Hello, and welcome to Enbolden, living a bold Christian life. I'm Chris Shutter, an ordinary Christian living with and learning about an extraordinary God. Have you heard about God's narrow gate? Matthew 713 describes it this way.
You can enter God's kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. Thankfully, this narrow gate comes with a shepherd to guide us. When we hold fast to him, our way is made sure.
Join me for my next series, Hold the Line, as we explore 25 of the thousands of promises of God through the Book of Isaiah. Welcome to another episode of Fresh Fire, 25 verses to Reignite Your Faith Journey. Today's Fresh Fire verse comes from Isaiah 43-2. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The flames will not set you ablaze. Early in our marriage, my husband and I started a lifelong habit of calling each other at the end of our workday.
We'd let each other know ahead of time if we would be late or what our ETA was. When we both worked, it served as a way to talk about our dinner plans. And after 32 years of marriage, my husband still calls or texts me when he is on his way home. It was born out of an incident when he didn't call me.
My first reaction was to think he'd been in a car accident, and as time slipped by, my worries grew. By the time he got home, I was in tears from fear of his demise. He couldn't understand why I was so upset. Well, I mean, he'd just been out surfing after work with some friends.
So while the habit of touching base became a good thing, it also became a bit of a fear-based obsession with me. My husband spent many hours driving for his work. He frequently drove the more than 200 miles to and from Los Angeles. I worried constantly he'd be killed in a car crash.
I lost sleep over it. I fretted when he didn't arrive exactly when he thought he would. I finally realized one day my fears were a result of the fear of being left alone. I was certain if I lost him, no one would ever love me again.
Deuteronomy 31-8 makes this promise. The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.
Do not fear or be dismayed. We hear the words that God is always with us. A Christian friend who was struggling with marriage and family problems confessed that sometimes, well, she just needs a real physical hug. We need to feel like we are loved and belong, then that we haven't been orphaned.
Frequently in my prayers for people I ask God to help them feel his hand on their shoulder. I realize it's what I really need when I struggle, to feel and know his physical presence in my life. Sometimes he will show himself in the face of a friend. Sometimes it's in words from one of my daughters.
He shows himself in a song that comes on the radio, and sometimes the Holy Spirit will just burn bright inside of me. And when needed, I have felt his hand on my shoulder. Jesus makes this promise in John 14-18, I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you. I was listening to a podcast the other day where the women spoke of this need to feel God's love for them.
They knew the scriptures and could easily quote them, but they acknowledged that just knowing them wouldn't suffice. We need to repeat them and truly believe them. The devil is constantly looking for ways to tear us away from God's love. So when we feel that loneliness, that fear of being forgotten, we need to refocus on God.
We may even need to cry out to him, or we may need to sit in quiet meditation to hear him. There's been a few occasions in the last few months where, well, I felt rejected by people who should love me. Thankfully in my maturing faith, I've turned to Jesus more and more to remind me of the one who always loves me no matter what. And he has shown up to comfort me.
Here's some beautiful scripture to remember and to soak in today for anyone who might be feeling alone, for anyone who might feel as though they have been left behind or forgotten. Romans 5-5, and hope does not put us to shame because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. First Corinthians 8-3, but whoever loves God is known by God. Psalm 66-20, Praise be to God who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me.
Psalm 109-26, Help me Lord my God, save me according to your unfailing love. John 16-27, Know the Father let himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I come from God. Psalm 91-14-16, Because he loves me says the Lord, I will rescue him. I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name, he will call on me and I will answer him.
I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. Jeremiah 31-3, I have loved you with an everlasting love.
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Joshua 1-9, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid.
Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Have a wonderful day. I'd love to hear from you and find out more about how you are living out your bold Christian life. I'm your Instagram at embolden-the-o, or at my blog at embolden.net.