Living in the Spirit

August 10, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Psalm 85:8-13
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
   for he will speak peace to his people,
   to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
   that his glory may dwell in our land.

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
   righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
   and righteousness will look down from the sky.
The Lord will give what is good,
   and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him,
   and will make a path for his steps.

I am weary of all the divisiveness in our land. I realize it comes in waves, some making it much more disastrous than others. We seem to be at high tide now. Several years ago, I visited the ocean side along the coast of Maine.  If it had been a bit softer, I could have perched on the rock I sat for hours. I was in awe of the mighty ocean spilling in and around huge ancient stones with a light breeze caressing my face. The rock was craggy, and the water looked clean as it splashed higher and higher, heading my way. For some reason, it was peaceful, much like the poetry in the Psalm above. What is it that we fear?

To fear God is to have a reverential awe of God. Fear, in general, is to consider, expect, or anticipate with feelings of alarm, foreboding, or solicitude or to hesitate in concern of doing wrong or causing unhappiness*. The fear of God and regular fear are almost contradictory. The irony is that when we choose to be in awe of God putting our faith in God, all other fears are muted.

Prayer: Lord, help us get our priorities straight as we trust in you to guide us in whatever situation we may find ourselves. Amen.

*https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/fear

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.