The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom should I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom should I be afraid? … I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking Him in His temple. Psalm 27:1,4 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, we are so glad the Gospel puts an end to our posing and pretending. As weak and fearful as we know ourselves to be, you know we’re much weaker and more fearful.
Even sweeter, as known and beloved as we believe ourselves to be, you declare we’re much more known and beloved. Truly, you are the stronghold and safe-haven, oasis and sanctuary of our lives.
What do we fear? Things we cannot control: Like the spread and defeat of coronavirus; the choices our kids make, and the ones we wish we hadn’t; forgetfulness becoming a sign of something bigger; political madness and random badness; a loved one’s cancer journey and the Day of your return.
Jesus, we’re so glad you are God, and we are not. Foolishly, we think we’d like your sovereignty for 15 minutes. Freely, we come to you acknowledging our fears and affirming you are Lord over everything—our health and hearts. our traumas and delights, our kids and the cosmos, the next minute and all eternity. Fully, we collapse on you, as our sure hope, perfect righteousness, and greatest treasure.
Rather than telling you what to do this February Thursday, we choose to set our gaze on your loveliness and love, Lord Jesus. The clearer we see you, and the more of you we see, the more our fears shrink to their proper size. We trust you. We worship you. So very Amen we pray, in your compassionate and powerful name.
