Dear HLPC family,
Last night the church officers met for their respective monthly meetings. As is our
custom, we meet as one group at first- Elder and Deacons- to discuss business of mutual
concern and then divide into separate groups. I remain grateful for the godly leadership
the Lord has raised up to serve His church here at HLPC.
I always begin our meeting with a reading from Scripture and prayer. Last night I read
from Psalm 112. It is a Psalm that extols the blessing of being a person who fears the
Lord and delights in His Word. Verse 7 has always stuck with me as it reads: He is not
afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. (ESV)
“Not afraid of bad news.” This does not mean that we will never receive bad news but
that we don’t have to fear it and live in dread. Instead, our hearts may be stable and
firm, not given to panic because we trust the Lord. We rely on His promises and His
sustaining grace in hard times.
This is often a day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment challenge- to trust and not
fear. This is why the Lord gives us the “ordinary means of grace” to help us. He gives us
His Word, prayer, worship, fellowship, and the sacraments for the fight against fear.
Why not read over Psalm 112 today and make it your prayer? Ask the Lord that your
life, by His gracious Holy Spirit, would reflect the truths of this Psalm.
“Lord, please make my heart to be steady, that I will not be afraid.”
Your Pastor,
Paul