so they just picked up his bed and carried him through the streets to the house where Jesus was. Not being able to get in because of the crowd, they carried him to the roof and made a hole in it.

Now for the tricky part. They had to let the man down through the hole and hope that he would drop in close to where Jesus was standing. The Bible doesn’t specify but the friends must have come prepare for every possible circumstance. Did they bring the tools that made the hole in the roof? How long did it take to deconstruct? How did they let him down into the house? Did they bring ropes that they tied to his bed?

However, they did it, it didn’t matter. What mattered was their faith in getting to Jesus? They made claim on Jesus’ ability to heal their friend. Jesus also made a claim. His claim was that the man’s sins had been forgiven. That one set the religious leaders on edge. They objected – they refused His claim.

Jesus produced the evidence that supported His claim. “Take up your bed and WALK”. The man had been crippled. How long, we don’t know. But there was power in the words Jesus spoke. Power to give strength to legs that hadn’t walked in quite some time. Power to refute the skeptic minds of the religious elite. Power to heal and forgive.

Claim filed and settled.

“But I trust you, Lord, and I claim you as my God. 15 My life is in your hands. ” Psalm 31:14-15 CEV

We all need to make a claim. We claim the Father as our Lord and our God. We place our lives in His hands.

“Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won’t turn any of them away.

38 I didn’t come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, 39 and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost. Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day.” John 6:37-39 CEV

The claim we make on God’s love will certainly insure us against loss.

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Planting New Seeds

Fall is a good time to plant in Arizona. The cooler weather and our mostly mild winters provide a good growing environment.

I miss my garden and my flowers so now I plant a different kind of seed.

In years past, I have chosen my plants carefully. Measuring out the distance between, giving them enough room to grow without hindering the growth of what was around them. Potting soil added to the ground, automatic watering system in place and lots of tender loving care. I would imagine how they will look in 5, 10 and even 20 years. Gardens planted at homes I no longer live in brought temporary joy.

More important are the other seeds I have sown in the past 10, 20, 50 even 70 years. Seeds that have produced a wonderful marriage (although we had to pull up some weeds along the way), 3 children and their mates, 7 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, numerous friends who have been a part of our lives for so many years. Sowing seeds from God’s word to encourage, bring hope and God’s forgiveness of sin.

And then there are the seeds that had to be rooted out, things like bitterness, anger, insecurity, pride, selfishness and discontentment. These had to be dug up and pulled out by the roots so that the other seeds could grow and produce fruit.

This morning, I won’t be planting physical seedlings, I will be planting seeds of hospitality, acceptance, forgiveness, peace, joy, healing and restoration. It is my desire that all who share my life’s garden will know God’s goodness and the abundant life that He has given us in Christ Jesus.

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12 KJV

“This is what the story means: The seed is God’s message, 12 and the seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message. But the devil comes and snatches the message out of their hearts, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it. But they don’t have deep roots, and they believe only for a little while. As soon as life gets hard, they give up.

14 The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they are so eager for riches and pleasures that they never produce anything. 15 Those seeds that fell on good ground are the people who listen to the message and keep it in good and honest hearts. They last and produce a harvest.” Luke 8:11-15 CEV

Happy Planting!

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A Reliable Cure

Have you ever been to the doctor and had them ask you about your medical history and your family’s medical history? Lots of questions and sometimes you wonder if they are even listening as you answer.

This morning, I have a question for you. Do you have heart trouble? Are there triggers in your life that have or are now affecting your heart?

Then let me give you a prescription for the cure.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1 KJV

Jesus spoke these words to his disciples right before His crucifixion. If anything would cause “heart trouble” for them it would be this, but Jesus’ command was don’t be troubled.

“My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn; Open your ears to my sayings. 21 Do not let them escape from your sight; Keep them in the center of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, And healing and health to all their flesh. 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:20-23 AMP

King Solomon knew the way to prevent “heart trouble” was to pay attention to God’s word. It provides health and healing to all who choose to live by it.

The dosing instructions for this prescription were given to Joshua by the Lord.

“Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do. 9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 ERV

Twice a day are the instructions but more if needed – day and night.

So, if you are experiencing heart trouble this morning, I’m sending you to my cardiologist, He’s never lost a patient. You have a private consultation with Him, listen to His instructions.

“ I have told you all these things while I am with you. 26 But the Helper will teach you everything and cause you to remember all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name.

27 “I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am leaving, but I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be happy that I am going back to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am. 29 I have told you this now, before it happens. Then when it happens, you will believe.” John 14:26-29 ERV

I guarantee you that Jesus knew about situations that could weaken the heart. He had faced physical and spiritual attacks, mental temptations and reputation destroying lies. In the final night before His death, He was preparing the disciples to withstand the attacks of the heart.

“ I have told you all this now to prepare you. So when the time comes for these things to happen, you will remember that I warned you… 33 “I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” John 16:4 & 33 ERV

Take the Great Physician’s prescription and keep your heart strong!

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The End of a Message

I have really enjoyed going through Jesus’ message, the Sermon on the Mount, with you. It has shown us the foundation for His ministry here on earth.

