“OUR COMFORT ZONE” Psalm 56: 1-9 This “Our Daily Bread” devotion caught my attention: A young woman was waiting for a bus in a crime-ridden area when a rookie policeman approached her and asked, "Do you want me to wait with you?" "That's not necessary," she replied. "I'm not afraid." "Well, I am," he grinned. "Would you mind waiting with me?" Like that policeman, we as Christians must be willing to admit that sometimes we become fearful—about dying, about getting cancer, about losing our mind, about losing our job, about our children getting in trouble, family problems, getting old. We don't like to confess it, so we may ignore, deny, or repress those fears. But to overcome our fear, we must first acknowledge it.
The
psalmist recognized his fears. "Whenever I am afraid," he said, "I will
trust in You" (Psalm 56:3). This trust in the Lord gave him a growing
confidence. "I will not fear," he said (v.4). And again, "I will not be
afraid" (v.11). This was much more than self-talk. It was a conscious
decision to trust in God: "I will." We can conquer our fears. To admit
that we are afraid is to admit that we are human. But to admit being
afraid and then trusting the Lord and going forward will take the fear out
of fear. I want to add a note as well, from verse 8. Back in the early sixties I started keeping a daily record of what I did in the pastorate - - sermons I preached - - attendance - -visits I made, and with whom. I did this to remind myself of peoples needs - - sick people - - grieving people - - people who were wandering. David said, “Thou records my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? God sees where we walk, and some of our paths are bumpy. Some of our journey through life will take us over highways that have “low shoulders.” These can be deadly; but let me add quickly - - God sees where we walk - - He knows the paths we take - - He sees the tears we shed. Child of God, our life is as an open book; and He’s going to say, “I knew when your heart was broken - - I knew what you were going through - - I kept a record.” “…. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” [Ps. 30:5b]. Those who have dropped me a note recently - - I hurt with you, and no, I cannot bear your pain, but I do know this: God knows your heart break - - your difficulties and sorrows. The day is coming when your sorrow will be turned to joy, and your tears will glorify Him. It is in the book - - the book of life. ><))):> In "HIS" Service, Bro. Roy
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