Fear Not

#HeartForTheWord

The first time God says, “Fear not,” in the Bible, He says it to Abram. Abram must have felt some discomfort about being taken care of because God’s calming comments were threefold. “Do not be afraid…”, “I am your shield,” and “[I am] your exceedingly great reward” Genesis 15:1 (NKJ). In those three remarks, God covers, for Abram and for us, the most central issues with which we as His children deal every day. We question our plans, our protection, and our payment.

“Do not be afraid.” I heard that there are 365 times when the Bible says, “Fear not;” that’s a “fear not” for every day of the year. As I started to investigate this claim, I read God’s utterances of this phrase in the rest of the book of Genesis. He says:

Fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. (21:17)
Fear not, for I am with thee (26:24)
Fear not; thou shalt have this son also (35:17)
Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation (46:3)
Fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones (50:21)

When our plans are at stake—be they dealing with His presence, our children, our care, our future, or our understanding of what to do with a vision He’s given us—He speaks a “fear not” that accompanies His plan to take care us our situation.

“I am your shield.” Sometimes we wonder whether or not we’ll be okay when we face opposition. Whenever we need protection, God is there for us. God goes before us, He’s our rearguard, a shield about us, the Rock on which we can stand, and our covering.

“[I am] your exceedingly great reward.” We don’t live for money, but it takes money to live. We don’t serve God to gain His favor, but He showers us with His favor as we serve Him. When it comes to our payment in any area of our lives, God lets us know that He Himself is our payment: our reward.

So as we face the day, know that God continually assuages all our concerns. Worship Him for being the Fear Destroyer.

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©2014 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

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Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide for Launching Young Adult Children

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Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame

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