"Packing Your Bags too Soon"

Jeremiah 41: 17b-18  "...they prepared to leave for Egypt because they were afraid of  what the Babylonians would do. "

I think a lot of people have their bags packed their whole life.   Not literally, but emotionally.  Standing at a distance in relationships...not getting to close...someone might get hurt.  Always

ready to run.  

Have you ever considered how our emotions affect our life?  Love, for example, influences our feelings, behavior, and even our looks...smile, sparkle in the eye.  


The same is true of fear.  It can affect the way we think, the way we act and and even our physical health.   Fear has the power to hold us back from all that God wants to accomplish in our life....Satan knows this and uses fear to try to prevent us from enjoying what the LORD has planned for us.  We might think that we don't have any fear, but the truth is that everyone is afraid of something.

The LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "If you insist on going to Egypt, the war and famine you fear will follow close behind you, and you will die there.  That is the fate awaiting everyone of you who insists on going to live in Egypt.  If the people refuse to obey God, their very fears will be realized....

Martin Luther made this interesting observation in his Table Talk.  God and the devil take opposite tactics in regard to fear.  The LORD first allows us to become afraid, that he might relieve our fears and comfort us.  The devil, on the other hand, first makes us feel secure in our pride and sins, that we might later be overwhelmed with fear and despair.  

Sharon Schutte

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,

and all these things shall be added to you."  Matthew 6:33