Whatever is Pure, Inspiring Christian Poetry, Devotionals and Testimonies March 2009

A wise and very human friend of mine talked to me about fear yesterday. He said that he was convinced that fear was one of the most powerful tools that Satan uses against us. He went on to say that he didn’t believe we could have faith and fear at the same time, that having one cancels out the other one. I have thought about this a great deal since then.

I called my friend wise because all that he said is so very true. Our faith is in God, the Father, that He will sustain us through all difficulties, Our faith is not that He will give us what we want, but that He will give us what we need. Our faith is that He has won the war even though it may seem as if we have lost a battle. Our faith is that He will work through us to accomplish His will. We need not fear.

However, I also called him human because I know that he does experience fear, just as I do. We have a tendency to try to do things without God’s help. We tend to worry over things instead of giving them to God. We tend to do things impulsively, without praying about them first. I don’t like to think about how many times I’ve decided I could take care of things myself, or how many times I ended up "fearing" the consequences of those decisions.

The point isn’t really that we will have no fear. No matter how hard we try, Satan will make sure that we do. The point is that we recognize what fear is, where it comes from, and know that all we have to do is take it to God and lay it at His feet.

This is where the real faith comes in.

Fear not, my child
This thing that makes you tremble
Don't you know it's in my hands?
I will protect my own
Always protect my own
I must protect my own
So fear not, my child
Fear not, my child
If I lead you into battle
I won't leave you there alone
…If I lead you into battle
I won't leave you there alone…
I want to show you the power of my shield
I need to teach you the power of my shield
Just want to show you the power of my shield
So fear not, my child
Do you see the tempest raging
Can you believe and see it stilled?
Do you hear the giant boasting
Can you step out and see him killed?
And once you realize that my power
In your weakness is revealed
You will fear not, my child,
Peace be still
Fear not, my child
This thing that makes you tremble
Don't you know it's in my hands?
I will protect my own
Always protect my own
I must protect my own
So fear not, my child

Fifty years ago, it was still common for strangers, when meeting for the first time, to exchange the formal greeting of "How do you do?" Although the phrase may still be used elsewhere in the English-speaking world, it is rarely used in North America. The more informal "It is nice to meet you" has taken its place in most social settings. As the small talk of first introductions continues, the next question commonly asked is "So, what do you do?" When introducing a speaker or a writer to a new group of people, their host will usually give a brief description of what the speaker does for a living and a small snippet of their role in their family - a father of three married for thirteen years, a grandmother of eight and two on the way. It is considered a common courtesy and a help to bind the hearts of those being introduced to one another. An innocuous, harmless ritual to help break the ice.

I confess I break into a sweat when these questions are asked of me. I have not held a job in the traditional job market for over 25 years. I can't list my professional accomplishments. I am not married, I have no children, and I have limited contact with my extended family as they live far from me. It goes without saying that I can't extol the virtues of my nonexistent husband. I can't pull out of my wallet or cell phone family photos of my 'kids'. I don't have degrees behind my name.

Although I consider my work on the internet as my personal ministry to the Lord and his people, I have no staff to boast of and it is difficult for me to assess what impact I am having on those I reach out to through the computer. Unlike an evangelist at a crusade, it is impossible for me to estimate the lives that I've reached for the kingdom. I don't know how many prayers have been answered. I really have little if anything to show that I hold much significance in this world. I often feel what I have to offer to the world around me is pretty small and trite in comparison to the deep wisdom and power that is exhibited in the mighty prayer warriors, intercessors and bible scholars who have personally impacted my own life.

God calls me to look past my insecurities and inadequacy. He does not allow me to question how my 'five little bread rolls and two small fish" (Matthew 14:13-21) could possibly make much of a difference to a world that is starving for His presence. He asks me to give all I have to Him and allow His power to multiply them to feed those who are hungry for His word. He reminds me that it only took one small pebble in the slingshot of a boy to down a giant. Anyone would be hard pressed to say that it was anything but a miracle that fed the thousands on the hill the day of the fishes. No general in his right mind would ever send an untrained lad into battle against a giant when a kingdom was at stake. He delights in using the weak and foolish things to display his mighty power.

I remain faithful to His call even as I marvel that he would call on me to do his work. I invite you to listen for his call as well, if he calls me, he calls you.

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In the still, quiet moments
when there is no sound
except the crickets
and the rolling of the clouds
this is when I am most scared
of my smallness
of my failings.

But then I think
my fear is selfish
others starve
and I am chained
to my cowardice.
Then my fear
evaporates.

I am small inside
the choir of the crickets
the chanting clouds
You who are the song of the crickets
and of the clouds
make me whole again.

©2008 A.T. Leverton

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1 Corinthians 13:12 (The Message)
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

I woke up this morning just before dawn. As I looked out my bedroom window, I could see clear across the river valley that winds it way through my large urban city and marveled at the beginnings of glorious fall plumage on the trees. Satisfied and grateful, I turned away from the window and went on in my usual morning routine, breakfast, coffee and checking my email.

One hour later as I looked out the window I could barely see across the street. A fog was rolling in. And as I peered out the window, that fog closed in on my view, blocking my ability to see anything. Yet, even in that fog, I knew the sun was shining. It reflected against the low clouds, high vapor or whatever fog is. I never was overly scientific but even though I couldn't see the sun, I knew it was there. I just had to be patient for the strong morning rays to burn away that which clouded my vision.

Today has turned out to be a glorious autumn day. While we are experiencing an early fall this year, I can't help but marvel at the reds, oranges, browns and yellows that fill the horizon. It seems I can see forever. I had no doubt I'd see the sun again. But after the fog, I am even more grateful for the clarity and crispness of the vista before me.

Perhaps you are in a spiritual fog and finding it hard to see clearly. Perhaps you are wondering if the Lord is directing you, if there is a light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. Remember, the Lord's light is still there, although it may be momentarily obscured by the fog of our own self-doubt, our own fears, our own confusion and even by the voices of others who add their own ideas into the mix, God is still there. He hasn't vanished. If we turn to Him, he'll cast his powerful light on that ' spiritual ' fog and as surely as the sun rises, the clouds will lift. Fog is not forever. God is.

If you would like prayer about any matter, perhaps this devotional sparked something within you, perhaps you are in a place of fog as far as direction, guidance or spiritual growth, and would like intercessors to pray for you, please visit prayer.html and submit a prayer request there. We'd love to be praying with you, standing in faith.

Please contact the webmaster for permission to use this article, before using the article in any print or electronic media, includiung bulletins, emails. blogs or websites.

As of May 2012, "WHATEVER IS PURE" ARCHIVES will no longer be seeking submissions. As most authors and poets now have their own blogs, we noticed a significant drop in submissions over the past year and felt it was best to move on to other endeavors.

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