Compiled by: Georgeanne Falstrom, Intern
PARISH LAY MINISTRY ACADEMY
TABLE OF CONTENTS

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2006
(Daily readings: Ps 27, 88, 95; Lam 3:37-58; Heb 4:1-16; Rom 8:1-11)


“CONFIDENCE THROUGH CHRIST"
By: Georgeanne Falstrom

Scripture: “You came near when I called you, and you said,”Do Not Fear.” Lam 3:57
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Heb 4:16


Fear. False Evidence Appearing Real. What do you fear? Heights, water, darkness, snakes, arachnoids, speaking in public, death, fire? Is it because of a real experience or is it just because it appears dangerous in your mind?

Fear can be a helper when it mobilizes us for action against a proven danger. But usually it immobilizes us, hindering us from experiencing something powerful or fun or important for living a full life. Has fear ever kept you from applying for a job you really wanted or making a friend of someone you wanted to get to know? Has it kept you from trying something new that sounded like fun or from going somewhere you really wanted to see? Has it kept you from serving the Lord?

I was once so afraid of speaking in public that in college I would not make eye contact with a professor for fear of being called on to answer a question in front of a class, even when I knew the answer better than the one chosen. Then, because of a powerful experience I had with God’s loving grace, I knew I had something to say and God kept nudging me to share it with others. The first time I was to speak before a women’s retreat, I literally thought I would die. I was ready to run and hide in the bushes. But I knew God had a message and He was using me to deliver it. I couldn’t let him down and He did not let me down as He gave me the words to confidently speak.

He used me a lot and I never completely got over the butterflies, I just got them into formation. I recently read 1 Corinthians 13 at a wedding vow renewal ceremony and just kept thinking, “How does God want these people to hear this beautiful passage spoken?” I took a deep breath and prayed. I got my mind off of me and onto pleasing God and thankfully the words just flowed through me. Praise God!

When God wants us to do something in His name, He will provide the way for us. We have nothing to fear but ourselves. Once we get ourselves out of God’s way and let Him come into control, all things do work together for good. So when we are called to serve and we lack confidence in our abilities, all we need to do is pray. Let God have our fear and He will give us the skills and confidence to use them for his glory.

We must allow Him to continue to mold us in the image He wants us to project to the world...a Christian who is confident in Jesus who died on the cross for our sins. If we need not fear death, what is there to fear? When we approach our fFther in confidence, His loving arms reach out to us, protecting and healing us. Do we listen and believe when He says, “Fear not.”

Prayer: Lord of mercy and grace, I place my fears into your hands for healing. Grant me confidence to follow your will for my life. Show me the path you want me to take and give me the talents and skills I need to accomplish the task you have set for me. Let me ever fix my eyes on Jesus, my savior and friend, and know he is at my side in my time of need.