fear, day 5

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
O Lord our God, help us to live our lives with the faith and courage necessary to live by love and not by fear. Forgive me when my seeing and my thinking get so distorted that I allow fear to control me and make me its slave—even when I don’t fully realize it. Seize my heart and soul with your perfect love in such a way that it drives out all fear and gives me the freedom to truly love, rather than manipulate, those in my life and world. In the name of Jesus. Amen. (JLB)


Psalm for the Week: Psalm 27

Scripture for the Day: 2 Timothy 1:6-12

Reading for Reflection:

True religion is never about fear.  It is always about moving beyond fear.  Yet many of us were religiously trained to be comfortable with fear.  Most of you reading this were given the quote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10 and Proverbs 1:7).  We were taught “fear of God” as a virtue when we were small children.  In fact, the word “fear” in both Psalms and Proverbs means the awe that small children have for someone they honor and respect.  It is not the fear of being harmed, but the awe of reverence and honor for someone we look up to and are devoted to.  That is a very different concept, and the English word “fear” doesn’t do it justice.  To live in awe before God’s wonder is a virtue.  “Anxiety about many things” is what Jesus says we needn’t have (Luke 12:22-32).  Anxiety and faith seem to be opposites for Jesus. (Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr)

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: Isaiah 43

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you
And the waves shall not overcome you
Do not fear for I have redeemed you
I have called you by name, you are mine

For I am the Lord your God (Ladies repeat)

I am the Lord your God (Ladies repeat)
I am the Holy One of Israel—your Savior

Men                             Ladies
I am the Lord              Do not fear
I am the Lord              Do not fear
I am the Lord              Do not fear
I am the Lord              Do not fear

When you walk through the fire, you’ll not be burned

And the flames, they shall not consume you

Do not fear for I have for I have redeemed you

I have called you by name, you are mine


Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus,
Help me to hear your words, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” and to believe them in the deepest places of my heart. Help me to live my life by those words this day. For your sake and by your Spirit and in your name. Amen. (JLB)