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WEEKLY ENCOURAGEMENT
Updated: Tuesday, February 26, 2008

I want you to imagine yourself in an immense, stone walled fortress, on a high rocky mountain and around the fortress is an invincible guardian that never sleeps and is equipped with unlimited power. Now, would you be afraid of your enemies while you were living in this fortress? I don't think so and neither would l. Now read the following verses.

"I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower" Psalm 16:1-2

I hope the connection comes to you quickly. The description in the first paragraph is exactly what we have in Christ Jesus!! God Himself is all we need: the fortress, the rock, the guardian, our Saviour and our strength. Then why do we sometimes feel so vulnerable and alone? Why are we so fearful of the people around us and even of our own feelings. If God's word is true, and it is, then the problem can't be on God's side, it must be on ours.

We simply forget to put God in the situation and to put Him up front in our thoughts and the meditations of our hearts. It is either neglect or doubt that is behind our fears and lonely feelings, and both of these are sin. A hard word that we don't really like to use, but it is the truth. Let's look again at a few things David said.

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. " Psalms 46:1

"As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: her is a buckler to all those that trust in him." Psalm 18:30

"In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid what man can do unto me." Psalms 56:11

Did you notice the little words, " I will..." and "those who trust..."? These words show us clearly that we have a choice!! I simple have to choose to take God at His word, and rest in that FACT that He is "my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my buckler and my high tower." Make that decision to exercise your faith and trust in the promises of God and then thank Him that they are true!. Our feelings really have absolutely nothing to do with the reality of the situation.

I love the promise and the command God gave to Joshua in Joshua 1:9, "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee wither soever thou goest."

And as God promised Moses, He also has promised us as His born-again children "And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8 Let me encourage you to do what I have to do so often, stop and realize the wonderful promises of God are real and they really have power for us today. RELY ON THEM!!!!!!

- Sandy Hastings
February 26, 2008
If you wish to contact me personally, e-mail me at sandy.hastings@gmx.de