I’ve heard that there are 365 ‘do not fear’ verses in the Bible, one for every day. And since fearing people instead of fearing God is a big struggle for me, I decided to look into this. And the more I looked into this – and was encouraged and challenged – the more I realized I had to share this with others. So, let’s continue this journey together – week 3; and I don’t think it will last 365 days!
Day 11 – A Prayer For Our Country
2 Kings 17:25, 33, 41 At the beginning of their living there, they did not fear the Lord; therefore the Lord sent lions among them which killed some of them. ... They feared the Lord and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been carried away into exile. ... So while these nations feared the Lord, they also served their idols; their children likewise and their grandchildren, as their fathers did, so they do to this day.
Story: Lions were killing the new settlers of Samaria! Foreigners who worshipped their own gods did not fear the LORD, and so the LORD sent the lions. The answer was to send priests to Samaria and teach the commandments of God so that these settlers would fear God – essentially, government-sponsored evangelism. Except the result was imperfect. The people adopted some of the worship forms of fearing the LORD, but kept up the worship of their foreign gods. The lions went away, but the spiritual death in Samaria lasted for generations.
My Prayer Response: Father, I am to have no other gods but You; I am to love you with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. But I fear for my country and state; that we do some things to give regard to You, and yet hold on to our own foreign gods. A spiritual death of multiple generations. Please, Father, causes us to repent! Cause us to fear You truly, and not just go through the motions!
Father, here I am. Use me. Send me. In whatever way You desire. In suffering or service. In approval or criticism. In visible or invisible results. There’s so much that I don’t understand or cannot do. Yet all the same, use me. Send me. I am here, totally Yours!
May the LORD use you to bless our land!
Day 12 – Facing A Test
Exodus 20:20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”
Story: Israel has finally made it to Mount Sinai, and so now God gives the Ten Commandments. Before God gives these, He announces His presence with thunder, lightning, a thick cloud, and a very loud trumpet sound (Exodus 19:16). Immediately after the giving of the Ten Commandments, the people respond in great fear, trembling at the presence of God (Exodus 20:18). They don’t want God to speak to them, but instead have Moses be the recipient of God’s Word (Exodus 20:19). And so Moses responds in Exodus 20:20 with two elements of fear: do not be afraid, yet fear God! Do not be afraid of God’s punishment, for He is an approachable God; it’s why He’s arranged this great meeting on Mount Sinai. But know God truly and accurately, so that you fear Him. So that the truth of who God is controls and transforms your life.
My Prayer Response: Father, I don’t want to be like the people of Israel and miss the invitations to draw near to You. Help me to see the invitations that come from You, especially when they come in the form of tests. I understand and accept that my life must be transformed as I draw closer and closer to You. I must shed my sin; I must submit to Your authority; I must put You first. Help me to sink my teeth into this truth so that I fear You this day!
Feel free to share this with anyone you know. If you’d like someone to be added to this, please let me know. If you would like to be taken off of this, please replay back with ‘Stop’.
May the LORD test you so that the fear of Him remains with you!
Day 13 – Real Fear In Real Estate
Leviticus 25:17 ‘So you shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God.
Story: Every fifty years was to be a Year of Jubilee for Israelites. Everyone got a whole year off to worship the LORD (v. 10-11)! At that point, all property that was bought and sold would revert back to the original owners, the inheritance each tribe and family received from the LORD when they entered the Promised Land. So the price of the land (or home or farm) was to be based on the years until the next Jubilee (v. 15-16). What Israel needed to understand is that the LORD their God is part of every sale, every transaction.
My Prayer Response: Father, You are involved in every area of my life. Nothing is too small or trivial. How I treat other people today must be based on the truth that all I do is in Your Presence, and is to be done in imitation of who You are. Instead of loving myself, I want to love and fear You today so that in any and all interactions with others, I love and serve them.
May the LORD strengthen you to love others today!
Day 14 – May God Give You Peace
Leviticus 26:6 ‘I shall also grant peace in the land, so that you may lie down with no one making you tremble. I shall also eliminate harmful beasts from the land, and no sword will pass through your land.’
Story (Hannah): God is making promises to Israel about what will happen if one does or does not follow God’s commands. Verses 1-13 proclaim what will happen if you and your household are faithful to God. If we are faithful to God, He will grant us blessings. However, this does not mean life will be a piece of cake and very easy. But these verses do show us that despite our sin, God loves us. Even when we are unfaithful, God will give blessing after blessing. God always keeps His promises.
Now this particular verse is cool. God promises peace. Jesus, God’s gift to us, is the Prince of Peace. God is peace and rest, and as king of the universe, He grants peace and rest. God has a plan, and He is awesome. So there is nothing to worry about.
In the second part of this verse, God promises to eliminate beasts and swords. For this, I don’t imagine a wolf or horse; I imagine a dragon. I mean, what’s more harmful than a dragon? God is 1,000 more times powerful and awe-inspiring than a dragon; and He can, with a single word, bring down any harmful beast. Now that is cool! As for the sword, I imagine not just a sword, but a knight with Aragorn fighting skills. But what is a knight without his weapons? It is because God is the source of protection, and He eliminates the need for the knight. We don’t need a knight to save us, because God already has!
My Prayer Response: Father, You can give us peace, so that we lie down to sleep without fear, trembling, or anxiety! Your peace surpasses all understanding; Your peace guards us; Your peace reminds us that Jesus has overcome the world with its tribulations. Thank You that this is Yours to give, and not mine to earn or take. Please, grant me Your peace today!
May the LORD give you a peaceful day and peaceful sleep!