Every Day a Fearless Day
Opening Prayer
Identify those things you are afraid of today, and be ready to bring them to God.
Read Isaiah 44:1–8
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
“But now listen, Jacob, my servant,
Israel, whom I have chosen.
2 This is what the Lord says—
he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
5 Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’;
others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
and will take the name Israel.
The Lord, Not Idols
6 “This is what the Lord says—
Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
apart from me there is no God.
7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
and what is yet to come—
yes, let them foretell what will come.
8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?
No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What is your biggest fear or worry right now?God’s injunction not to fear is found many times in the Scriptures. Two of these “do not be afraid” statements are here (2,8). At the start of the chapter, the servant’s fear seems to do with his thirst and the dryness of the land. Perhaps few of us have felt fearful about what we will actually drink tomorrow but many of my own neighbors do live with real anxieties about how they will “make ends meet.”
The God who “formed us in the womb” understands our fears and, even if these are irrational and stemming from a lack of faith, his response is to offer solutions.
God’s aid is practical. Firstly, he tells us to listen—right now (1). I wonder how often we miss God’s guidance simply because we are not paying attention. Secondly, he reminds us of who we truly are: we are God’s chosen people. Then, after the promise that he will help, we learn the marvelous details about exactly how our God is intending to act. Note that God’s provisions here are multi-layered. The pouring out of blessing includes
actual waters and then spiritual outpourings (3), and both of these are not only for the present but for those who will come later (4,5), whose futures God can see so much more clearly than those of us struggling with our fears today.
Apply
Have you prepared the soil of your heart to receive the water that the Lord promised to bring? Take time now to surrender to God.
Closing prayer
O Lord, my Rock (8), I lay my fears before You.
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