SEPTEMBER 6
Focus: Taking control of my future
Matthew 28:20 (NKJV) …And surely I am with you to the end of the age.
There are times when I wonder what the future holds. In everything we see and hear, we have to know scripture is being fulfilled and that perilous times are upon us.
We see nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom. Even within our own nation, we see people turning against each other in defense of what they believe is right.
When you’re discouraged for other reasons–feeling lonely and alienated, the conditions of the world can make you feel like a lost child. You look around yourself and wonder why people can’t just get along. Why does there have to be so much turmoil and debate?
You wonder where it’s all leading and just how bad it’s going to get. It’s not easy to brush it off and try to forget about it. But, thinking about it doesn’t seem to help much, either. It’s hard to get away from the negative, desperate sounding reports we are faced with on every side. If it’s not the economy, then it’s the weather. If it’s not the weather, then it’s politics. All of the conversation leads nowhere. There is only one answer, as we see all of these situations just looking worse and worse. The answer is Jesus. He’s our only hope.
Some things aren’t going to change. We’ve been warned in the Word of God—so, why are we surprised? Things have been ‘bad’ for one reason or another, for as long as I can remember. Throughout history, there has always been a reason to worry and probably until the end of time, there will always be a reason to worry…if you’re prone to worry.
Centuries ago, the prophet Isaiah recorded a word for such a time as this. The Lord spoke through him and said, ‘Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)
It has been a timeless word. People throughout the ages thought it was written ‘just for them,’ as their times seemed to be worse than any other. There have been many times when it looked like the world was coming to an end for one reason or another.
I’m not saying the times we are living in are the end of all things–and I’m not saying that the times we’re living in are not the end of all things. I’m just saying that times are bad, but they’ve been bad all along. Times haven’t really changed. Another thing that hasn’t changed is the Word of God. It has given us hope in the past, and it can give us hope now, and in the future.
God, Himself, doesn’t change, either. His love and power are just as strong and real today as in times past. The love and power of God will be just as strong in the future as it is now. With those things in mind, what do we have to fear? God has promised to be with us to the end of the age and for all eternity. If He is with us, then we are not alone. If He is with us and we are not alone, then we should have nothing to fear.
What if our future was determined according to our faith? For instance, if we chose not to fear–then we would never face a reason to fear. If we chose to fear–then we would have to face a reason to fear. When Jesus healed some people, He said, ‘Be it done unto you according to your faith.’ So, what if our lack of faith caused us to have negative consequences? If you knew that a fearful attitude was going to bring you a reason to fear in your future, would you try harder to be filled with faith instead of fear?
If you’re currently afraid–and you know that the Bible is filled with stories and prophecies that will help your faith in God to grow to the point that you wouldn’t have to fear for any reason–shouldn’t you try to be totally absorbed in the Word of God? Sometimes we have a choice to make. Maybe the conditions in our world will continue to get worse and worse–as scripture says they will. Maybe we can’t really do anything about that fact. But there is something we do have control over–and that’s how we will face the future…and how much faith we will have in the future. That choice is completely up to us. Faith comes from reading the Word of God—so, read the Word.
We can choose fear–or we can choose faith. I choose faith. I choose to be hidden in Christ and covered with His Blood and the Word of God.
Declaration: I will find new strength by choosing not to worry or fear. I will choose faith, instead.
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