Even Then I Will Be Confident
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Acts 18:1-28 and Psalm 27:1-14 (NIV)
(Gordon Tan from LCEC)
READ:
Acts 18:9, 10 (NIV)
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.
10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”
Psalm 27:1, 5
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
OBSERVE:
Paul met with a great deal of opposition in trying to preach to and persuade the Jews and Greeks that Jesus is the Messiah. His audience often became abusive and in Corinth, he was taken to court to silence him. However, God told him not to keep silent but to rest assured that He was with Paul. Indeed, God delivered Paul and protected him from harm.
APPLY:
As I read the two passages, I am reminded that I should be confident in God as “my light and my salvation”. In this chaotic and busy world, I can often feel lost and anxious. Leaning on God for direction and knowing that God is my salvation in all circumstances gives me confidence to step forth into the new day.
Just as God snatched Paul out of the hands of Jewish opposition, I am assured that in my moments of trouble, God will keep me safe as I dwell in His peace. In fact, I need to have more faith in God’s protection because I have experienced many instances in which God not only sheltered me from harm, but also set me up in a good place, a place of strength and advantage.
DO:
As I meditate on these thoughts, I am led to tell myself not to be anxious. Instead, I should be thankful to God for all He has done in protecting and providing for me all these years. I want to recall the many occasions God was my light, my stronghold and salvation. I want to remind myself to rest in His peace with the knowledge that He will keep me safe in His dwelling. Whatever fears and anxiety I have, I want to commit them to Him in prayer.
PRAY:
Dear loving Father, as I recall the many times You have protected me from harm – harm from opposition, harm from my enemies – I want to thank you for those times. As I recall how You have provided for me by often placing me high on a rock, and setting a table before me in the presence of my enemies, I give You thanks. With a grateful heart, I want to learn to lean on Your wisdom, to let You lead me. Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Saviour. Amen.
