fear, day 2

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: 1 John 4:16-21

Reading for Reflection:

We are fearful people.  The more people I come to know and the more I come to know people, the more I am overwhelmed by the negative power of fear.  It often seems that fear has invaded every part of our being to such a degree that we no longer know what a life without fear would feel like.  There always seems to be something to fear: something within us or around us, something close or far away, something visible or invisible, something in ourselves, in others, or in God.  There never seems to be a totally fear-free moment.  When we think, talk, act or react, fear always seems to be there:  an omnipresent force that we cannot shake off.  Often fear has penetrated our inner selves so deeply that it controls, whether we are aware of it or not, most of our choices and decisions.  (Lifesigns by Henri J.M. Nouwen)

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)