The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.
- The Lord is my Protector, I shall not be afraid.
- The Lord is my Savior, I shall not be enslaved.
- The Lord is my Comforter, I shall not live in discouragement or sadness.
- The Lord is my Friend, I shall never be alone.
Obviously you know the first line as it comes straight from Psalm 23. The other 4 lines are my own construct based upon the Word, character and revelation of God in my own life.
It is easy to be afraid when things are unknown and times are uncertain.
It is easy to be afraid when your senses tell you that something out of your control is drawing near.
But I am not afraid, because the Lord is with me. He is for me. He actually dwells among His people and lives inside of me.
None of this is by any good thing I have done, but simply because He is loving, gracious and merciful. It is by His own holiness and unmerited favor that I am able to say the Lord is with me.
It is by the nearness and salvation of the Lord that I am able to say I am not afraid.
- I am not afraid to die. If I die it is gain and I will be ushered even nearer to the Lord who is now with me.
- I am not afraid to live, because Christ is with me.
I am not afraid to serve others and proclaim the gospel because I am empowered by God’s Holy Spirit.
That’s not to say that I don’t have some trepidation about what I don’t know, can’t control and can’t handle on my own. I still struggle with seeking the approval of others and wanting everything to be safe and secure. But in this world we will have trouble.
And yet greater is He who is with me and in me than the enemy who is in the world. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. And even when I die in this world, by God’s sufficient grace and atoning blood I will be ushered into the kingdom of heaven to enjoy Him forever.
So if a car accident, gunshot, cancer or coronavirus kills me, even then God will work it all out for my good as He rescues me from this present evil world.
If God leaves me here in the midst of the pain, suffering and chaos of this world, He will always be with me supplying peace, joy and strength. I will never lack the wisdom or perseverance I need when I rest in Him.
As I walk with Him I will be made holy as He is holy and I will be continually accepted in the beloved.
So, I am not afraid and I will not live/act/respond in fear to the troubles of this world. And when/if I ever do get out of step with His Holy Spirit, then by His mercy/grace I will freely confess and heartily (re)consecrate myself to Him so that He will get the glory, I will grow in grace and His kingdom will advance here on earth.
I pray that you also will cling to the Lord and discover the peace, freedom and courage that He gives. Trust and follow Jesus alone as your Savior and Lord. Rest in Him, let Him be your salvation and refuge.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
Pastor Michael Johnson 