Psalm 27:1-3 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Two hunters came across a bear so big that they dropped their rifles and ran for cover. One man climbed a tree while the other hid in a nearby cave. The bear was in no hurry to eat, so he sat down between the tree and the cave to reflect upon his good fortune. Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, the hunter in the cave came rushing out, almost ran into the waiting bear, hesitated, and then dashed back in again. The same thing happened a second time. When he emerged for the third time, his companion in the tree frantically called out, “Woody, are you crazy? Stay in the cave till he leaves!” “Can’t,” panted Woody, “there’s another bear in there!”

Ever feel like you are trapped between two bears, each who want to eat you, and you don’t know where to turn? The beginning of a new year can feel that way. When January 1st comes, we see the old bear behind us and the new bear is staring us in the face. What will become of us in 2018?

There are a lot of scary things that go on in the world, and we will be challenged if not downright scared by the happenings both in this world and in our personal lives. But G-d has not called us to live in fear. G-d has called us to stand in the confidence of the Lord, in the obedience of the Lord, and in the faith of the Lord’s Omnipotence.

Dr. E. Stanley Jones said “I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt, and anxiety.”

This new year, let us determine to live without fear — and live into faith.

Pastor Dave