He Himself has said . . . . So we may boldly say . . . —Hebrews 13:5-6
My assurance is to be built upon God’s assurance to me. God says, “I will never leave you,” so that then I “may boldly say, ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6). In other words, I will not be obsessed with apprehension. This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God’s words of assurance. I will be full of courage, like a child who strives to reach the standard his father has set for him. The faith of many people begins to falter when apprehensions enter their thinking, and they forget the meaning of God’s assurance— they forget to take a deep spiritual breath. The only way to remove the fear from our lives is to listen to God’s assurance to us.
What are you fearing? Whatever it may be, you are not a coward about it— you are determined to face it, yet you still have a feeling of fear. When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, “But ’The Lord is my helper’ this very moment, even in my present circumstance.” Are you learning to listen to God before you speak, or are you saying things and then trying to make God’s Word fit what you have said? Take hold of the Father’s assurance, and then say with strong courage, “I will not fear.” It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in our way, because “He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you . . . .’ ”
Human frailty is another thing that gets between God’s words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be nonexistent. But remember God’s assurance to us— “I will never. . . forsake you.” Have we learned to sing after hearing God’s keynote? Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, “The Lord is my helper,” or are we yielding to fear?
Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
Not that Spiritual Life is a game, or just a game … but there are some similarities between my life with you and a close basketball game. First one team is ahead, then the other. There are times of momentum when one team seems uncatchable, then they seem to run out of gas and the other team catches them. Sometimes there are surprises, and cliff-hangers as the ball bounces back and forth across the rim … will it go in, will it go out? My life is kind of like all of that. Sometimes I seem invincible. I’m walking with you and it’s all good. The good guys are winning. Then the momentum changes (it’s probably that invincible feeling… dangerous to humans on a mission) and doubts creep in and I start stressing out. Sometimes the other team get’s way ahead and I really run amuck. But after a time-out and your pep talk, the good team (you and me) comes from behind to re-gain the lead.
Well, since my experience is like a game anyway, why dont I look for more parallels from sports and use them to get competitive and see if I can start winning more. Kicking in the competitive nature that you created me with.
I have no problem with that. I did make you that way. Remember what Paul said comparing life to an athletic competition. Also a military battle. Remember Jonathan who was feeling competitive …
“Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!” 1 Sam 14:6
And of course remember that We win in the end. That’s always the last line in my pep talks. And if you carry that in your heart and your head you will win more and more of the encounters brought by the circumstances of life. You can think of yourself as an athlete in a competition or a soldier in a war. Walk with me and remember my pep talks and win.
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