Tag: COVID-19

No Room For Fear

“So 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

Like many churches across the world, the one of which I am member is complying with the COVID-19 emergency ordinances and is streaming Sunday worship service and midweek Bible Study.  I’ve been a member roughly a year and am always grateful to the Lord for leading me there; there has been so much growth, it’s almost unreal.  And so, it was a little hard to accept that we can’t worship and fellowship together in person.  I felt some type of way, as the younger crowds say (or used to; I’m at the point now where keeping up with the jargon and slang just isn’t me…i.e., I’m getting old, fam).  But here I was early Sunday morning, following the usual routine as if I was going to church: listening to the Bible in One Year for the day, washing up, getting dressed, and making breakfast. 

The additional step was preparing the TV room with sorting, cleaning, setting up the electronics to watch the service on the big screen, and most importantly praying.  I prayed for the Holy Spirit to manifest in my home, to remove all things and thoughts that were not of Him, to empty me of self so that I can be refilled and refueled.  I prayed to be freed to worship like King David.

Finally, I looked at the yorkie terrier who’s been my roommate for the past few months and told him, “Okay, dude.  There’s gonna be some praisin’, singin’, and shoutin’ this morning.  Don’t freak out, just let me be.”  He gave me the canine equivalent of the People’s Eyebrow for you Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson fans, and padded away.

10am, worship began and my prayer was answered: the Holy Spirit showed up and moved throughout my home.  I sang with the praise team, shouted at that good Word brought by the senior pastor.  I had what we Southerners call “Chuch”, minus the “r”.

In truth the Holy Spirit has been showing up for the past couple of weeks, whether at home, on the way to and from work, to and from church.  He has shown up in the daily devotional and scripture readings, the verse of the day, and in songs from one of the Pandora gospel stations.  He has shown up during death of loved ones, bringing the peace and acceptance that the Lord is sovereign no matter what.  There has been this pull towards Him without real thought.  Perhaps this was all in preparation for yesterday, to give to God sacrifices of praise, song, prayer, and service.  I don’t really know.  But one thing I do know is this:

There was no room for fear. 

There is no room for fear.

The mechanics of this virus and how to treat it are still being sorted out, people’s livelihoods have changed, and we find ourselves at crossroads we never thought we’d reach.  Panic and possibly greed have driven some to buy things in bulk that cannot be used or consumed in one or two years, leaving others at risk to go without.  Healthcare workers, providers, and first responders are doing their absolute best to help everyone, with resources and energy depleting.  Leadership in government appears to rely more on its own human (i.e., limited) understanding instead of getting real with God and asking Him for help.

Still, there is no room for fear.

I say this because I am just crazy enough to believe the Word of God –both literal and incarnate–when it says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”

I’ve underlined the “do not” portions because these are the Lord’s instructions, not suggestions or recommendations.  Through the prophet Isaiah He told Israel not to fear their return after exile and the challenges they would face, because He was them.  He was their God who worked great and awesome things throughout their history, and He would do it again.

Guess what, fam?  He’s telling you and I the same on March 23, 2020.

When we keep that fact of the universe at the forefront of our minds, that the God is with us, He who promises to strengthen and help us, there is no vacancy in our hearts for fear. 

That False Evidence Appearing Real has gotta go. 

There is only room for confidence and trust in Him.  Never forget that our God is stronger than anything anywhere at any time.  When He says He will do something, best believe He will: “…I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  That is both a promise and a testament to the Lord’s faithfulness.  And He is always faithful. 

So be encouraged and encouraging, fam.  Even in this period of social distancing and heightened safety, keep lifting those voices whether it’s Sunday morning or Friday night.  Keep sending up the prayers and praise, for the Lord will shower down blessings of healing and recovery for us all.  Like Elevation Collective sings in their song, “Do It Again”:

Your promise still stands

Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness

I’m still in Your hands

This is my confidence, You’ve never failed

Your promise still stands

Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness

I’m still in Your hands

This is my confidence, You’ve never failed me yet!

You’ve never failed me yet….”

Prayer: Dear Lord, I’ve seen You move, and I know You will do it again.  I pray that You keep on, Lord, and see us through.  Amen.

Under His Shadow

Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

Considering our world today, this week’s thought is on Psalm 91, one of the most powerful and comforting songs in the word of God.  Despite what we are all going through with COVID-19 and its ramifications, I believe the Lord’s shadow is more than enough to cover us from this noisome pestilence.  I know He is Jehovah Shammah, The Lord is There, and is with us every day.  He will not abandon because He loves us, because He is Love.  Because of this, my encouragement to you is to:

Trust that the shadow of Jehovah Nissi, the Lord Is My Banner– comprised of his provision, protection, and prevention – is so broad to deflect the arrows of panic, misinformation, and fear and the reactions they induce from us. 

Be confident that God’s faithfulness is unfailing: it is the shield and rampart that defend us against the attacks of the enemy on our bodies, minds, and hearts.

Declare with the boldness of the saints of old that “The Lord is my refuge”, not could or may be our refuge, our shelter.  No, He IS, ongoing without pause. 

Praise El Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, with the highest praise because He commands His angels to guard us in our going out and coming in, and to lift us up from harm. 

Shout glory and honor unto Jehovah Rapha, The Lord That Heals, for the healing that is coming for us all. 

Thank Him for His promises to rescue and deliver us, because we know His name.  Jehovah Jireh, The Lord Will Provide, will send it without question, without fail.

Be assured that God has not left us or forsaken us.  He is El Elyon, the Most High God that moves on the behalf of His children.  And do believe He is moving on time.

This week and the weeks and months to come, let’s all read Psalm 91 everyday, speaking the Lord’s truth and power into the atmosphere.  Let’s gather under the shadow of the Almighty God as one body of many parts, trusting Him to be all that we know Him to be:

Deliverer.

Savior.

Healer.

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for this song that like Your Word has withstood the test of time and provides comfort in these uncertain times.  Please let your healing waters flow upon this earth like a flood, restoring health of the body, mind, and, heart.  I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  Amen.