This weekend I was out for a nice morning run on very familiar road. As I approached my turn around point I heard the barking of two approaches dogs. The sound of the bark let me know these were no purse dogs. There were Marmadukes. Dogs that would push me over and stomp me just saying hello. Dogs that love to “play” with things that run by. But even though I heard their growls and barks and their approaching paws, I didn’t flinch, nor even turn to look at them. I didn’t because I knew there was a fence between us. A fence of protection. A fence that made me bold and secure.
Immediately, I thought about how we can live life in fear of anything that moves or barks, or we can realize that we have a fence of protection around us.
4 Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure. Ps 23:4
We have a shelter when we abide with him.
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]2 I will say [b] of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday. Ps 91: 1-6
What a great way to start out a week, realizing that when you walk with the Lord you can walk without fear, and you can be bold! You can just keep running when you hear the dogs on your heels. Be Bold and Fearless today, and put you trust in the promise that will not fall.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-19