I WILL FEAR NO EVIL

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalm 23:4-5 KJV

Fear is one of the many tragic consequences of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Man acquired a diseased perception of reality and became afraid of the presence of God according to Genesis 3:10 “And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

Sin makes man lose the sense of the manifest presence of God. No matter how captivating sin may be it exposes one to the evil forces in the environment and ultimately leads to captivity. It pays to flee from every appearance of evil.

Truly, the days are evil. The Hebrew word for evil is ‘Ra’ which connotes calamity, displeasure, distress, grief, harm, hurt, misery, sorrow, trouble, wickedness and wretchedness. There is enough evil for each day (See Matt 6:34). When calamity befalls the wicked it is hardly unexpected, but when it happens to the righteous that is evil. However, there are times the best God can do for the righteous is to keep him away before real evil breaks out. According to Isaiah 57:1-2 KJV “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.”

Needless to say, a typical manifestation of evil today is the respiratory disease officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020. Experts say this evil disease which started in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has caused the greatest global crisis since World War II, infecting over two million people and killing hundreds of thousands in one hundred and ninety three countries. One thing about evil generally is that it is a universal phenomenon, with no colour or ethnic barrier. The rate of contagion is unprecedented. Many are deeply afraid.

However, you need not fear. Everything man lost in Eden through the fall of Adam has been restored through the victory of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. According to Ephesians 1:7 “In whom (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

Beloved, do not entertain any fear. Have Faith in God, and the finished work of His Son on the cross. The greatest place of safety in the world today is in Christ. If the Lord is your shepherd you will never lack His protection. Like the psalmist you can say; “Though I walk through the valley of shadow of death. “I WILL FEAR NO EVIL.”

ACTION POINT

• To make the Lord your shepherd give your life to Jesus. Say the simple prayer below:

• Dear Heavenly Father, I worship you. I acknowledge that I am a sinner. Please have mercy on me and forgive all my sins. Jesus Christ son of the Living God, I unreservedly surrender my life to you. I confess that you died and rose from the dead for me. Please be my Lord and personal saviour, and grant me grace to live for you all the days of my life. Thank you so much, Lord Jesus. I proclaim I am born again. Amen.

PRAYER

• Heavenly Father, I worship and adore you. Thank you for the generous provisions you have made for my well-being here and hereafter.

• Jesus, I celebrate you and your finished work on the cross at calvary.

• I appropriate your victory as my victory.

• I enthrone you as my Shepherd. Therefore I proclaim that I shall never lack your protection.

• Through your death, burial and resurrection, I have dominion over the forces of darkness. Therefore, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death; I WILL FEAR NO EVIL. Thank you Jesus. AMEN.

DECLARATION

Surely God’s goodness and mercy shall follow you, all the days of your life and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.

EDIFIER.