He ends this message with these powerful verses.

“ Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it was built on solid rock, and so it did not fall.

26 Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn’t obey them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand. 27 Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Finally, it fell with a crash.

28  When Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were surprised at his teaching. 29 He taught them like someone with authority, and not like their teachers of the Law of Moses.” Matthew 7:24-29 CEV

Jesus was addressing everyone who was there listening to this message. They were either a wise anyone or a foolish anyone, but they could not deny that they were an anyone. Neither can we.

Anyone who hears God’s word has two choices – to obey or not. To be wise or foolish. To stand strong during the storm or to be destroyed by it.

The storms come – they most certainly do; the choice of how to handle them is up to us. What foundation have we built on? Solid rock or sandy beach.

“Anyone who comes and listens to me and obeys me 48 is like someone who dug down deep and built a house on solid rock. When a flood came and the river rushed against the house, it was built so well that it didn’t even shake. 49 But anyone who hears what I say and doesn’t obey me is like someone whose house wasn’t built on solid rock. As soon as the river rushed against that house, it was smashed to pieces!” Luke 6:47-49 CEV

When we build our lives on God’s word we are building on a firm foundation. His words of “do not fear, do not judge, ask to receive, be salt and light” are what we take to heart and give us the confidence to stand.

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36 NLT

Don’t throw away your confidence. Keep standing on the rock of His word. God didn’t remove Goliath from the battle, He empowered David in it. He didn’t take the lions’ out of the den, He closed their mouths when Daniel showed up. Jesus wasn’t discouraged by a little boy’s lunch with so many mouths to feed; instead, He was thankful, blessed it and multiplied it.

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT

When faced with a storm remember to stand on God’s word. Be like those in the crowd who said, “He speaks with authority”. The authority of God’s word IS our final authority.

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One Small Thing

Yesterday afternoon I had errands to run. First a stop at the bank, then the grocery store, Walgreens and finally my hair salon.

My purchase at Walgreen’s was $21.99. The cashier gave me several bills and one penny change. I looked to find a donation jar where I could deposit my penny but there was none.

I remembered hearing a story once about a wealthy man who said he would stop and pick up a penny when he saw one on the ground. It reminded him to be thankful because on that penny he read the words “in God we trust”. Not his success or the amount in his bank account but it was in God that he placed his trust.

After hearing this story, I stop and pick up the coins I find on the ground and keep them in my pocket during the day. They remind me to trust God, whatever the day may bring.

So, I deposited the penny on top of a trash receptacle with a prayer that someone would find it and it would remind them to put their trust in God. Silly I know, but that’s what I felt led to do.

On to my hair appointment. When I got there my stylist was visibly upset. I asked what was wrong. She choked back the lump in her throat and told me that one of her clients had died, and she had just found out that a dear friend was dying, and another friend had just learned she had cancer. She was overwhelmed.

The Lord put it on my heart to pray for her. I asked her if we could pray, and she grabbed my hand. I prayed and she sensed a real peace and comfort that only God can give. As we walked to the wash basin she said, “you know some people wouldn’t have done that, thank you”.

Small things. A penny. A prayer.

And that leads us into this morning’s verses.

“12 “Do for others what you would want them to do for you. This is the meaning of the Law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets.

13 “You can enter true life only through the narrow gate. The gate to hell is very wide, and there is plenty of room on the road that leads there. Many people go that way. 14 But the gate that opens the way to true life is narrow. And the road that leads there is hard to follow. Only a few people find it.” Matthew 7:12-14 ERV

Jesus was all about touching people’s lives. Intervening in their mess. Providing healing, forgiveness, help and comfort. He showed them that they could trust in God. He lived the golden rule, Do for others what you would want them to do for you. He is our example. If we want people to be kind and caring, we need to be that for them.

Jesus came to show us that we don’t have to do life on our own. We can trust our heavenly Father. Jesus openly said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” John 14:6 ERV

Jesus was the narrow way He was speaking of. He still is!

It’s not by good works, church attendance, charitable donations, self-sacrifice that we find the narrow way. It’s only found by following Jesus. That doesn’t make us narrow-minded; no, just focused on the path that leads to life eternal.

Look for the small things that will show others “the way”.

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Search & Rescue

It seems that we are going on a search and rescue mission today.

“Everyone who saw this started grumbling, ‘This man Zacchaeus is a sinner! And Jesus is going home to eat with him.’…9 Jesus said to Zacchaeus, ‘Today you and your family have been saved, because you are a true son of Abraham. 10  The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.’” Luke 19:7-10 CEV

Jesus’ mission while on earth was one that the Father had designed in heaven. God’s heart has always been to provide and care for those who seek Him.

This morning my Bible reading overlapped. What I read in the Old Testament, was the same message Jesus was teaching on the mountain. Follow along with me.

