Seed Thoughts
//Lynette Hagin
As we look at the world we live in, it would be very easy to let ourselves be dominated by fear. The media bombard us with negative happenings. Reports of economic conditions, natural disasters, crime, health concerns, terrorist attacks, and so forth would cause us to look for a place to hibernate and keep to ourselves.
Fear starts early in life. Often young children become fearful of the dark. When our daughter, Denise, was a little girl, a neighbor girl would tell her that there were monsters and we should be afraid of them. Of course, we assured Denise that no monsters could possibly come near us because we were protected by the 91st Psalm.
One day the little girl was once again trying to make Denise afraid of monsters. Suddenly I heard our daughter call the girl by her name and say, “The 91st Psalm says, ‘No monsters can come nigh you.’” I laughed, but I thought that was a pretty good interpretation of the 91st Psalm. Denise was making that scripture personal for her situation. That was the end of the monster scare for Denise.
Fear of monsters may sound trivial to us as adults. However, there are fears that will try to capture us, just as the monster fear tried to torment our daughter. It is important that we face our fears and allow the Lord to turn those fears into faith in His promises.
Fear can paralyze us. I was fearful of flying for many years. When I was in an aircraft and turbulence occurred, my stomach would
turn somersaults from fear. I would grip my husband’s hand so tightly that my nails would almost cause it to bleed. I would take
authority over that fear in the Name of Jesus, because I knew where the fear was coming from. Yet I still would have difficulty calming my mind.
Finally one day I said to the Lord, “God, I’ve got to have a scripture to stand on when I fly. I’ve got to have a promise from Your m Word that will be specific for the situation.” Isn’t it wonderful that the Lord is so concerned about our peace of mind that He’ll give us exactly what we ask for?
He led me to Psalm 121: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”
The Message translation puts it this way: “I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. He won’t let you stumble, your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep. God’s your Guardian, right at your side to protect you—Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke. God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.”
I was so comforted by this psalm. I thought it covered just about everything I needed. He guards me when I’m flying by day, and He guards me when I’m flying at night. He guards me when I’m taking off in the plane and when I’m landing. And, greatest of all, He is always guarding me. From that day forward I have always claimed these scriptures every time I fly. We always pray before we take off, and I always end the prayer with, “Thank You, Lord. You do bless our going out and our coming in, and we shall be safe from the time we take off until we land at our destination.”
Fear of flying may never have bothered you. However, what fears are trying to control you? You may have a fear of disease, death, financial problems, or broken relationships. You could be afraid of failing in your marriage, being a bad parent, being rejected, losing your job, or not being promoted. Whatever fears are trying to hold you in bondage, face them with faith in God and His Word.
We can draw comfort from the words God spoke to Joshua when Moses died (Joshua 1:9 NIV): “ ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ ”