God promised the prophet Zechariah that in the last days, he would be a protective wall of fire around his people: “‘For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her’” (Zechariah 2:5). Likewise, Isaiah testifies: “There shall be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain” (Isaiah 4:6). 

“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).

David was a man who knew how to repent. He constantly searched his heart before God and was quick to cry, “I’ve sinned, Lord. I stand in need of prayer.”

God has promised his people a glorious, incomprehensible rest that includes peace and security for the soul. The Lord offered this wonderful rest to the children of Israel — a life of joy and victory, without fear, guilt or condemnation — but up to the time of Christ, no generation of believers ever walked fully in this blessed promise. As the Bible makes very clear, they never obtained it because of their unbelief: “We see that they could not enter in because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19).

Love, fear, obedience — when it comes to walking with God, they are inseparable because you cannot practice one without the other two.

“[He] has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2 Timothy 1:9).

Every believer has a high calling from the Lord, and God promises that if we act in faith, trusting him, he will bring that plan to fruition. But as anyone who has walked with Jesus for any length of time can attest, following our calling means we will meet obstacles along the way.