"And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'" Luke 1:9-11 (NKJV)

Do not be afraid.

Every time an angel appears, it's the first thing the celestial herald offers. Because what comes next is going to be important. 

Because fear clouds judgment and it hampers our ability to hear clearly.

And, in this passage, what's coming is wonderful! A savior is born, for everybody! No restriction on who can call upon Him and His redemptive work through the cross that lies ahead. 

But the angel still tells the shepherds to not be afraid, just in case they miss that part because they're too busy being afraid of what's in front of them to listen.

Are you living in fear? Do you know someone who is?

We can be afraid of so many things. A low number in the checking account. The opinions of others. Poor health. A pregnancy that we didn't expect. A pregnancy that's not good news. Political or social unrest. When we are afraid, we forget who knows and shapes the future.

But in 2 Timothy 1:7, we read, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." It is not just a nicety to be unafraid. It's vitally important, and it is our precious birthright as spiritual sons and daughters of the Most High.

Life in Christ means that fear has no place in or claim over our lives anymore, and that frees us from fear in order to obey His call on our lives.

Sometimes we need to be reminded of that. And sometimes we need to remind others. Sometimes we are in both places at the same time.

But each Christmas, we remember our eternal Stability was born in a stable.

In the uncertainty of a manger bed, our Sure Place was nestled in straw.

The waiting is over.

A single birth—unexpected by mortal hearts—would ultimately free the world from the slavery of sin, fear, and death and deliver it into the hands of Love and Grace.

The Prince of Peace is ready today to come to our aid.

All He asks is that we invite Him into our lives and give Him authority.

Thank you so much for joining me in prayer and meditation this week. And thank you for partnering with Care Net in the precious work of not just saving unborn lives, but reminding the fearful that Jesus Christ is waiting to deliver them from their fears. 

It is my sincere hope that you and your families have a very joyful Christmas and a wonderful New Year! I look forward to working together with you in to offer more compassion, more hope, and more help to those facing pregnancy decisions in 2021.

As we celebrate Christmas and welcome the New Year together, please join me in praying:

For those still far from Christ, that they would be drawn close to Him this Christmas as we celebrate worldwide the miracle of His birth and that they would ask Him into their hearts.

For those who are serving in shelters, churches, and pregnancy ministries over the Christmas holiday, that they would be mightily empowered for their ministries to the least and the lost, and that they would be blessed and refreshed in new and profound ways by the work that they do.

For outreaches to those facing pregnancy decisions in 2021, that they would be compassionate, well supported in all aspects, and effective, and that we would see even more lives saved from the tragedy of abortion as even more hearts turn away from fear and towards God, marriage, and their unborn children.