Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
SATURDAY, October 31 All Hallows' Eve
Psalm 55. Fear and trembling have come over me, and horror overwhelms me. And I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee to a far-off place and make my lodging in the wilderness."
This time of year, American culture seems to crave fear, though only the safe, controlled fear created by scary movies, costumes, and stories. We are not enthralled, this day or any other, with true, deep, uncontrollable fear. We love being scared in a measured way, but we never want to feel that "fear and trembling have come over me," or "horror overwhelms me."
When fear and trembling beset me, I do want to "fly away and be at rest," to flee the frightening forces around me. Physically, I do not have the resources to fly away, but I can deal with fearful situations spiritually and move beyond fear and trembling. I pray not for God to remove the sources of my fears, but to enable me to transcend them. Earthly things--even overwhelming fears--are transitory. Whatever happens to me here, I can let go of my fear and trembling by embracing God, only God.
By remembering that only God endures, I can fly away. I can be at rest.
PRAY for the Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry (Armagh, Ireland)
Ps * 138, 139:1-17(18-23); Nehemiah 4:1-23; Revelation 7:(4-8)9-17; Matthew 13:31-35
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