The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "FEARFUL?" for Thursday, 23 June 2016 with Scripture Philippians 4:6-13

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "FEARFUL?" for Thursday, 23 June 2016 with Scripture Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 7 Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua. 8 In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy.
12 I know what it is to be in want, and I know what it is to have more than enough — in everything and in every way I have learned the secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who gives me power.

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Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.[Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)]
When I was seven, I was afraid of the dark. If I had to get up at night, I would hold my pillow over my eyes and feel my way down the hall. One night I miscalculated and tumbled down the basement stairs. After that, I no longer put the pillow over my eyes.
As an adult, I face different fears: losing a loved one or someone breaking into my home at night. Yet in the scriptures, God says, “Do not fear, for I am with you.” This assurance leaves me with a choice. I can put the pillow over my eyes and fail to experience the courage and peace God offers. Or I can face my fears and trust God to help me. I’ve found that repeating uplifting Bible verses helps me to trust God and overcome my fear — verses like, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” or “I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).
As we trust and obey God, our fears can fade away and we can open our eyes to God’s sustaining care for us.
Read more from the author, here."More from Carole Harmon"

As a child, I was afraid of few things. I enjoyed my life as a tomboy growing up on a farm in south central Oregon, running barefooted each summer and playing with water snakes in the small irrigation ditch. I raised two Herford calves, with my dad’s help, for competition in the county fair. I climbed apple trees, learned to drive a tractor before a car, and sledded with abandon down the steep snow-packed hill each winter. But for some reason I developed a fear of the dark. As I grew to adulthood, that general fear was replaced with a healthy respect for poisonous or wild carnivorous creatures of the night and the fears often common with women—fear of abandonment, rejection, or financial insecurity. With growth in my personal relationship with God, I learned to usually give my fears to the Lord and trust God for protection and guidance.
My parents taught me a strong work ethic, so earning a college degree in Home Economics Education required exercising perseverance rather than avoiding fear of financial insecurity. I taught high school Home Economics/Family and Consumer Sciences for thirty-seven years; early on I learned classroom management so that I no longer feared being controlled by unruly students. My first husband passed away when our daughter was fourteen, and I found the strength in God to move on to another era of life. Eight years later I met my present husband on e-Harmony.com. When we married I moved to his home in the mountains of eastern Idaho, where I’ve grown from fear of riding behind him on a 4-wheeler to driving one with delight.

Writing articles, short stories, devotionals, and letters to distant friends has been my passion for many years. Some of my writings have been published, and I’m now writing a regular blog post for a pastoral retreat ministry in our area (saltmountain.org). I invite your comments on my devotional in The Upper Room or on my blog posts.[Carole Harmon]
The Author: Carole Harmon (Idaho, USA)
Thought for the Day: I can trust God to be with me.
Prayer: Dear Father, when we’re afraid, help us turn to you in faith and trust. Amen.
Prayer focus: CHILDREN IN FRIGHTENING SITUATIONS

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