Daily Message 02.14.2022

Prov. 9:10.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Lord is understanding.
 
Ps. 34:4.  I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
 
Ps. 34:6.  This poor man cried, and the Lord heard Him, and saved Him out of all his troubles.
                7. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.
                8. O taste and see that the Lord is GOOD.

​Happy Valentine’s Day to all.  Hope that you are enjoying this day.  It is certainly a much nicer Valentine’s Day than in 2021.  Last Valentine's Day we were dealing with 7-8 inches of fresh snow, air temperatures of less than 8 degrees, plus the vaccines were just coming out and there was a lot of difficulty trying to get reservations for the shots.  A lot of changes in 1-year and many good things the Lord has done and provided for us.  I hope you take some time today to think about what all the Lord has done for you in this last year as I’m sure you will find a list longer than you first thought.
 
Now as we look toward the coming of spring and all the freshness it brings, our thoughts are on how we seek the Lord.  Christ told us in the Sermon on the Mount to seek Him and we shall find Him.  He also tells us to seek Him first and the Kingdom of God and all things will be added (as needed).  
 
Consider the 4th verse of the 34th Psalm:   Ps.34:4.  I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
 
We all have many and different fears to face and deal with daily.  Heaven's sweet thought is it is a place of absolutely NO Fear.  We will not have any fears of any kind to face.  The Psalmist makes a strong and endearing statement that the Lord delivered him from ALL his fears after He had sought the Lord.   The Lord also delivered him from all his troubles.  And the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him and He delivers them.
 
With such promise of Grace in deliverance why should we fear?  Yet we do and though some may say, “Its all in your imagination, which may have some context; these fears are ever real to each of us as any other.  If we tend to focus too much on these fears they do become more real and certainly can interfere with our lives and hinder us in serving the true and living God.   Certainly they can rob us of rejoicing in His salvation.
II. Tim. 1:7.  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  These are the things Paul says that God has given us.  A quick glance by anyone would estimate that these three qualities far outweigh the spirit of fear and can occupy much more of our time in a productive and God-honoring manner than abiding in the spirit of fear.  A spirit of power of faith in our Lord and Saviour for Jesus Himself said if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed you can remove mountains.  Sometimes our fears can literally become a mountain blocking us from enjoying the gifts of power in belief in Christ and God.  And we enjoy the blessings of a spirit of love for as John says; we know we’ve passed from death unto life because we love the brethren.  And not only love for one another but the spirit of a sound mind centered on Christ, His saving Grace, the wisdom of God, trust in the Lord, and rejoicing in His salvation.
 
May you have a blessed day in the Lord and rejoice in all the things He has given us to live in and by in this life and especially the HOPE of salvation in Christ our Hope of Glory.  God bless each of you.
Brother Mike