E&W 9-15-13

Sacred Story

Encouragements & Wisdom: September 15, 2013

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Encouragements and Wisdom: September 15, 2013 (PDF).

E & W reflections are additional helps for your Sacred Story prayer journey. Reflect on them at week’s beginning or outside of your 15-minute prayer periods.

The Affirmations

Be Not Afraid:
Fear comes from the enemy of my human nature

The phrases, “be not afraid” and “fear not” are two of the most common phrases in Scripture. Fear enters human history after our fall from grace. We did not know fear in our state of original innocence. But we gave into the temptation of “the knowledge of good and evil” and thus, much of our lives are now consumed by fear.

Instilling fear in our hearts is the principal role incarnate evil plays in our lives. The more we fear, the less we trust God. Evil even tricks us into being afraid of God, so we will not turn to God when our need is greatest. We fear God’s judgment of us and so we remain isolated and consumed by grief.

We must constantly challenge the fear the rules our lives. We must awaken to the fact that fears just below the surface of consciousness are designed to manipulate our choices and decisions so that we avoid what can bring us hope and peace. We oftentimes do not recognize when we make or avoid choices due to fear. We must awaken to evil’s strategy of using fear to manipulate us at every possible point in our lives. We must live in trust of God and Be Not Afraid.

Always examine fears and the way they seek to manipulate you. God is not the author of fear. Evil is the author of fear. Awaken to fear’s destructive ways and Be Not Afraid. Trust in the Lord always!

Lord Jesus, help us unmask the fears that control our hearts and keep us from the joy of more fully serving you. Teach us what we fear and teach us not to be afraid. We thank you for conquering the author of fear so that we may praise you in
Creation, Presence, Memory, Mercy and Eternity.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.

(Psalm 51: 3-4)

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E&W 9-15-13

Sacred Story

PDF

The Affirmations

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.