Father, May I? – What Big Teeth You Have – May 15th

Father, May I Fear?
May 15, 2021

What Big Teeth You Have!

Psalm 91:1-5, 9-11, ‘When you abide in the shadow of Shaddai, you are hidden in the strength of God Most High. He’s the hope that holds me and the stronghold who shelters me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and He will protect you from false accusation and any deadly curse. His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under His covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield, keeping you from harm. ‘When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High, our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm. How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us? God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go, defending you from all harm.’ (TPT)

We all grew up with the Brothers Grimm, and boy howdy, were they grim. It is a pretty fascinating and sad picture, the allegory that many of their tales are today. In one particular fable, we find Little Red Riding Hood, dressed so snazzy, brilliantly making her way over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house she goes, with a happy little picnic basket packed with all sorts of goodies she wishes to share with Grammy. But there’s a foible because when our little princess arrives nothing is as it seems. Does this sound like life today?! Grammy doesn’t look right, seem right or talk right, and then to top off an adventure that has quickly gone from bad to worse, Grammy suddenly changes her eating habits, becoming cannibalistic, and tries to munch on her darling granddaughter. What is going on here, the little girl has to be wondering, and immediately, this wide-eyed child has to at once make adult decisions as her innocence is challenged.

I remember when I was little, I didn’t like this story. I didn’t read it to my children nor to my grambabies. How hairy to disturb a picture perfect world with the nuances of bad things. But that is called life. In all of life, in fact, we find protagonists and antagonists, villains and victims, heroes and cowards, God and Satan. Life is a scary thing. Fear is very real. We are better equipped to be cognizant of its reality, and in awe of the dreadful potential life presents, than to have our head stuck in a red hood waltzing through a dark forest.

But we mustn’t dwell there either. For instance, we can live with such anxiety that we no longer can breathe deeply and we are fearful to look around any one corner for fear of what we might find. This holds us hostage, so we never take a risk to trust another person or to ultimately even trust Jesus. It is my assumption though while in Brothers Grimm’s day perhaps Mommy might allow ‘lil Carrie Colored Coat to venture alone on a wooded path to visit Gramma, today that ain’t happening. While there are many fire-breathing dragons out there, we can avoid certain pitfalls by the levels of caution we practice.

However, the greatest weapon we can stick in our back pocket or tuck in our sleeve or hide under our pillow is the promise of God’s presence. There are many snares out there, this is true, and many of them stem from a jealous enemy who resides in a fallen word, but we have the whole armor of God to suit up in for our provision and protection. When we are clothed by Jesus, the enemy cannot penetrate the thick covering He has wrapped us in. He is my greatest confidence and shelters me in the hollow of His nail-pierced hand because He has already been there, into my future. He knows when and who and how to keep me safe from what is to come. Just as on any mission, we soldiers have marching orders, and our orders are to simply trust. Trust the One Who gave it all.

‘Jesus, what big arms You have!’
‘The better to hold you with, My child.’
‘Jesus, what a big heart You have!’
‘The better to save you with, My child.’

Psalm 91:14-16, ‘“If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says God, “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care, if you’ll only get to know and trust Me. Call me and I will answer; be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party. I’ll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!”’ (MSG)

I want to know the Father’s opinion about everything!
Won’t you JOURNEY with me this month as we ask our Father, ‘MAY I?’’