We hear so much about immunizations today: kids get shots before school, flu, pneumonia, covid, shingles, scientists are working on a vaccine for RSV.

Wouldn’t you love to have an immunization against Fear? A literal “shot” of courage that would allow you to face challenges without angst, worry or dread?

You know, this is a REAL thing right? (I know—you’re saying, “There is not a physical shot to protect (immunize) me from fear!”)

Hang with me for one minute:

Blood is your life source. (Leviticus 17:11)

An immunization goes into your blood to protect you from whatever disease with which it is connected.

Your blood is made in your bone marrow in the larger flat bones: skull, sternum and pelvis (the ones that protect your mind, heart and core).

Check these verses out:

“I have hidden your Word in my heart…” (Psalm 119:11)

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee…” (Isaiah 26:3)

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him…” (Psalm 62:1)

Hiding God’s word in your heart,

Keeping your mind on Him,

Allowing your body & soul to rest knowing “God’s got this”

IS the immunization against fear!

Here are a few “shots” of courage for you.

Allow them to be hidden in your heart;

Keep your mind on them;

Rest your body and soul knowing these TRUTHS are real!!

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can Man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

The Lord is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him… (From Psalm 37)

Do you ever have any of these thoughts:

Man! I can’t believe they just did that horrible thing! AND got away with it!! How can they have it so good, when they live so wrong?!? If I cheated a little, I’d be doing better too!

Why do the “evil doers” get good rewards?!

Explaining “injustice” is difficult. And honestly, there isn’t an answer to why good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good… apart from God’s got a plan.

What we can say is this: “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord is on His heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; His eyes examine them.” (Psalm 11:4) Nothing goes unseen. God knows and sees everyone and everything. Yes, from our view, it may seem like things are not “even”, “fair”, or “just”. We cannot see from God’s view. But He has not left us to just deal with these uncertain thoughts. God has given us a plan or a blueprint of what we can do when we have these “God, IT isn’t fair!!” moments. It’s found in Psalm 37:

1. Don’t fret! (Those who do wrong will soon be gone.)
2. Trust Him. (God knows what’s happening.)
3. Do good. (Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!)
4. Take delight in Him. (He will give you your hearts desires.)
5. Commit your way to Him. (He will make your right living shine!)
6. Be still. (Ooooo, sometimes the hardest thing to do!)
7. Wait for Him. (Even harder than being still. But do it! God’s got this!)

Living RIGHT does not mean living fair, or even, or equal.

Living RIGHT means living God’s way, no matter what!!

Take time with God:  Psalm 37, Deuteronomy 6, Romans 12

Do you know of something that is SO BIG it CANNOT be measured.

Let’s reverse that question: What is something that CAN be measured?

The answer is just about anything that can be seen or touched. Even most “ideas” can be measured because they have a beginning to the thought and eventually an end or an outcome. There is but One answer that is immeasurable, One that has no beginning and no end, One that cannot be weighed, cannot be fathomed…

God is “vast beyond all measure.”

He has no beginning, and He has no end.

Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

He cannot be contained.

Isaiah 66:1 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool; what is the house that you would build for Me, and what is the place of My rest?

His love knows no bounds.

Jeremiah 31:33 I have loved you with an everlasting love….

His answers to our “asks” have no end.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us…

His forgiveness never ceases.

Micah 7:18 There is no other god like you, O Lord; You forgive the sins of Your people who have survived. You do not stay angry forever, but You take pleasure in showing us Your constant love.

Now you’re saying, “This is all well and good. God is big. I get it. What’s the BIG deal?”

Here’s the BIG deal:

When you need something, where do you go? Is it to God?

When you are lonely to whom do you turn? Is it God?

When you have questions with no answers, where do you go?

Or when you’ve really “messed up,” where do you start over?

Most times, God’s the last thing we think about. Instead, we try everything that is measurable: people, self-help books, money, food, anger, etc.

Why not go to that which is “vast beyond ALL MEASURE!” He has so much He wants to give you!

God is UNIMAGINABLY AMAZING!!!

Psalm 46, John 14, Romans 8

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33.

This is the EG Ministries, Inc. theme verse.

Many of us have learned the meaning of the verse to say something like this… If you put God first, everything else in or about life will “come together.”

OR, when you put God first you don’t have to worry about anything else in life…

It is true that God is totally in control of all things, so we truly do not have to worry about what we will eat, or wear, or our safety because God is “LARGE AND IN CHARGE!”

It’s the first part of the verse that I think we misread… Seeking, or putting God first.

When we put God FIRST, it implies that He has the top priority, first place, a pinnacle of importance, a highest place in our lives.

The problem I see is that if we put God first, where is He the rest of the time? I don’t think that God is meant to be JUST first. God wants to be a part of everything in our lives, the good the bad and the ugly. The first breath in the morning and our last thought at night. The God we run to when we’re uptight, lonely, frustrated, angry, and sad but also when we’re ecstatic, jovial, or just having an “alright” kind of day.

God isn’t something we check off our “to-do” list. Yes, He wants to be first, but not just first…God wants to be ALL!

So instead of visualizing this verse like a Christmas tree, where God is the star at the top, I suggest we think of it more like a bike wheel, where God is at the hub and He touches every part of our lives through the spokes.

How different would our lives be if we made God “ALL” instead of just first?

Read on:  Matthew 6:25-34, Proverbs 3:1-6, Isaiah 40:28-31

Bright orange, brilliant yellow, royal red is the only way I can describe the magnificent view as I drive around this time of year.  The day might be gray and dingy but the colors of the trees all around me bring praise to my heart and mind as I reflect on the hand of God Who created the beauty and sustains it for us to enjoy.

“…God…richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” 1 Timothy 6:17. 

As I see the marvelous colors, it reminds me that my God is still in the business of managing His creation.  He has not deserted us nor abandoned us but continues to do what He began doing so long ago.  Not only does He continue His good work in His creation, but also in each person who has the indwelling Holy Spirit. 

Philippians 1:6 says, “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  God is constantly working His plans and purposes out according to His Good Will.

And so He should, because life is all about God.  It is because of His work and His plans that we are even here on earth. 

So, I am encouraged to give praise to my living God that He alone deserves the honor and glory for all that I see and all that He allows me to do.  I hope that during this fall season, you can see the beauty around you and be inspired to praise God for His abundant goodness to you.

JK Williams