09.11.07
“CONFIDENCE!”
Deuteronomy 7:18-19
“But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.”
Just mention 9/11 and people will immediately associate it with the wicked terrorist attacks in September 2001. The deaths at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and in an open field in Pennsylvania shocked the entire world. The responses to the terrorist attacks have run the gamut of human emotions. Some have grieved, some became fearful, others angry, and others have turned to the Lord. One thing is certain — there has been a response!
In the days before the 9/11 attack, people had increasingly left God out of their life. The courts attempted to erase God from our public awareness. The schools, which allow many types of perversion and twisted thinking, expelled God from the classrooms.
Amazingly, the very people who denied God’s existence or who had turned their backs on God, suddenly blamed Him for not preventing the attacks?! That was not only true for the 9/11 attacks, but also for many other tragedies. How foolish unbelieving mortals can be!
God has repeatedly promised that if we give ourselves to Him, He will fight our battles for us. Consider Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge God and He will make your paths straight.” The condition for His leadership and protection is in our acknowledging God in all of our ways.
Since 9/11/01, the world has been exposed to many threats or even actual attacks. One or two individuals are able to cause catastrophic consequences. Should we tremble in fear? No! Listen to what God says in Isaiah 41:10 “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.”
Wow! That should produce confidence. But the confidence can only be experienced as we surrender to God. We will never find confidence by rejecting God, or by rebelling against God, or ignoring God– it will only be found as we cry out to God for His mercy and forgiveness.
My heart cries out for a deep spiritual renewal. The only way for spiritual renewal to begin is to begin with ourselves. It is confessing our individual sins as well as the sins of our people. It is asking the Lord to come into our life in a new and fresh power for service and ministry.
As we do this, we can look with confidence about what lies ahead. Here is an old chorus we used to sing with possibly a few changes: “Are we down hearted? No! No! No! Are we down hearted? No! No! No! Troubles may come and troubles may go, we’ll trust in Jesus no matter the foe! Are we down hearted? No! No! No!”
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.
- - - Pastor Cecil