Don't PANIC the LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU!

 

Well, now what? I finished the entire Bible. Three years averaging about 3 chapters a day / 5 days per week. So now I have been debating. WHERE DO I GO NEXT? I thought about starting over in Genesis. That is the logical place to start this journey again. I thought about picking some random scriptures, but my "organization crazed mind" couldn't handle that uncertainty. So, when I got up this morning, I settled on featuring for the next 30+ days my favorite scriptures, why, and how they came to be ON MY LIST OF FAVORITES.

I have been accused of saying EVERY SCRIPTURE PASSAGE is my favorite and that might not be far from the truth. But, over the years I have a group of scriptures I turned to that really speak to me and I hope they speak to you as well. SO HERE GOES:

Stephanie and I have worked Sturgis Motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota on many occasions. One of those years, we were sitting with several of our CMA friends under the stars in front of a campfire. I don't remember exactly the conversation. I am sure we were solving all our ministry problems. For those that don't know it, ministry is not always easy. People have their own agendas. If you have 100 people in worship on a Sunday morning you have 99 different motivations, personalities, egos, opinions, and it seems they always conflict with each other. Being in my HONEYMOON phase here at SMDCOG I haven't encountered too much of that YET. But, it is inevitable. Then you have MY AGENDA which I hope is the LORD'S AGENDA. I really pray constantly, from the time I wake up until I lay my head down at night, that the Lord will give me divine wisdom in following HIS AGENDA each day, not my own!

So here we are talking about the conflict and stress of ministry, then my dear friend, sitting across the fire from me, shares this scripture:

"But Moses told the people, 'Don't be afraid, just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you, Just stay calm." (Exodus 14:13-14, NLT)

From that point on, Exodus 14:13-14 was on my list of favorite scriptures. When I need to step back and realize GOD IS IN CONTROL, I read this scripture. When I feel anxious, inadequate, and ill-prepared, I need to JUST STAND STILL AND WATCH THE LORD RESCUE ME TODAY. When I feel every step I take, every discussion I have, every change I want to make is a BATTLE, I need to realize GOD IS FIGHTING FOR ME. 

Moses knew first hand the frustrations of herding a bunch of individuals, a bunch of personalities, a bunch of egos, and a bunch of discontented, well-meaning, but fearful people. Moses stood in the gap connecting people to GOD'S perfect plan. It never was about MOSES' plan, he was just the messenger.

I always need to remember that GOD is fighting for me. My part is just to remain faithful, stay calm, stand still and watch God work. It comes down to this.... DO I TRUST IN THE LORD or NOT. If I truly trust him, he will open the RED SEA and find a path before me that I had no idea even existed. 

Thank you Lord for calling me to ministry. Help me to realize I am just the messenger and as long as I remain faithful the plan will be revealed just like the parting of the Red Sea. DON'T PANIC, THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU!