Coronavirus, Global Warming, Climate Change, Overpopulation, etc. we hear in the media about all the calamities we should be afraid of. This is not a new phenomenon.

In the Old Testament, Isaiah the prophet was told by God that Assyria was soon going to conquer Israel. He said, however, in Isaiah 8:12-14, “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them. Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life.  He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. He is the one who will keep you safe” NLT

Without a doubt there are risks and dangers in our lives, but we need to remember who controls all. We should put our “fear” in God’s power not the risks and dangers of the day. We need to put our faith and hope in God who has the power to deliver us from our fears here on earth, and any fear of what happens after we leave our earthly life.

Dear Lord, help us remember that you are in control of everything on earth. When we truly put our faith in you we have nothing to fear. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

If we think about it, we have all been part of achieving something that required a team, working together to accomplish something we could not have done on our own. It may have been a sports team, a community or church project, or even a business startup. All significant successes are the result of a team of people’s efforts.

Doing God’s work is the same, but with an important addition. Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 3:6,7, “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.”

In doing God’s work, we each have our part to play. When we work together and have faith, God will “make the seed grow.”

Dear Lord, You are the power behind all our success, help us remember to work together to spread your word and love, with faith that you will make the seed grow. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

It is sometimes hard to believe how people can have such bad judgment and do some of the things they do today. This is not anything new. In fact Jesus tells us this will happen in Matthew 7:13-14, saying, “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

It takes a discipline, courage, and commitment to follow the path God wants for us. We cannot just go along with what is popular or trendy. We need to as written in Proverbs 4:26-27, “Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”

Dear Lord, The Devil is expert at tempting us, and the desires of the world are so appealing. We know with your help we can overcome these distractions that can lead us away. Help us set our own straight path, following your teachings so that we enter the narrow gate by your grace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The worldly stereotype of Christian morality is that it is constricting and takes the fun out of life. The truth is that it is the “owner’s manual” for a good life.

Psalm 19:8 says, “The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.”

If we want a life that is peace and joy filled, the Bible tells us how. Following the commonly described “10 commandments” written in Exodus 20, and Deuteronomy 5, in my words, put all your trust in God and don’t make other things more important than Him, show respect for God’s name, go to church, respect and honor your parents and authorities; Don’t murder, commit sexual sins, steal, lie, or desire something so much that you would do wrong to get it.

And the two greatest commandments Jesus described in Matthew 22:36-44, when asked, “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Many times in life it may look deceptively better to do something that is in conflict with these commands, but it will turn out to be the wrong path.

I recently heard a friend capture this concept very clearly like this, “Sin is its own punishment, and virtue its own reward.”

Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us the instruction manual for a peace and joy filled life through your teachings in the Bible. Help us study them and strive to follow. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

A business coach I follow describes the process of Four C’s he believes are required to build confidence,. Commitment, Courage, Capability, Confidence. He says you must first make a commitment to pursue something, then have the courage to try and possibly fail early on. However, once you have practiced you will have built the capability, and with development of that capability you build confidence. The hardest part in this sequence for many people is Courage, because courage is always uncomfortable. In order to build confidence we have to go through this discomfort associated with exercising courage.

James describes a similar situation with our faith. He writes in James 1:2-3, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

Either resulting from the discomfort of courage, or the joy in facing troubles with faith, our endurance and confidence in God’s power and love will grow when we count on it.

Dear Lord, when we face difficulties, disappointments, and fears in our lives, help us embrace them with the knowledge that our faith in you is what will carry us through, remembering what Paul told us in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” In Jesus’ name. Amen.