Grace and peace be to you!

Fear is all around us! Granted, the instability in the financial world, the politcal changes and challenges we are experiencing tend to shake up any hope for the future one might have! Stress and anxiety regarding the times we live in are taking a toll on us. How do we overcome and not be taken captive to fear and dread? In Isaiah 8 we find hidden nuggets of truth that will give us the way of escape from the paralyzing fear in the world today. In Isaiah 8:10-22;9;1-7, God reveals the fact that the enemy has fearful plans for God's people, but the plans won't come to pass if God (Emmanuel) is with us (vs.10). God warns that we do not become obsessed with conspiracy theories and fear what these people are fearing (vs.11-12). Don't consult others or look to the earth (vs. 19-22). ONLY let the Lord be your fear and dread. Regard Him as your hope (vs.13). God instructs us to let Him be our sanctuary (refuge) (vs14). Look for and hope in the Lord (vs. 17). Why? Because we and our children the Lord has given us are for signs and wonders from the Lord of Hosts WHO dwells in Mt. Zion (vs. 18). When we are at peace and delivered, others will be amazed at God's presence in our lives. Mt. Zion is a symbol of God's presence signifying safety and protection. The Lord of Hosts is a divine title associated with the sanctuary of Shiloh signifying might and power commonly found in military and apocalyptic contexts> (from the Illustrated Dictionary and Concordance of the Bible). He is our Messiah, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this (9:6-7). Grace and peace be to you! (Phillippians 1:2)