5-16-2019

Good Morning All,

       Philippians 4:13; “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

    Many years ago, when I was still in high school, we had a youth gathering in Minneapolis.  One of the outings was to go to the IDS Tower.  It was very tall and you could ride an elevator up to an observation deck and look out over the city and a good chunk of Minnesota and probably Wisconsin if you knew what you were looking for.

    Most of us who went up more than once, just liked to ride the elevator.  On the observation deck, we would lean against the glass and try to see down.  As we were standing there looking out we noticed one of our group standing in the middle of the deck.  He was somewhat pale and was sweating up a storm.  We got in the elevator and he stood as far back as he could up against the wall.  When we got to ground level, we went to a restaurant to eat.  As we sat there, we asked him if he was feeling alright.  He told us this story.

    When he was 8 or 9 years old, he fell off a grain bin.  It was only about 10 feet but he landed with a thud.  His parents had told him not to play on the bin but you know how boys can be.  He said he hurt really bad but was afraid to tell his parents.  It took about a week before he felt better.  Ever since that event, he was terrified of heights.  He didn’t even like the top row of bleachers at a ballgame.  But when he saw that going up the IDS Tower was on the schedule, he decided he was going to go.

    We wondered aloud what he would have done if he would have gotten half way up and panicked.  The elevator was an express one, form the ground floor to the deck with no stops along the way.  He kind of laughed and said he never thought about that.  Maybe if he had, he wouldn’t have gone.  But he did go and we all congratulated him.  For the rest of us, it was a chance to go high and look around; for him it was to stare at a personal demon and defeat it.

    We all have those personal demons in our life.  There are those thoughts or events which just send us into fear and uncontrolled panic.  For many it is the fear of death, especially a loved one.  For others, it is being alone.  For some it is having no control in their life.  For some it is watching loved ones struggle with bad decisions.   We struggle with those demons.  At times, we may even think that the demons might win.

    When you feel that way, remember what Paul tells us here.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  The key is to remember who has the strength; it is Jesus who has all the power.  It is Jesus who handles our fear.  We need to see that our personal strength gets us nowhere; we only have strength through Jesus.  We can’t beat the demons but Jesus already has; we only need to receive this blessing on faith.  The fears that we have are all already conquered.  God’s mercy has dealt with them and now comforts us and shields us.  The devil can no longer use these to attack us.  We need to cling to God who will see us through the storms of life.

Dear Father, our own strength is nothing compared to yours.  We cannot stand up to the devil and his ways, we need someone to rescue us.  We thank you for sending Jesus to fight our battles and to win our wars. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.        

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret