The Sunday of the Prophet Daniel (Ps) November 25th

Psalm 56:1-13

¹  Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; 

all day long an attacker oppresses me; 

²  my enemies trample on me all day long, 

for many attack me proudly. 

³  When I am afraid, 

I put my trust in you. 

⁴  In God, whose word I praise, 

in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. 

What can flesh do to me? 

⁵  All day long they injure my cause; 

all their thoughts are against me for evil. 

⁶  They stir up strife, they lurk; 

they watch my steps, 

as they have waited for my life. 

⁷  For their crime will they escape? 

In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! 

⁸  You have kept count of my tossings; 

put my tears in your bottle. 

Are they not in your book? 

⁹  Then my enemies will turn back 

in the day when I call. 

This I know, that God is for me. 

¹⁰  In God, whose word I praise, 

in the Lord, whose word I praise, 

¹¹  in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. 

What can man do to me? 

¹²  I must perform my vows to you, O God; 

I will render thank offerings to you. 

¹³  For you have delivered my soul from death, 

yes, my feet from falling, 

that I may walk before God 

in the light of life. 

A quote from Coach Carter, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine as children do.  It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone.  And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Trust in the Lord and do not fear.  The Psalmist reminds us that we are supposed to trust in God.  We are supposed to praise the word of the Lord.  We are supposed to walk in Holiness before God.  We are even supposed to Shine the Light of Christ.

What is your deepest fear?  What causes you to shrink from others?  What causes you to put a basket over that little light of yours?  Are you afraid of the power that is within?  Are you afraid of what God might do with you?

Let your light shine before other people.  The Light of Christ has been given to you so that it may shine in others.  God has brought you out of Darkness into his marvelous light.  God has delivered you from inadequacy.  He has redeemed you from your sins.  He has given you a Light to Shine.  Don't be afraid of the Light that is in you.