Amy Boucher Pye

Category: Fear Not devotionals

  • Devotional of the week: The God Who Lives (12 in ‘Fear Not’)

     

    Photo: Rennett Stowe, flickr
    Photo: Rennett Stowe, flickr

    When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive! Revelation 1:12-18

    Our time together of considering the phrase “Fear not” started in Genesis and ends in Revelation. We could have spent much longer exploring this theme, for nearly all of the books of the Bible contain this phrase. As puny human beings, fear and awe seem to be our natural reaction when God bursts into our lives. Even the seasoned disciple John falls down flat when the living Lord appears to him.

    And rightly so, for as the Proverbs say, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (1:7). A proper and holy fear acknowledges God’s majesty and glory; that he is God and we are not. When we rightly fear him, we want to obey his commands and his leading.

    With our two lovely children, we seek to instill in them a healthy fear of the Lord, partly through prayer and teaching, but also through discipline. We don’t enjoy taking away screen time or when they were little sending them to the naughty chair. But encouraging them to change their hearts and obey with a good attitude takes time and perseverance. I wonder if the Lord feels the same with us at times, when we put our own agendas before his, or are ungrateful for his grace.

    Jesus appeared to John in a brilliant vision of flashing light and sound. John feared him, but the Lord brought reassurance: He was no longer dead but alive. He had overcome death and the evil one. So too does Jesus want to appear to us, saying “Fear not; I am with you. The waters won’t pass over you. The flames won’t burn you. I will never leave or forsake you. You are my beloved. Fear not, and come with me.”

    How will we respond?

    Prayer: Holy Father, loving Son, comforting Spirit, we honor you with a holy fear. May you increase our awe and wonder at your glories and goodness. Amen.

  • Devotional of the week: The God of the Storm (11 in ‘Fear Not’ series)

    Photo: Luke Gray, flickr
    Photo: Luke Gray, flickr

    Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” Acts 27:13-44

    The apostle Paul was a passionate man whose life was changed radically. He who had been the primary persecutor of the new Christians was struck blind on the Damascus Road as God revealed himself through Jesus. After his conversion, Paul gave up his prestigious Jewish career and lived no-holds-barred for God. Our reading comes when he is a prisoner for his beliefs and is being transported to Rome to appear before Caesar.

    The pilot and sailors must have regarded their cargo – the prisoners – as a nuisance. They continued in their own course along the water, even though Paul warned them to stop and harbor over the winter. Sure enough, they find themselves caught in hurricane-force winds. Battered for days and worried about food supplies, they must have started to give up hope. Just then Paul speaks up, sharing a word from God that he received through a dream. He conveys hope amid the fears.

    I love how matter-of-fact Paul seems when he shares his dream. He can’t resist pointing out that they should have listened to him in the first place, but that God will graciously rescue all of them. His faith is strong enough to bring calm during a raging storm, for he has put his trust in the triune God.

    What storms are you facing, or those close to you? What squalls rage in the world, with nation poised against nation and many peoples facing abject poverty? As we consider the good news of Jesus coming into our world, may we commit to praying and believing that God can calm the storm. And then may we act on what we discern the Lord would have us do, for we are his agents of peace and hope in a hurting world.

    For reflection and prayer: “May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm” (Celtic Daily Prayer)

  • Devotional of the week: The God of Three in One and One in Three (10 in ‘Fear Not’ series)

     

    trinity-893221_1920 (2)

    Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:1-27

    I love this part of the Bible. It’s called Jesus’ Final Discourse, because he and the disciples have eaten their last supper together and Judas has gone off to plan his betrayal. Soon Jesus and his friends will make their way to the Mount of Olives, where the soldiers and officers will arrest him. The setting and timing makes Jesus’ words all the more important.

    The disciples have just learned that Jesus is going to die, and of course they react with fear and trepidation. But Jesus reassures them, telling them not to be afraid. Then he shares with them a great truth of the Christian faith, the dance between the three members of God (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) and us, his children. Jesus says, “I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” And that he is sending the Spirit, the Advocate of truth, to be with us forever.

    What does this mean for us, that the Trinity dwells in each other and in us? It’s a great mystery, to be sure, but has practical implications. For one, we are never alone. Jesus lives within, and we can just pause and practice his presence, to quote the phrase from Brother Lawrence of centuries ago. As we are quiet, we can call to mind the fact that God has descended not only to earth as the man Jesus, but that he dwells in us when we have welcomed him in. He can quicken our thoughts; bring to mind someone who is hurting for whom we can pray and reach out to; bring comfort and peace… the list is endless. No longer are we alone.

    May the peace of Christ surround us this day.

    For reflection: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

    I love this section of the Bible so much that I have written a month of daily notes on John 14 to 17 for Inspiring Women Every Day. Look for it in September!

  • Devotional of the week: The God who Remembers (9 in ‘Fear Not’ series)

    Photo: Wassim LOUMI, flickr
    Photo: Wassim LOUMI, flickr

    “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:1-12

    The title of a book captured my imagination when I was introduced to it some twenty years ago: psychologist O Hobart Mowrer’s You Are Your Secrets. I often think of that book when I catch a horrific news headline, such as the death of a young television presenter through asphyxiation in a solo sex game gone wrong. A secret act is made public, and along with grieving for the person involved, I can’t help but think how horrified they would have been at the revelation, had they lived.

    Here Jesus is teaching the crowds, warning them against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and telling them that their secrets will be made known. He alerts them to the arrows of the evil one, warning them to be on guard against his schemes. We need not fear our heavenly Father, who cares for us more than even the smallest and least significant of birds, for whom he also provides. But we need to fear the enemy of our souls. He who could keep us in eternal separation from God is one we should keep our distance from.

    Yet some Christians seem to be fascinated with the devil, seeing him under every bush while binding him and casing out demons. Satan is active in the world; I’m not wanting to discount our need to put on the armor of God and to stand against his evil schemes. But neither should we become so focused on his activities that we become distracted from all that is true, good and beautiful. After all, we want to further God’s kingdom.

    If “you are your secrets,” how would a headline sum you up?

    Prayer: Lord Jesus, shine your light in my life that I might confess any hidden secrets. Thank you for setting me free and making me whole.

  • Devotional of the week: The God of Abundance (8 in ‘Fear Not’)

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    [Simon Peter] fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken… Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” Luke 5:1-11

    As Jesus calls his disciples to follow him, we see their fear. Jesus has been teaching the crowds, and uses Simon Peter’s boat to give him some space from the many people. Then he tells Peter to let down his net; Peter protests but obeys, and hauls in such a large number of fish that his nets start to break. Immediately Peter is shot through with fear, realizing the depth of his sinfulness.

    When we come into God’s presence, his Holy Spirit burns as a refining fire, revealing to us where we have let God, others, or ourselves down. As with Peter witnessing the acts of Jesus, we who have his presence dwelling within us can ask him anytime to reveal what sins we might need to confess. Having received his forgiveness, we can follow him in joy.

    Like Peter, we might respond to God’s prompting in our lives with skepticism. “Lord,” we might say, “I do so love my friend, and try to share your love with her, but the time never seems right.” But one day you sense the Lord’s prodding to send her a text. So you do, and she rings back, recounting a crisis through a veil of tears. Timidly you ask if you can pray for her, and she says yes. Afterwards you say to God, “Wow, Lord. I really don’t know what’s going on in the lives of my friends like you do. Thank you that you care even more than I. Let me not stop praying for them.”

    How might the Lord be asking you to set down your nets?

    Prayer: Father God, so often my faith seems weak and I am quick to discount your working in my life. Enlarge my vision and strengthen my faith.

