3 ways God helps us overcome our Fears

 Read Psalm 27. 

Who would have thought that David-the shepherd boy who killed a lion and a bear in the open field, the young man who faced down Goliath and killed him, the mighty warrior and general of Israel's armies, struggled with fear? 

All of us fight our fears.  Some are frighten by the reality of things present, others by the uncertainty of the future, or by our feelings of helplessness.  Worry and self-pity can freeze right thinking and paralyze us.  Unloading our emotions on other people about our circumstances often causes us to sound like we are stuck in repeat mode, saying things over and over.  Some may become aggressive in their behaviors to fight back in an attempt to mask their fears.  None of these approaches will prove to resolve the root issue. 

The Psalmist turns our attention to the all-powerful LORD, the One who is truly in charge.  What is it about our faith in God that meets our real needs? 

1. The LORD is my light.

Our concerns about what might happen, what might be lurking in the dark ahead that we cannot see, is alleviated when someone turns on the light.  The things around us become visible and clear.  Most of the time we discover that our fears were unfounded.  With understanding we can see our way and become confident in taking the next steps.

One of the claims of Jesus was this: "I am the Light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105) 

2. The LORD is my salvation.

When the fears are real and must be faced, the believer places their trust in God to deliver them one way or another.  This requires faith in God's plans that will bring about good for us and glory to Him.  His deliverance is what we seek. 

Daniel refused to renounce his faith in God.  Darius, king of the Persian Empire, was tricked into executing Daniel by throwing him into a den of lions.  It was an impossible situation, but the LORD was Daniel's deliverance.  In response, the king wrote a decree that all the people of the empire were to "tremble and fear the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed and his dominion shall be to the end.  He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions." (Daniel 6:26-27) 

3. The LORD is the stronghold of my life.

He is the first place to run when feeling threatened.

"...we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul..." (Hebrews 6:18b-19a)

A 7-Point Personal Check-up

 Read Psalm 26. 

Self-evaluation is one thing.  To ask God to evaluate one's life is a totally different matter. 

David did not proclaim these statements about himself out of pride or perfection but because of his innocence.  Obviously, something had taken place.   Perhaps, he had been falsely accused.  This warrior wanted it on record that he had nothing to do with it. 

The personal assessment could not have been more thorough.

-his heart and mind v.2

-his eyes and behavior v.3

-his influencers v.4

-his attitude toward sin v.5

-his worship v.6

-his speech v.7

-his love of God v.8 

We may fool other people.  We may deceive ourselves.  But the LORD looks on our hearts.  The growing believer in Jesus has an intentional daily time with such a check-up in the Scriptures and prayer.  When God declares us forgiven and clean, we are spiritually healthy indeed! 

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

(Hebrews 4:11-12)

6 Benefits for trusting God in Hard Times

 Read Psalm 25. 

If you have ever felt lonely, afflicted, troubled, distressed, and hated you are in good company.  To say that King David was under duress when he wrote this song would be an understatement.  He experienced all those emotions at the same time! 

He prayed to know what to do and which way to go (vv.4-5). His fear was that after all his praying and trying to please the LORD that he would come to an embarrassing end.  So, he waited, waited, and waited some more for God to act on his behalf. 

This test of his faith caused him to go back to the basics.  Instead of living in fear of circumstances, what is a person who trusts in God supposed to be experiencing?  "Who is the man who fears the LORD?" (v.12)  What does God do for that person? 

6 Benefits for Trusting God. (vv.12-16)

1. God will show what to do.

"Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose."

God has a plan and He knows the way.  Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." 

2. God will give His peace.

"His soul shall abide in well-being."

He is the only true source of peace.  Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." 

3. God will sustain the future.

"His offspring shall inherit the land."

More than material goods, there is a legacy of our faith we leave for the next generation and beyond.

Psalm 22:30-31 "Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the LORD to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it." 

4. God will be THE best friend forever.

"The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him."

We may be lonely, but we are never alone.  God's presence is always with us.

Hebrews 13:5b-6 "I will never leave you nor forsake you.  So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" 

5. God will keep His promise.

"He makes known to him His covenant."

More than instruction, God has made eternal promises and He will fulfill them.  Galatians 3:13-14 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'--so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith." 

6. God will protect us.

"For he will pluck my feet out of the net."

There all kinds of dangers with each and every step in life.  Psalm 91:2 "I will say to the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"

The Sovereign's Crown

 Read Psalm 24. 

These three songs, Psalms 22-24, present a full picture of the Messiah.  He died on the cross.  He cares for and leads His people.  But there is even a greater view of who Jesus is.  He is the eternal King of glory! 

The poetic picture is that of the watchman on the city wall.  Suddenly, he sees someone coming and recognizes the king immediately.  With that he shouts the order to those in charge, "Open the gates!"  After a victorious battle, David had experienced such triumphal entries.  But here he imagined the day when the Messiah would enter to rule and reign, once and for all. 

