David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the tempe of the Lord is finished.’ I chronicles 28:20 

I encourage you to listen to the audio today, I sensed the Lord’s presence over the prayer time for each one of us.

Fear Not Friday – Do the Work

While  driving the bus to take the students home, I have to cross a railroad track. About once a week a single Engine is slowly crossing the track to couple and uncouple other train cars. I have to sit and watch as he rearranges the order of the cars. Eventually the conductor with the help of men switching tracks makes the final connections with a loud bang of the coupling engaging. He pulls the new section away from the crossing gates. One correctly attached coupling from the engine can pull over 100 train cars following its lead.

David  helps Solomon,his son, with all of the materials needed to build the temple. David prays and blesses his son with the massive task which lays before him. Between “Be strong and courageous” and “Do not be afraid or discouraged” is the phrase “do the work”. Other translations have chosen to capture its meaning like this – “do it”, “act”, “take action”, “and do”, “and work”, “start the work”, “act like a man”, “get to work” and with emphasis “Do it!”

Here is the key point for today – Doing the work of obedience couples strength and courage and repels fear and discouragement. 

As long as you think about what needs to be done, as long as you analyze your situation, as long as you contemplate how hard this task will be, as long as you hesitate with excuses for not acting in obedience, as long as you fail “to do” what God is leading you to do, the door for fear and discouragement will remain wide open. Action begins the process of closing the door.

When you put your hands to the task of obeying what God has told you to do, you will be strengthened with courage and comforted with His abiding presence. These are present with you always, but they get ACTIVATED when you begin the work. 

Let me illustrate. If God asks you to speak with someone about the good news of Jesus, courage comes when you take a step and open your mouth to speak. While you contemplate how they may respond, or if this is really God, fear has time to intimidate you from acting in obedience. Fear starts losing its grip when you take the step in faith to follow God’s prompting.

To work, to do, or to act is not a big step, it is the first step followed by many moving in the right direction. STOP standing still! STOP complaining about how hard the task is. STOP hesitating when God has been clear what your next move should be. STOP being overwhelmed with the enormity of the project (King Solomon built a glorious temple over years of work). GET to WORK.

God’s promise of His presence, His affirmation and His love are impressed upon the heart of the one who is obeying. God loves you even when you are disobedient, always. But your intimacy and communion with God are engaged at a deeper level when you couple the action with the steps (work) of obedience.

On this Fear Not Friday – get to work. Put your hand to the plow in advancing God’s kingdom and don’t look back. Ask God for forgiveness for hesitation and move forward cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. Be strong and courageous for the Lord your God is with you to strengthen your hands, feet and heart to DO THE WORK.

Blessings Love y’all