CURRENT THEME: LIVE HAPPY... TODAY

DAY 6: LIVE HAPPY... IN GOD’S PROTECTION

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

I often receive e-mails from readers who testify that fear in their lives paralyzes them. Fear of growing old alone, of not getting through the month financially, going through a divorce or being attacked by robbers. What is your fear today?

An American family recently visited the Oregan Zoo in Portland, America, where they took this video clip: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/weirdnewsvideo/9243781/Lioness-frustrated-in-attempts-to-eat-small-child-at-US-zoo.html.

In the video clip, Jack, a little boy of about one year old, quietly sits and plays in front of a safety glass in the zoo – completely unaware of Kya, one of the lionesses in the park, trying to break through the glass behind him to get to him. Even though at times, we see Kya’s fangs, it is impossible for her to get to Jack. Why? Because the safety glass is simply too thick.

In 1 Peter 5:8 we read that Satan is walking around like a roaring lion, looking for areas to attack believers. One of the areas he focuses on, is to put fear in our hearts. If we don’t guard our minds and fall into the trap of focusing too long on the fear, we become paralyzed by it. If, on the other hand, we take our thoughts captive and bring it under the obedience of Christ, while we put our trust in God, we will experience our faith being strengthened. It is then that we, as Jack, can live happily in every situation with the knowledge that God puts a safety glass around us to protect us from the enemy’s attacks.

In 2 Timothy 1:7 we read: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” In Psalm 91:3-4 we read: “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.”

Let us ask God today to put His shield around us and choose to focus on God and not on our fears. In this way, you can live happily and in peace with the knowledge that nothing can break through God’s safety glass around us. God bless.

Father God, thank you for being in control of my life and future. Please help me not to let my fear paralyze me. Protect me and my loved ones today with your safety glass around us. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a freelance journalist and author of the books, Ontdek God in die stories van mense, Wysheid-oordenkings uit Spreuke and Hoop in tye van nood-oordenkings uit Psalms.