"DO NOT FEAR"

"Redeemed"

Isaiah 43:1-2 CEB: But now, says the LORD-the one who created you, Jacob, the one who formed you, Israel: Don't fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when through the rivers, they won't sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you won't be scorched and flame won't burn you.

This week I think I could simply post this Scripture and that would be enough. It says it all.

Does fear seem to be winning the battle over you? Is it running your life? If that's you, meditate on this Scripture. In fact, insert your name in place of Jacob and Israel. "But now, says the LORD-the one who created you, Your Name Here, the one who formed you, Your Name Here: Don't fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when through the rivers, they won't sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you won't be scorched and flame won't burn you."

The second part of verse 1 is the key to all of this. The reason you don't need to fear is because He has redeemed you; He has called you by name; you are His. It takes a full understanding of His grace and what He did on the cross to get this. It's easy to say, yeah I know He has redeemed me and I am His and not really get it. I can say that because that used to be me. I used to be the "yeah but" person. "I know I belong to Him and He will take care of me......but. I know he will do it for someone else.... but will He do it for me? Several of us have that problem, our "but" gets in the way! Once I began to understand what that cross meant and what it meant to be redeemed and belong to Him, my whole mindset changed.

One of my biggest fears has always been finances. It didn't matter how much I had or how little I had, there was a fear that it wasn't enough. God has been working that fear out of me and I can say I don't fear nearly as much as I used to, why? Because I understand it's not about what I do, it's about what He did. As I sit and write this I'm sitting in the waiting room getting my vehicle fixed and find out it's going to be a fairly hefty bill to fix it. In the past I would have gotten all worked up but today I say. "I will not fear, because He has redeemed me; He has called me by name; I am His. When I pass through the waters, He will be with me; when through the rivers, they won't sweep over me. When I walk through the fire, I won't be scorched and flame won't burn me."

So, do not fear. If you have to tape this Scripture to your forehead, do it. You are redeemed, you are His and because of that He will be with you throughout every season of your life.

Blessings - Steve