Remember

In our journey as believers our greatest challenge each day is to remember that God is with us. He wants so much for us to follow, trust, and cling to Him.   His promise runs throughout the Bible with a simple message.  Trust me and I will take care of you and protect you.  Yet every day I forget this incredible, miraculous gift.  So I must remember.  I must trust.  My life depends on it.  David knew this, and so he would remember he repeated it over and over again through the Psalms.   I am sure there are more but this list is to remind me.  The list is long.  Slow down for few moments, stay with it to the end and hear the promise of God. 

I go to bed and sleep in peace, because, Lord, only You keep me safe.  4:8

Lord my God, I trust in You for protection. 7:1

Those who know the Lord trust Him.  9:10

I trust in the Lord for protection.  11:1

Protect me God because I trust in You.  16:1

I love you Lord.  You are my strength.  18:1

The Lord is my rock, my protection, my Savior.  My God is my rock.  I can run to Him for safety.  He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender.  18:2

God is my protection, He makes my way free from fault.  18:32

Lord, You are my Rock, the one who saves me. 19:14

Some trust in chariots, others in horses, but we trust the Lord our God. 20:7

Lord, I give myself to You; my God I trust You. 25:1

The Lord is my light and the One who saves me.  I fear no one. The Lord protects my life. I am afraid of no one.  27:1

Lord I trust You.  31: 1

The Lord protects those who truly believe… 31:23

You protect me from my troubles and fill me with songs of salvation.  32: 7

The angel of the Lord camps around those who fear God, and He saves them. 34: 7

The Lord hears good people when they cry out to Him, and He saves them from all their troubles. 34: 17

Trust the Lord and do good.  37:3

Depend on the Lord; trust Him, and He will take care of you.  37: 5

Happy is the person who trusts the Lord. 40:4

God you are my strength. 43:2

God is our protection and strength.  46:1

When I am afraid I will trust You.  56:3

Be merciful to me, God; be merciful to me because I come to You for protection. 57:1

You are my defender, my place of safety in times of trouble.  59:16

God, my strength, I will sing praises to You.  God my defender, You are the God who loves me. 59:17

I find rest in God; only He can save me.  He is my rock and my salvation.  He is my defender; I will not be defeated.  62: 1-2

In You, Lord, is my protection.  71:1

My body and my mind may become weak, but God is my strength.  He is mine forever.  73: 26

The Lord God is my protection.  73: 28

Lord you are powerful and completely trustworthy.  89: 8

Those who go to God Most High for safety will be protected by the Almighty.  91: 1

I will say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety and protection.  You are my God and I trust You.” 91:2

He saves my life from the grave and loads me with love and mercy.  103: 4

….their hearts are steady because they trust the Lord.  112: 7

You who respect the Lord should trust Him; He is your helper and your protection.  115: 11

I will not be afraid, because the Lord is with me.  118: 6

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your Word.  119: 114

When I was in trouble, I called to the Lord, and He answered me.  120:1

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  121: 2

The Lord is the shade that protects you from the sun.  121: 5

The Lord will protect you from all dangers; he will guard your life.  121: 7

Lord God, my mighty Savior, You protect me in battle.  140:7

Lord I cry out to You.  I say, “You are my protection.  You are all I want in this life.” 142:5

He is my defender and my Savior, my shield and my protection.  144:2

The Lord protects everyone who loves Him.  145:20

Father, bring me to greater maturity that I might rely on You in all that I do, all that I say, and all that I am.  

Scotty Elston

Shallowater, Texas

Don't Be Afraid

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.  He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore.  Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.  When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”  Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.  But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”  When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.  So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”  For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.  Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”  So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.  Luke 5:1-11

A fishing trip is typically a pleasure outing, whether it is bonding time with a friend, shared memories with a relative, quiet “alone” time in nature, or restocking the freezer.  Catching few or many fish doesn’t matter.  It’s all good; just enjoy the adventure.

By contrast, a professional fisherman doesn’t have the luxury to consider a fishing trip a leisure outing.  If he doesn’t catch his quota of fish, his family isn’t able to pay the bills.  Simon Peter, as a professional fisherman in Luke 5, is working on no sleep, physical exhaustion, and embarrassing frustration.  Jesus rubs salt in Peter’s wounds when he gives instructions to cast the nets again.  How will fishing advice from a traveling carpenter/teacher bring better results than their tried-and-true fisherman’s methods?

What happened next was unexplainable.  Peter and his partners witnessed an unprecedented haul of fish… more fish than two boats could carry.  The men were surprised with the results.  Peter responded to Jesus with amazement and newfound respect, but also fears.  In the unexpected moment of this miracle, Peter realized he was in the presence of God.  He bowed down, painfully aware of his sinfulness and unworthiness.

Jesus calmed their fears saying, “Don’t be afraid.”  He did not humiliate them, alienate them, or crush their spirits.  In another unexpected move, Jesus redirected their purpose and priorities.  He said, “From now on you will catch men.”  This is both an opportunity and a challenge.

Peter and the other fishermen left everything and followed Jesus.  This was a turning-point in their lives, taking a great amount of faith and courage to leave the known for the unknown.

Simon Peter’s reaction to Jesus’ miracle is an example for us to follow.  Jesus can calm our fears.  He offers us mercy and forgiveness and strength.  When we respond with trusting faith, Jesus gives our life new purpose.  We can join him in fishing for the Kingdom.  Don’t be afraid.

Carl Smith

Stephenville, Texas