“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? …When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell” (Psalm 27:1,2).
TEXT — Psalm 27:1-14
Message
During World War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in Sicily. When he praised Patton for his courage and bravery, the general replied, “Sir, I am not a brave man… The truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of a gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn’t so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands.” Years later, when Patton’s autobiography was published, it contained this significant statement by the general: “I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears.”
In today’s text, David, the author of this psalm, faced significant difficulties and life-threatening dangers. However, instead of dwelling on his troubles, he sings of his trust and reliance on God. His confession that the Lord is his light and salvation in whatever troublesome conditions that may arise is the antidote for fear.
Often, our fears are authentic as we face real threats and dangers. Other times, the fear is unreal and triggered by mere imaginary expectations. We can turn our fears to faith by looking unto God instead of focusing on the problems. Spending quality time in God’s presence lightens our darkness and gives us a better perspective of what makes us afraid. With divine illumination, we frequently find that the causes of our fear are like mere scarecrows, and we can perch on them by faith.
To be free from fear, you need to trust God, commit yourself to seeking Him daily, pray to Him in faith, and patiently wait for Him to act on your behalf. God alone has the solution to all the problems you face in life. So, if, like the psalmist, your chief end in life is to seek and abide in the presence of God, there are no enemies strong enough to intimidate or conquer you.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
