Isaiah 44:8   8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.  (KJV)

How many times does the LORD have to repeat Himself?  He says, “I am the ONLY true God–you do not have to be afraid and by the way–you are my witnesses.  

Witnesses is a term used in a court of law.  You know a reliable, honest, “say what you mean, mean what you say” person on the stand giving a testimony that was sworn on the BIble to be true.  Would I want me as a witness of having no fear, believing God, of not being afraid?  Hmmmmmm, in a word, NOPE!

But, here’s the thing–I can fix this!  I can choose to live in faith and not doubt.  Live in trust and not fear.  Live daily remembering He has never let me down (said “No” yes, let me down, no!).  Being afraid and living in fear is a crazy waste of time, energy, and brain cells. (Scientific America June/July 2007 article Stress kills brain cells off  http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/stress-kills-brain-cells/)

Max Lucado said it best, and I will probably repeat this more than once because it is true: “Worry is irrelevant and irreverent,” and C.S. Lewis said, “Worry is impertinent.”

Isaiah’s tone here is of a stern, exasperated leader/prophet.  His tone has that “you better be listening” volume and character.  If I choose not to listen I can expect the consequences of fear which I do not like. We must keep in mind Isaiah is writing/speaking the LORD’s words.  

Lifeguards are constantly blowing the whistle and instructing kids to “stop running” around the deck of the pool.  Is this to take the fun out of the experience of swimming?  Of course not.  The direction to stop running is given to prevent falls, protect small children, and to provide a calm atmosphere that leads to feelings of security.  The consequences for not heeding the direction of the Lifeguard are the falls that occur resulting in sometimes severe injury, the wrath of a mother whose child has been knock down and hurt, and the Lifeguards focus being taken off the pool and redirected to the deck leaving others in grave danger of drowning.  

The Lord says, “do not be afraid.”  We are his witnesses.  Like the child who follows the lifeguard’s instructions and has no injuries as well as the one who is unable/unwilling to follow the lifeguard’s directions our lives become living testimonies of his wisdom in all he asks us to do.  

When I walk around afraid, my life testifies that my God is not faithful, that He cannot be trusted, that He has failed me, that He is not enough.  All of this is a false witness!  When I walk in faith believing He is the only God and is fully trustworthy then I have no fear and my life becomes a reliable witness to both the jury and the gallery.

No other God claims to love us unconditionally.  No other God was willing to pay all our debts.  No other God says you don’t have to work your way into my good graces.  Only the ONE TRUE GOD offers rest, peace, freedom from fear, slavery, and bondage..  (Matthew 11:28)  Only one God says I love you and you don’t have to do anything for me just believe. (John 3:16)

Jesus said, “You WILL BE MY WITNESSES.”  It was a statement of fact.  Our lives claim, testify, exhibit what and WHO we believe. (Acts 1:8)  Recently, we have watched in horror as some have given their lives because they were witnesses for Christ.  Believing and a peace that passed understanding exhibited for all the world to witness.  

Today, as you go through this day take stock of what your life is saying from the witness stand.  Would you want you as a witness of His amazing grace?  

Yvonne