“There’s a stampede of fear out there. Let’s not get caught in it.”

A thought by Max Lucado (2012-02-06) from his book, Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear (p. 177). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

You know, don’t you that fear sells? 

Max says, “Fear glues watchers to their seats, sells magazines off the racks, and puts money in the pockets of the system. Newscasts have learned to rely on a glossary of trouble-stirring phrases to keep our attention: ‘Coming up, the frightening truth about sitting in traffic.’ ‘How chocolate affects your I.Q.’ ‘What you can do to avoid the danger.’ ‘What you may not know about the water you drink.’”

Later Max says, “Let’s be among those who stay calm. Let’s recognize danger but not be overwhelmed. Acknowledge threats but refuse to be defined by them. Let others breathe the polluted air of anxiety, not us. Let’s be numbered among those who hear a different voice, God’s. Enough of these shouts of despair, wails of doom. Why pay heed to the doomsdayer on Wall Street or the purveyor of gloom in the newspaper? We will incline our ears elsewhere: upward. We will turn to our Maker, and because we do, we will fear less.

“Courage does not panic; it prays. Courage does not bemoan; it believes. Courage does not languish; it listens. It listens to the voice of God calling through Scripture, ‘Fear not!’ It hears Christ’s voice comforting through the hospital corridors, graveyards, and war zones:

“Be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven. (Matt. 9: 2)

Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. (Matt. 14: 27)

When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. (Matt. 24: 6 MSG)

Let not your heart be troubled. (John 14: 1)

Don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid. (John 14: 27 NCV)

Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12: 7) 

Don’t be afraid. (Luke 12: 7 NIV)”

So, who are we going to listen to today?