KEEP THE FAITH
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Mark 4:35-41 (NRSV)

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

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We pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord . . . being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.
- Colossians 1:10-11 (NIV)
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I fear high places. With today's skyscrapers, it gets harder and harder to avoid being up high and having to confront my fear.

Once, at an international gathering, I was upset to discover that my hotel room was on the 22nd floor. Every time I took the glass-walled elevator, my blood went down to my feet, and I prayed, "God please help me to have a strong heart and not feel dizzy." Once, a man next to me said, "You didn't melt because of the elevator shaking, did you?"

"No, I didn't," I whispered. I didn't melt because God was standing beside me.

This experience helped me realize that we do not pray for God to eliminate the obstacles in our path; we pray for strength to face them. And we do not have to face them alone. God stands with us. When we are tempted to give in to our fears, we can remember that when Jesus was tempted, he looked to God's word for strength.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your love for us and for giving us strength to face the storms of life. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God stands with us as we face the things we fear.

-- Evi Nur Wulan Anggendari (Jakarta, Indonesia)

PRAYER FOCUS: Those facing fear