Fear Not

“The mystery was then revealed to Daniel in a vision at night, and Daniel praised the God of heavens and declared: May the name of the God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to him. He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who understand.” Daniel 2: 19-20

Fear wants my worship.

Why wouldn’t it? Living in this world that is full of fear of the unknown is the reason for me to question my heart every single day. If I am listening to that voice of fear, it will grip me every single time. It will cause me to stand still frozen not wanting to open my mouth. It will question me to continue to share all of this through writing. At the same time when I can recognize that is what is preventing me from sharing is the reason I continue to share all of it. I often thought about how writing has given me a position of being in the quiet behind the scenes. Those places I don’t want to share will be places the Lord prompts me to share. And this weekend that message about how I allow the fear to be louder than the faith was once again spoken to my heart. And learning that fear is the most common god we worship was the reminder to roar back at the enemy.

Lions. I can’t escape how Daniel was in the Lion’s den and we have been talking about how the enemy is like a lion makes me wonder why that was what Daniel faced. The only thing that held Daniel was God. Death couldn't hold him. Where did Daniel get that kind of faith? “When Daniel learned the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” Daniel 6:10

Daniel knew the Living God. He had insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom that was found in God alone. He had been captured and sent to a foreign land and surrounded by everything that wanted to destroy and take him down and the only thing that held him and determined his future was God. The same is true for us.

I learned this week that “Fear Not” is mentioned 365 times in the Bible. I love that God is not surprised by this but continually reminds our hearts and minds of this. Daniel had every reason to fear but chose before to not serve that god he chose to be determined he wasn’t going to defile himself in his foreign land. 

What would it look like to recognize the fear and roar back at the lion?

Father,

Determine our steps to be sober- minded in you alone. Aware that the enemy is roaming around roaring like a lion and knowing we have nothing to fear because you have claimed our heart. The realization that fear wants our worship is the reminder to reject the roar of rejection, hopelessness, and that we are doomed. 

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

We are yours Lord. It all belongs to you, and we are living for your everlasting Kingdom rule in our hearts. 

You are the Alpha and Omega the Almighty the Everlasting God!

I ask for prayers this coming week. I’m going to be with a bunch of middle schoolers at camp. Pray that hearts will come to know the One Living God and that lives will be changed. Thanks again for allowing me to share. See you back in a bit.

Angela