CURRENT THEME: BREAK OUT AND LIVE! (If you want to read about specific themes in this series, send me an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

By Benescke Janse Van Rensburg

In the British Museum, a map dating from the sixteenth century had in accordance with the beliefs of the times, a number of captions and sketches that served as warnings for travelers. At one place it warns: “Here lives giants.” At another: “Beware of the dragons.” And yet another: “Here lives fire-spitting scorpions.”

To the fainthearted, these warnings stopped any dreams of traveling. Yet, after examining the map for a period of time, scientist Sir John Franklin, crossed out the warnings one by one and then wrote across the map: “God is everywhere.”

None of us are spared from having to face potential “dragons, fire-spitting scorpions and giants” (in the form of financial pressure, illness or challenges at home or at work). Yet, what is your reaction amidst the warnings and threats? Do you allow fear to paralyze you, while losing hope for a better future? Or do you remind yourself, as Sir John Franklin, that God, the One who never changes, already knows your future and He also has all the answers?

In Proverbs 15:3, the poet writes: “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere . . .” In Luke 10:19 Jesus said, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” And in John 10:10 Jesus said: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Do you find yourself in a situation in which your heart is pounding and your stomach ties in knots? Let’s turn our eyes to God. He not only knows the future, He wants to lead us step by step past each dragon, scorpion and giant threatening to overwhelm us so we can indeed have the abundant life Jesus died for. God bless.

Father God, thank you for being in control of the universe and also my life. Please help me not to be overwhelmed by any crisis that may cross my path, but to remind myself that you have given me the authority over it. Strengthen me. I pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.