Why is this One so immediately welcomed?

1. He is the Owner. (vv.1-2)

Everything and everyone in heaven and on earth belongs to Him.  It is His by creation.  As the rightful Owner, He has full claim. 

2. He is Holy. (vv.3-6)

The Messiah is Immanuel, God with us.  Then, David asked a logical question, "Who can stand in the presence of this holy LORD?"  The requirements are not a secret.

-Clean hands: what we do, conduct

-Pure heart: who we are, character

-Honest speech: what we say, credibility

Such personal holiness is impossible apart from the forgiveness of the Savior and a life surrendered to Him.  The results are blessing and righteousness. 

3. He is All-powerful. (v.8)

This is not the meek and mild Jesus of the manger.  This is not the suffering Savior on the cross.  The King of glory is coming in power to take over His world.  The Prophet Isaiah foretold both the first and second comings of Christ.

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore." (Isaiah 9:6-7) 

"Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20)

The Shepherd's Crook

 Read Psalm 23. 

This Psalm is surely quoted more than any other passage in all the Old Testament.  It paints a graphic picture of the LORD being a shepherd of His people.  The same metaphor is used throughout the Scriptures but none provides a more complete and poetic rendering. 

1. A Good Shepherd cares for His sheep. (vv.2-3)

His loving care is seen by providing food, water, rest, and a good path for the journey.  His staff is a walking stick for leading the sheep.  On the end is a crook for pulling back the wayward. 

2. A Good Shepherd comforts His sheep. (v.4)

Sheep can be easily frightened.  They are defenseless.  But even in the darkest, scariest places the loving shepherd is there watching and protecting.  His rod, or club, can fend off any threatening wild beast. 

3. A Good Shepherd celebrates with His sheep. (vv.5-6)

Note that David shifts the analogy to his own reality and hope.  This is a personal celebration of victory now in this life and a promise of an eternity with this Shepherd. 

Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:11) 

"The LORD is my shepherd."  What is the most important, life-changing word in that phrase?  The difference maker is the word "my".  When a person confesses this personal relationship with Jesus, their eternal destiny immediately changes.

The Savior's Cross

 Read Psalm 22. 

David described his suffering to be so intense it was like being put to death by his enemies.  Anyone who is familiar with the New Testament cannot help but see how prophetic this picture is of the crucifixion of Jesus.  Though on his own David certainly was not writing about Messiah directly (a thousand years in advance), the typology is there.  The Holy Spirit gave David the poetic descriptions of his circumstances and the Gospel writers got to see its ultimate fulfillment in the passion of Christ. 

1. The cry of Christ (vv.1-2)

These are the exact words that Jesus used hanging on the cross (Matthew 27:46).  It came in the very moment that God, the Father, laid the sin of the world upon the Savior.

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) 

2. The criticism of Christ (vv.6-8)

Amazingly, in the fulfillment of God's prophetic word, the unbelieving crowd did not realize they were quoting these verses as they ridiculed Jesus on the cross (Matthew 27:39-44).

About 500 years in advance Isaiah wrote, "He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:3) 

3. The crucifixion of Christ (vv.14-18)

There is no mention of crucifixion in David's day.  It was the Romans who used it to publicly humiliate those who dared oppose them.  The prophetic typology was fulfilled to the last detail, including the soldiers gambling for his garments. (Matthew 27:35) 

Obviously, David did not die in this instance.  God answered his prayer.  Though Jesus died on the cross and was buried, He rose from the grave in proof that He is God.  In Acts 2:27, the Apostle Peter quoted Psalm 16:10 as a prophetic word concerning the resurrection of Jesus.  "For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption." 

David's deliverance caused him to praise the LORD and want to tell others about it (v.22).  In addition, he looked forward to a day when "all the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you." (v.27)

Counting our many Blessings

 Read Psalm 21. 

Quite often people only see prayer as a means for what they can get from God.  Few take time to celebrate what He has already done.  King David took that time in this song.  God had been good to him and he wanted everyone else to know about it. 

1. He celebrated God's provision in his life.

-God answered his prayers (v.2)

-God gave him material blessings (v.3)

-God spared his life and legacy (v.4)

-God honored him (v.5)

-God made His presence personally known to him (v.6)

-God established his life with His love (v.7) 

2. He celebrated God’s protection of his life.

-God knows His enemies.  David's enemies were haters of God. (v.8)

-God judges those who oppose Him (v.9)

-God destroys the legacy of the wicked (v.10)

-God ensures that the plans of His enemies ultimately fail (v.11)

-God puts His enemies on the run (v.12) 

This is an encouragement for all of us to stop and make our own lists of how God has blessed us and protected us.  Let the music begin. 

"We will sing and praise your power." (v.13b)