2020 Daily Devotion - Day 279

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During this pandemic, there has been an increase in the level of fear. Whether it is the fear of the virus or losing your job, people have been on edge. Even now as we read reports about new vaccines to cause us to be resistant to the virus, there are those who are afraid of the vaccine. One thing I know is we cannot allow fear to be the driving force in our lives. Here is an example from history:

“Black Bart was a professional thief whose very name struck fear as he terrorized the Wells Fargo stage line. From San Francisco to New York, his name became synonymous with the danger of the frontier. Between 1875 and 1883, he robbed 29 different stagecoach crews.

Amazingly, Black Bart did it all without firing a shot. Because he wore a hood, no victim ever saw his face. He never took a hostage and was never trailed by a sheriff. Instead, Black Bart later said from prison that he didn't need to fire a shot; all he had to do was to use fear to paralyze his victims. ‘Fear, the face of the unknown, was my weapon of choice, my weapon of intimidation.’ His sinister presence and his threat of words was enough to overwhelm the toughest stagecoach guard.”

Psalm 34:4 ESV
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, sometimes fear can overwhelm us and cause us to be frozen in place. But the antidote to fear is faith. Help us to put greater trust in You than in the circumstances which surround us. In so doing, give us peace and rest. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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