Have no fear

"'Where have you come from?” the LORD asked Satan. Satan answered the LORD, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.'" Job 1:7 NLT

In an article published by Oregon Live yesterday, Emily Infeld, a professional runner who competed in the 2016 Olympics in Rio but missed qualifying in this year's games after placing 8th in the 10,000 meter-final, described her three-year nightmare with a stalker in her ESPN profile. Emily said she was training for her second Olympic Games when Craig Donelly, a total stranger, became obsessed with her over the internet in 2018. For the next three years, the Portland track star and her fiancé, Max Rudolph, lived in fear as Donelly followed their every move (literally moving to the towns they lived in) and sent menacing and threatening messages until he was finally arrested for cyberstalking and violation of a protective order. The past three years have put a mark on Infeld. She no longer receives mail at their home and is careful to not post photos of where she lives and trains on social media. She also still takes precautions at home. “We still put this bar under our door at night, we still have our security system up, and I think we’re just going to keep that in our everyday routine,” Infeld said in the story.

And as scary as it would be to have someone that wants to harm us watching our every move, that is exactly what the Bible tells us that our enemy, Satan, is doing. In fact, when the Lord asked the devil where he had come from, "Satan answered the LORD, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.'" Did you get that everything part? But before that thought has you shaking in your running shoes, remember this my friend... we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us and there is nothing that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Does that mean that we won't be sifted or encounter trials? Of course not. But it does mean that we don't have to fear them since we know that Jesus is at the right hand of God and interceding for us.

So while you and I should always take precautions to guard ourselves against the advances and attacks of the evil one by putting on the Armor of God each and every day, we shouldn't cower down or live in fear. Our God is a mighty God who the Bible tells us goes before us and behind us so that we don't ever have to be afraid or discouraged. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that there is much evil in this world, both in the earthly realm and the supernatural one. Cause us to always be on guard against our adversary the devil by immersing ourselves in the Word each and every day and putting on the armor that You have provided. Knowing that the end days are drawing near then, cause us to not only refute fear but to march out boldly like good soldiers to share the Good News. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!