“You are merciful, Lord! You are kind and patient and always loving. 9 You are good to everyone, and you take care of all your creation…Our Lord, you keep your word and do everything you say. 14 When someone stumbles or falls, you give a helping hand. 15 Everyone depends on you, and when the time is right, you provide them with food.
16 By your own hand you satisfy the desires of all who live.” Psalm 145:8-16 CEV

This is who God is. He doesn’t change and He doesn’t lie. What He says is what He will do. These verses would have been read in the synagogue. The people He was talking to on the mountain had probably heard them many times.

These words had probably lost their meaning to many that were listening to Jesus that day. Religious tradition and opinions, along with life’s disappointments, had stolen the strength of God’s promises. But Jesus was there to restore their hope and faith in the Father.

“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks.

9 Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? 10 Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? 11 As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.” Matthew 7:7-11 CEV

Ask, Search, Knock. This is our instruction. Bring everything, every need, every desire, every worry and fear to the Father. ” your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.” or as it says in the Psalm, “By your own hand you satisfy the desires of all who live.”

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He was the Father’s hand extended from heaven, reaching out to rescue us, to lift us up when we fall and then to keep us in a place of safety.

“ God is strong and can keep you from falling. He can bring you before his glory without any wrong in you and give you great joy. 25 He is the only God, the one who saves us. To him be glory, greatness, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all time past, now, and forever. Amen.” Jude 24 & 25 ERV

We’ve been rescued by our loving heavenly Father – we once were lost but now we’re found!

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Not Easily Broken

Those are the words I was given for today. However, the context they were applied to is a new concept for me.

“A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 NLT

Most of the time this verse is taught on the message conveyed is one of friendship or marriage. Friend helping friend or husband, wife, and God forming a three-fold cord. I agree with both those teachings.

But this morning my thoughts went to I Corinthians 13.

” Love will never end. But all those gifts will come to an end—even the gift of prophecy, the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages, and the gift of knowledge. 9 These will all end because this knowledge and these prophecies we have are not complete. 10 But when perfection comes, the things that are not complete will end.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, and I made plans like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways. 12 It is the same with us. Now we see God as if we are looking at a reflection in a mirror. But then, in the future, we will see him right before our eyes. Now I know only a part, but at that time I will know fully, as God has known me. 13 So these three things continue: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:8-13 ERV

The spiritual gifts we have been given will come to end one day. Their purpose will be complete. When we stand face to face with the Father there will no longer be any need for them because we will be complete in His presence.

Until then we need to continue to experience and share the gifts He has given us. These gifts aid us as we grow in our walk with Him from childhood to maturity. The more we learn of God the clearer we see Him and His wonderful love for us.

Three things should continually guide us in our walk; faith, hope and love.

In Christ we have hope, hope for a future and hope makes not ashamed. Then our faith gives life to what we hope for; faith gives hope substance. But without love faith doesn’t work.

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 NLT

“ And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 NLT

“Hope never makes us ashamed because the love of God has come into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.” Romans 5:5 NLV

” I say this because our hope of being right with God comes through faith. And the Spirit helps us feel sure as we wait for that hope. 6 When someone belongs to Christ Jesus, it is not important if they are circumcised or not. The important thing is faith—the kind of faith that works through love.” Galatians 5:5-6 ERV

Father, I desire to see your love working in me today as I grow in you and to see your love working through me today so that others may see you more clearly. In Jesus name.

The strength we have for today can be found in the three-fold cord of faith, hope and love. The greatest of these is love!

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In the Shadow

Do you ever have things come to mind that you just have to mull over for a while? Things you need to think on, to ponder. The Bible calls that meditating – that’s what I have been doing with the beginning verses in Psalm 91.

“Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful. 2 Then you will say to the Lord, ‘You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you.’

3 The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. 4 He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall.5 You won’t need to worry about dangers at night or arrows during the day. 6 And you won’t fear diseases that strike in the dark or sudden disaster at noon…14 The Lord says, ‘If you love me and truly know who I am, I will rescue you and keep you safe. 15 When you are in trouble, call out to me. I will answer and be there to protect and honor you. 16 You will live a long life and see my saving power.” Psalm 91 CEV

Stay in the shadow – living in the desert, shadows are a good thing. It means that something is providing shade for our protection.

It became clear that God is asking us to stay under His shadow, in the shade of His protection. Look at all that happens when we stay in that place where we are close to God.

a. live under protection

b. be in a place of safety

c. kept secure night and day

d. no fear of disaster or disease

e. truly know God and His love for us

When we are in His shadow, we are under His protection. Even when there is a “shadow of death”, we can be free from fear. God is with us, and He casts a bigger shadow than death.

“Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of anything, because You are with me.” Psalm 23:4 NLV

When we stay close to the Father, we are always in the protection of His shadow.

“Your love is faithful, Lord, and even the clouds in the sky can depend on you. 6 Your decisions are always fair. They are firm like mountains, deep like the sea, and all people and animals are under your care. 7 Your love is a treasure, and everyone finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm36-5-7 CEV

What fears are holding you captive? The known and the unknown are no match for the protection of the Father. When fear comes and it will, put yourself under the shadow of the Almighty God and rest.

His protection casts a big shadow!

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