{"id":4921,"date":"2013-01-27T01:26:42","date_gmt":"2013-01-27T07:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/markdroberts\/?p=4921"},"modified":"2015-03-13T15:31:08","modified_gmt":"2015-03-13T20:31:08","slug":"how-to-face-your-fears-inspiration-from-the-high-calling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/markdroberts\/2013\/01\/27\/how-to-face-your-fears-inspiration-from-the-high-calling\/","title":{"rendered":"How to “Face” Your Fears – Inspiration from The High Calling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
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Psalm 27:1-14<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

My heart says of you, \u201cSeek his face!\u201d
\nYour face, LORD, I will seek. (NIV)<\/p>\n

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Psalm 27:8<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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In Psalm 27, David\u2019s poetry reflects his own struggle with fear. In the first verse, he asks \u201cWhom shall I fear?\u201d The answer comes in the following verses. David might fear the \u201cwicked\u201d who are trying to \u201cdevour\u201d him or the \u201carmy\u201d that is besieging and surrounding him (27:2-3, 6). He might be afraid of the \u201cfoes\u201d who are \u201cspouting malicious accusations\u201d against him (27:12).<\/p>\n

Have you ever felt afraid? I expect so, since fear is common to all human beings. Perhaps you were afraid in situations where you had literal enemies, where people were seeking to take your life. But even if you have never been in such dire straits, you probably know what it\u2019s like to have metaphorical enemies advancing against you and seeking to devour you. Your \u201cenemies\u201d might have been stress over too much to do, hopeless situations at work, family conflict, or economic hardship. Maybe the army besieging you was a powerful addiction or deep depression.<\/p>\n

What should we do when fear invades our hearts? We find an answer in Psalm 27. In verse 7, David calls out to the Lord, asking to be heard with mercy. Then David adds, \u201cMy heart says of you, \u2018Seek his face!\u2019 Your face, LORD, I will seek.\u201d In the Psalms, God\u2019s face represents his presence and favor. Seeking God\u2019s face means desiring relationship with him. It means turning your attention to God, looking for him, speaking to him, opening your heart to him.<\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019ll pardon a pretty awful pun, Psalm 27 shows us how to \u201cface\u201d our fears. We do so, at first, not by being courageous, not by crafting a plan, not by looking on the bright side, not by running away. Rather, we face our fears by seeking the face of God, by turning to him with heart, soul, mind, and strength. In God and God alone will we find peace and confidence to live for him each day.<\/p>\n

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:<\/strong> When you feel afraid, what do you do? In what ways do you seek God\u2019s face? How have you experienced God\u2019s presence in the midst of scary situations? Are you facing fears right now, fears that should drive you to a deeper relationship with the Lord?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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PRAYER:<\/strong> Merciful God, how I thank you for being there when I seek you. Thank you for being so patient, so faithful, so trustworthy, so kind.<\/p>\n

Lord, when I am afraid, may I turn to you. May I seek your face. May I find comfort and hope in you.<\/p>\n

Thank you, O God, for making your face known to me in so many ways, most of all in Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray, Amen<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how . . . .<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This devotional comes from The High Calling: Everyday Conversations about Work, Life, and God <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>). You can read my Daily Reflections there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace. The High Calling<\/em> is associated with Laity Lodge, where I work.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Psalm 27:1-14 My heart says of you, \u201cSeek his face!\u201d Your face, LORD, I will seek. (NIV) Psalm 27:8 In Psalm 27, David\u2019s poetry reflects his own struggle with fear. In the first verse, he asks \u201cWhom shall I fear?\u201d The answer comes in the following verses. David might fear the \u201cwicked\u201d who are trying […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7933],"tags":[17148,16848,21650],"class_list":["post-4921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-inspiration-high-calling","tag-fear","tag-psalm-27","tag-the-high-calling"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to "Face" Your Fears - Inspiration from The High Calling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Psalm 27:1-14 My heart says of you, \u201cSeek his face!\u201d Your face, LORD, I will seek. 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