Advent Devotion from Society of St. Andrew "Advent Devotions 2016" of Big Island, Virginia, United States for Sunday, December 18, 2016 "Reforming Fear" Scripture: Psalm 27:1-2

Advent Devotion from Society of St. Andrew "Advent Devotions 2016" of Big Island, Virginia, United States for Sunday, December 18, 2016 "Reforming Fear" Scripture: Psalm 27:1-2
Psalm 27:(0) By David:
(1) Adonai is my light and salvation;
whom do I need to fear?
Adonai is the stronghold of my life;
of whom should I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assailed me
to devour my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
they stumbled and fell.

-------

Fear manifests itself in various emotions: terror, dread, anxiety, distress, fright, panic, and worry, just to name a few. The triggers for each are embedded in my psyche, and it feels like they are hard-wired into my identity. In the midst of these debilitating states of mind, scripture provides accounts of individuals who emerged from emotional anguish into joy and hope. 
This Advent marks my 26th—and final—season as the Minister of Music in my local church. It is a time to celebrate the journey I have shared with this congregation, as I ponder the call of the next chapter. I believe that God speaks to us through Zechariah, Mary, and the shepherds who model ways of embracing the promise that God goes before us. Through practicing the spiritual disciplines, I know that the Spirit surrounds and enlivens my pilgrim journey. In order to be at peace about the future, I reflect on how God has guided, enabled, and enlivened the years that have brought me to this Advent season. 
Prayer: “Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.”[Charles Wesley] [Laura Blevins Douglass, Harrisonburg, Virginia]

-------

The Society of St. Andrew is a national nonprofit hunger-relief ministry that rescues 25-30 million pounds of fresh, nutritious, excess produce each year that would otherwise go to waste for various marketing reasons. This food is then distributed to critical feeding agencies across the country at no cost to the agencies or the hungry people they serve. More information about the Society of St. Andrew and its hunger-relief programs - Gleaning Network, Potato & Produce Project, and Harvest of Hope is available online at EndHunger.org.
FacebookTwitterPinterest
sosapr@endhunger.org
3383 Sweet Hollow Road

Big Island, Virginia 24526, United States

-------