Devotion for Saturday, April 4
 
CHOOSING FAITH OVER FEAR
 
"Do not be afraid...for I myself will help you," declares the
Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41:14
 
The nature of love is trust. Trust is what brings us close. Fear, on the other hand, drives a wedge between us.
 
Fear is very real in life, because there is so much that we can't control - like the situation we all find ourselves in right now. Maybe that's why "Do not fear!" is repeated in the Bible so many times. God is constantly telling us not to be afraid, because he knows we almost always are. And for good reason. But it isn't fear that's the problem; it's what fear makes us do that concerns Him. Someone said, "Courage is just fear that has said its prayers." I love that! And I'm saying my prayers every day!
 
I know that I'm not the person I want to be - and I'm not the person God wants me to be when I sit, trembling in the dark, or when I'm swirling out of control in fear. Fear causes us to say...What is going to happen next? What if...what if...what if...what if...
 
Brothers and Sisters, I don't want to live that way.
 
When I pray and ask God to look after my loved ones, to help with whatever I am going through, to give me strength and wisdom; and when I trust that He is doing so, I'm choosing faith over fear. And that makes Him proud - I believe it puts a smile on His face.
 
Let us pray: Gracious God, help us to trust you with everything that happens in our lives. We do believe...help our unbelief. Amen.
 
                                                                          Pastor Ruth
 
820 Almshouse Road  Ivyland, PA 18974
215 357-6998   stjumc@aol.com