Satan has a handle on us when we do not give everything to the Lord. He keeps suggesting, sometimes to our subconscious mind, that we are going to lose a relationship, or our money, or our health, or life, or something else we hold dear. We become so frightened we do not bring up these fears to where we can see them clearly. We remain huddled in the cave of our self-will.

Only the believer who has placed everything, including all relationships, on the altar of God can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil. It is not possible otherwise.

When we love God above all we are delivered from fear. We accept the fact that God may require some treasure and so we give it to Him with as much joy as we can muster up. Then Satan no longer has a hold on us and our anxiety gradually fades away.

There are real dangers in this world, but Christ is greater than every enemy. God is seeking our joy. Whenever God asks for something (or someone) we are to surrender our treasure immediately. If it will bring us lasting joy God will return it to us. If it will only keep us in bondage and misery, alienated from God, God will not return it but will direct us to greener pastures and quieter waters. God is good and He is to be trusted!

We fear no evil because God is with us. When God is with us we really can get along without anything else. But God gives us many things to enjoy when we are doing His will, although He may bring us through seasons that test our very soul.

Christ's rod and staff comfort us. They keep us in line.

As a former elementary school teacher I know some of the dynamics of the classroom. I will tell you this. If you want happy, contented youngsters you lay the law down at the beginning of the school year. You let the children know those who do what they are supposed to do will be rewarded and those who go about to practice mischief will be punished promptly. Then the emotionally healthy children, who ordinarily are a majority of the class, will settle down contentedly and do their work.

I suppose the same is true of the larger society.

We humans have to know our limits. When there are no walls, no limits, and we can do as we please, we may act out in a destructive manner. The truth is, the rod and staff of the Lord, the limits He sets on our behavior, actually are a comfort to us. We rest in the fact that Someone who understands us, and what the consequences of our behavior will be, will keep us from falling into a miserable pit.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Psalms 23:5—NIV)

We would much rather have the Lord prepare a table before us in the presence of our friends. We think when we get to Heaven and are surrounded with those who love us, then that will be the time and place when the Lord prepares a table for us.

To be continued.