Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Romans is loaded with familiar, wonderful verses, and chapter 8 is particularly loaded. Even so, this verse is certainly glorious! Fear is a prime weapon of the devil; he is the original terrorist. That’s one indication that terrorists today are serving him. What they do is bad enough, but their main purpose, and damage, is the fear they inflict. That’s why this verse is so important. There is much in the world today to make us afraid: political turmoil, fearsome diseases, a collapsing economy, and more. However, those who are in Christ, though not ignoring the difficulties, aren’t enslaved by the fear that all these circumstances can generate. When the Holy Spirit within us enables us to call God, “Daddy,” then all temporal fears fade to insignificance. That’s a very necessary message today! Many try to counter their fears by ignoring them, or particularly by distracting themselves with physical pleasures, but that does no more good than the mythical ostrich behavior (which they don’t really do) of sticking your head in the sand. Those who are in Christ can afford to recognize all the dangers out there because they know their Daddy will get them through it all. Verse 28 of this chapter reminds us that God can and will use anything, no matter how horrible it is in itself, for ultimate good, so we have nothing to fear.

I’m on a business trip as I write, with a major typhoon slated to come right over here the day before I’m to return home. I honestly have no idea what might happen, but I know that nothing is out of my Daddy’s hands. Courtesy of the Internet, I’m aware of things all around the world that are certainly less than desirable. There too, I am not to get tied in knots, but use each item of information as a seed for prayer. I don’t know exactly how God uses prayer to accomplish His ends, but I know that He does, and I am to keep myself available. I will never forget the time I was thinking, not praying, “I would sure like things to be different,” and God spoke clearly to my heart, “How do you think I feel?” I am never to be afraid, but I am to pray as Jesus taught us, that my Daddy’s kingdom would come and His will be done perfectly, in every corner and every detail of this world.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for getting us to this hotel safely last night, and for the rest we got. Thank You for all that today holds, though we don’t know what all that will be. Thank You that we can trust You with every detail. I do ask for physical and emotional strength in navigating an unfamiliar city with luggage. I ask for wisdom in the various choices of the day, that we may receive all the blessings You have in store as well as be open channels for You to bless others through us. May today indeed be as You desire, in every detail, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!