unwilling, friday

Friday, March 6

Opening Prayer: Lord God, help us to believe.  Help us to believe that in all times and in all circumstances you will take care of us if we will simply trust you and follow you.  Keep us, O Lord, from being unwilling to follow you because of fear, but instead, help us to be willing to go wherever you may lead because of faith.  Amen.

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 1:19-33

Journal: How does fear effect your level of willingness or unwillingness with God?  Where are you unwilling to be obedient because you are afraid of what it might cost you?  What things seem like “giants” to you right now?  What things are scaring you away from what God has promised if you will just be willing and obedient?

Reflection:

     Giants.  That is what the Israelites were afraid of.  That is what kept them from taking possession of the land God had promised them, even though God had told them plainly that he would care for them and fight for them and give this good and fruitful land to them. 

     Not much has changed after all these years.  We are still afraid of giants.  Giants are still what keep us from taking possession of the fullness and the life that God desires us to have with him.  Giants make cowards of us all.  Giants make it difficult to trust.  Medical reports, financial crises, insecurities, family conflicts, loneliness, depression, are all giants that can paralyze us with fear and keep us from be willing to be obedient.  They can keep us from trusting God’s promises and his word, and even his very heart.  Giants cause us to doubt.   

     What is looming large in your life right now?  What just looks too big and too overwhelming to overcome?  How are those giants keeping you from the life God most wants for you these days?  Listen to the words God gave the Israelites as they struggled with fear and take them for your own.  Remember that he loves you.  He will care for you.  He will fight for you.  He is trustworthy.  So fear not!

Prayers

Closing 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 us when our seeing and our thinking get so distorted that we allow fear to control us and make us its slave.  Seize our hearts with your perfect love and drive out all fear, no matter how big the giants might appear.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.