Don't Bolt

# 387 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 5:36, “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe."

“Do not be afraid.” Someone has said that there are 365 phrases in the Bible connected with the admonition from the Lord to cease from fear. That's one for every day of the year. I tried counting them using my concordance, but I couldn't find that many. Nonetheless it is a constant theme found in Scripture.

Fear is a big time enemy of the human heart and one of the devil's most potent tools. When a lion hunts it's prey, one of the things it seeks to do is strike fear in it's victims. If a wildebeest can become so fearful that it bolts from the safety of the herd, it's supper time for the lion. This is what the devil tries to do with you and I as well. Create fear! If we get fearful enough we might panic and leave the safety of the herd.

Beloved. I don't know your own fearful situation. All I can say is Jesus says, “don't give in to your fears.” Rather choose to live in faith. Choose to remain in the safety of the herd, (stay connected with the people in your church) Choose to trust that God will not forsake you, He will pull you through this time of fearful trial.

Joh 10:29 says, "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.”

It's important to note that God doesn't hold us in a clenched fist. He holds us in His open hand. And while the devil and his demons can buzz all around us, trying to get us to bolt, as long as we remain in God's hand, we are safe.

Don't bolt. Remain in the hand of the Father. Remain in the faith. It is the only safe place to be.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.