  • Devotional of the week: The God Who Saves (7 in ‘Fear Not’ series)

    Photo: Victor U, river flow, flickr
    Photo: Victor U, river flow, flickr

    Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. Isaiah 43:1-7

    The prophet Isaiah had to mete out many words of judgment to God’s people (especially in the first two-thirds of his book), but in the last third, his message changes to promises of hope, redemption, and love. God may have been angry with his people, but he will not give up on them. He wants to save them from their lives of sin and separation from him.

    Though our passage for this week was written thousands of years ago, yet it speaks today of God’s loving mercy. Often when I am praying with people, we pray these words back to God as a way of setting their truth into our lives. If one of us is experiencing something that is particularly difficult, we ask God to help us push back our fears through these affirmations. For we know that God has created us, knows us by name and that we are his (v.1). We might feel that the waters are creeping over our heads, yet we know that with God’s help we won’t become submerged (v.2). Or that the flames that seem to be snapping at our feet won’t burn us (v.2). For we are precious and honored in God’s sight, and he loves us (v.4).

    God’s word is rich and deep; I love how it speaks into our situations and those of so many years ago. For instance, verse 2 about passing through a river might refer to when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt through the parting of the Red Sea. And the flames that don’t burn (also in verse 2) could hearken back to the days of Daniel, when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace.

    Truly our God is a God who saves. Never shall we fear.

    Prayer: Lord Jesus, you were there with Daniel’s friends amid the flames. When I feel their heat encroaching on me, please save me and help me.

  • Devotional of the week: The God of Refuge (6 in ‘Fear Not’ series)

    Artemisia Gentileschi, Public domain
    Artemisia Gentileschi, Public domain

    The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27 (NIV)

    King David, as the accepted author of many of the Psalms, reveals in them his great faith in God that was forged through lots of adversities. For example, he was on the run from his best friend’s dad, King Saul, who became jealous of his popularity with the people. After Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle, David faced other challenges as King of Israel and Judah, namely his people’s enemies such as the Philistines and the Moabites.

    Some of David’s trials were self-created, however. Such as one spring, when other kings were off fighting wars but he stayed home, to rest and take it easy. The beautiful wife of one of his army men catches his eye and he commits adultery with her. When she becomes pregnant, he has her husband killed in war. Psalm 51 is his heart-rending cry of repentance.

    The psalm we read this week is a confident affirmation of God’s presence in his life. David knows he need not fear the arrow that flies by day nor the terror of the night, for God is with him. The Lord is his light and salvation; the Lord is his place of refuge and protection.

    Echoing David’s songs of trust and faith to the Lord may not feel natural at first. We might struggle to believe that the Lord will light our way or set us in a spacious place. But as we relinquish more of what we claim as ours over to him, we see how he leads us – and how he gives us back in abundance. Our faith grows and we can affirm with David that we will dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives.

    What rooms can you invite the Lord to inhabit today?

    Prayer: Father God, we know that you are a jealous God, and that you want all of us. Help us to live wholly for you.

  • Devotional of the week: The God of the Unseen (5 in ‘Fear Not’ series)

    Elijah ascends to heaven in a chariot of fire. Gustave Doré.
    Elijah ascends to heaven in a chariot of fire. Gustave Doré.

    “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 2 Kings 6:8-23

    Some years ago, I prayed regularly with a friend who was going through an excruciating time. She had experienced betrayal and she feared for her safety. Each week we would pray for God’s mercy, love, and protection into their lives. One morning while we prayed, I felt the verse above bubble up within me. I couldn’t remember where it was in the Bible, but quickly located it with the help of an internet search. “Ah, the chariots of fire!” I exclaimed.

    We read through the story with new eyes, for we felt that God was reassuring her that he had erected around her an unseen army. She could rest and be at peace, even though a battle might be raging.

    Elisha was a wise prophet, and through years of faithfulness had honed his spiritual vision. He knew that the armies of the Lord were far greater than the ones bearing down on him as sent by the king of Aram. And he knew that the Lord Almighty was more powerful than any human warrior. But his servant feared, so he asked God to open his eyes to what was unseen but real. Then Elisha asked God to strike the army blind, and they were. But amazingly he didn’t have his enemies killed. Instead he put on a great feast for them and sent them back to their master. They then stopped troubling him.

