Radiant Church Enotes

Weekly Devotional

  Okay, I admit it…I'm afraid of the dark. It's just spooky, always has been – always will be. Like most kids, my room was visited frequently by "shadow monsters" who would only come out at night and would generally materialize via the closet door. Under the bed was another favorite hiding spot, although you could never actually SEE those ones, only hear them. I had visions of my legs being snatched and dragged under the bed the second I set foot on the floor.

Needless to say, I rarely got out of bed before the sun came up and would often find shelter under the covers. It's amazing how much protection 100% cotton can provide against savage two-dimensional closet beasts. I'm sure many of us have experienced the night-time safety that our comforter can provide when we're scared. I mean, why else would they call it a "comforter" right?

There are times even today that I wish my life's "monsters" could be chased away by simply pulling the covers over my head. We live in uncertain times where fear and panic seem to reign supreme. Here in our country our economic crisis continues to escalate. Internationally, we hear disturbing reports of danger and chaos. Is everything going to be okay or have we reached an unrecoverable state?

It's times like these that make us stop and stare at our lives, but what are we staring at?  It's always easiest to stare at our circumstances…the things that scare us or make us feel uneasy. Why? Because those are the things that are right in front of us, most visible; they're plastered all over the news, magazines and Internet. We feel them, experience them and have to live them out all the time; there seems to be no reprieve.

But I would encourage you with this…instead of looking at the world around us, let's start staring at God and the truth of His Word. God is not surprised, nor is he overwhelmed by the current state of our world. It doesn't intimidate Him or make Him cower away in a corner leaving us to our own demise.

Psalm 91:2 says:  I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

I absolutely love that verse!! God is my refuge, the one to whom I run; He is my fortress, a place of safety that cannot be destroyed; He is my 100% Egyptian cotton bedspread under which I can hide when the "monsters" are out to get me. 

I encourage you, in the midst of our confusing and frightening times, don't stare at the world and its problems, or at the impossible nature of your circumstances; instead…let's stay focused on God and the security we have through a relationship with Him. 

Join us this weekend, as we take a few minutes to Stop & Stare at our securities - bring a friend! 

Evan Fernald
Music Director

Feature Photo

October is Pastor Appreciation Month.  Let's take some time to show how much we love and care for our awesome Radiant Church pastors and staff!  "Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God.  Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness."  - Hebrews 13:7 (MSG)

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