(This post is almost a week late. I was at a writing and publishing conference, but here it is, friend.)

Fear's Shadow

My children ask me to pray over them before bed. They're afraid of the dark, afraid of a bad dream, afraid of the shadow on the wall.

But fear's shadow seems to project everywhere these days.

I type this at my hair appointment, where I just talked with my stylist about politics (yes, we went there). She shared her fear of our government trying to control us.

Whether shadows on the wall, shadows in government halls, or shadows in our hearts—fear seems like a constant.

What fear do you have on your mind today?

Meditate with me on Psalm 34 and then read the reflection at the bottom of this post—maybe it will help.

READ

Take a deep breath before you read.

I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
​

REFLECT

What did the Holy Spirit highlight for you? Focus your thoughts on this for a moment.​
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​Psalm 34 contrasts two kinds of fear: fear of the world and the fear of the Lord. Both kinds of fear are rooted in the awareness of something outside of our control. But one fear (of the world, circumstances, trials) is defined with words like "horror" while the fear of the Lord is defined along the lines of "honor." [1] There is a big difference between horror and honor.

Do you "fear" (honor/trust) the Lord or does your heart "fear" (horror/worry) the shadows in your life more?

PRAY

Pray about your reflections above or here is a prayer to guide you:

Father, Son, Holy Spirit, one and only true God, we worship you. Lord, you know my fears. You see them pattering in my heart and chanting in my head. Help me be like the psalmist, fearing you—trusting, honoring, and submitting to you out of reverent awe. May you deliver me from all my troubles. Amen.

Truth for the Week

I am blessed when I fear the Lord rather than any other thing.

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May you have a well soul this week,

[1] Ludwig Koehler et al., The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994–2000), 544.

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