    A prayer I often repeat is that God would open my spiritual eyes, that I might witness his power and mercy. What is going on in the heavenlies is real, though we, living in a materialistic age, might be skeptical. Or fear might keep us from trusting God. But as we witness his saving grace, as with Elisha, our faith becomes a firm foundation.

    Prayer: Lord of the heavens and the earth, open our eyes that we might glimpse the saving work you are effecting in our lives, and in those around us.

  • Devotional of the week: The God who Protects (4 in ‘Fear Not’ series)

    Ruth comes to take shelter under Boaz's cloak. Engraving.
    Ruth comes to take shelter under Boaz’s cloak. Engraving.

    And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask… Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I… If he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. (Ruth 3-4:10)

    When I first moved to the UK with my new English husband, verses from the book of Ruth floated through my mind: “Your people will be my people and your God my God.” I knew I had left my home in the States – at least for the first five to seven years, as was our agreement (writes she, now eighteen years later!). But I hadn’t thought about adopting my husband’s people as my own. As with adopting children, we find that we have not only enough love for the children currently in our family, but an abundance with which to love the new member too. So has it been with adopting a nation – as I write in Finding Myself in Britain.

    Ruth too was living in a foreign land, but she has seemingly lost everything when her husband dies. Yet she commits herself to her mother-in-law Naomi and says she will not leave her. Naomi then hatches a plan to provide for Ruth. It’s risky – Ruth presenting herself on the threshing floor where Boaz slept could have ruined her reputation. Ruth has reason to fear, but Boaz tells her not to. He will act honorably towards her, becoming her kinsman-redeemer in marrying her and thereby providing for her a place of safety and protection.

    What a balm those words from Boaz must have felt to Ruth – don’t be afraid. With them she knew that her future was secure and that she wouldn’t be a rejected widow. She would have life and family and joy.

    As I reflect on this story, I think of the apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Boaz said yes to Ruth. What “Yeses” might God have in store for us?

    Prayer: Lord God, we sometimes gaze into the unknown with fear. As with Ruth, may we walk forward with faith and hope.

  • Devotional of the week: The God who Inspires (3 in Fear Not series)

    Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still upon Gibeon by John Martin. Public domain.
    Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still upon Gibeon by John Martin. Public domain.

    “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1

    A church leader had these opening verses of Joshua impressed on him by the Lord as he settled into life in a new parish. Little did he know that he would be facing strife, assault, accusation, and anguish in what became a church divided. Sensing from the Lord that he needed to be strong and courageous, that he shouldn’t be afraid or discouraged, he kept on with the challenge of clarifying the core beliefs of the church. Later he acknowledged that he could have handled some things differently, with more loving grace, yet now he delights in a church transformed. Out of the ashes have come sprouts of new growth.

    Joshua has a tough act to follow – as do church ministers when taking over the leadership of a church from one greatly admired. Moses has died and now Joshua faces the challenge of his lifetime, to lead his people to claim the land God had promised them. The Lord assures him that he will be with him, just as he was with Moses, and tells him repeatedly to be strong and courageous. Not to fear. To obey God’s commands. To meditate on the Book of the Law.

    As we see with Joshua, the Lord promises never to leave us, but we have to step forward in faith. We might face challenges we never dreamed were possible, such as betrayal by our closest prayer partner or a whispering campaign that cuts us to the heart. Though we suffer, the Lord will not abandon us. With God’s indwelling Spirit, he brings comfort, peace and even the ability to forgive those who wrong us. And he will show us where we have sinned, lifting the lid of self-deception and convicting us to repent. May we rejoice in God’s mercy this day.

    For reflection: Consider a church leader you know, perhaps your own. How might you encourage and uphold them today?