Runaway Fear

Those who look to him are radiant. Psalm 34:5

D.L. MOODY

If you want to scatter your doubts, look at the blood; and if you want to increase your doubts, look at yourself. You will get doubts enough for years by being occupied with yourself only a few days.

ERWIN LUTZER
Conflict with doubt. Have you ever noticed how easy it is for us to slide into despair? And when we’re indespair, it’s very easy for us to make a mistake or a wrong decision in a panic. In the Old Testament, David is painted very realistically. In fact, there are lessons we have to learn from his life because of his failures and his backslidings.

Visualize this: David is on the run from Saul when he comes to Ahimelech the priest and lies to get some food (1 Samuel 21). He told Ahimelech that he was on assignment for the king. He then asks for a weapon that he might do the king’s will. The priest believes the lie and then David acts on that lie. He actually takes up residence in the territory of the Philistines! Think of it: Here is David, the man who killed Goliath, choosing to make his bed in enemy territory. Fear made him backslide.

The point: Discouragement and fear can weigh us down and destroy our faith. We risk the danger of ending up in enemy territory if we look around us rather than look upward to God. Giant slayers have fallen into sin because they stopped trusting and started running in the wrong direction.

PRAYER
Father, keep my eyes focused on you.

Let my faith in you cast out fear as I meditate on your promises.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
How can you recognize when fear is driving you towards "enemy spaces"?

Read Matthew 6:25-34. Why can you look up to God in trust?