April 4, 2016 – Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4What a blessing to really know Jesus when it comes to life and death happenings on earth. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.  1 John 4:18.  Have you ever trusted someone else with your heart or your life?  The thought often makes us fear for our safety.  It is often said that our worst enemy is ourselves.  The decisions we make can often betray us.  That is why I trust the Creator of the World, and of all life, including me.  Jesus Christ conquered death when he died on the cross and was raised again in new life to ascend to the Father God.  We can trust God and His Son and the Holy Spirit, he sends, to teach us.  We can believe that when we put our hands into the nail-scarred hands of Jesus and know Him, there is no reason to be afraid.When we feel ourselves slipping into the world of doubt and temptation, Jesus and Jesus alone gives us a renewal of hope and cheer.  The same God foretold that Jesus would be born in the lineage of a King — King David — and it was so.  When I read of the scourging, the nails piercing his hands and feet, the physical suffering Jesus endured, I wonder how he could endure this.  It was a suffering that was deeper than physical, the suffering was for the blood sacrifice to save us.   His anguish was a prayer for each of us.  Each time time we sin, knowingly or unknowingly, we pierce his heart over again.  I hold tightly to the hand of Jesus to comfort me, and to forgive me.  Read the first 5 verses of John 1 and know the Word, know Jesus and find strength, courage and hope in HimI cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. Psalm 94:19 – 20