Do not fear the king of Babylon

    of whom you are afraid.

Do not fear him, declares the LORD,

         for I am with you,

to save you

and to deliver you from his hand.

I will grant you mercy...

                Jeremiah 42. 11

(We all have a king of Babylon

                  in our lives,

those things or people,

both real or imagined,

      of whom we are afraid.

But the key phrase

          for I am with you

   is inscribed throughout scripture,

        over and over again,

                   for a reason.

When we discount or forget

     the Presence of God with us,

fear takes over the steering wheel

   and always chooses

                  on the wrong street.)

O LORD,

You whisper to us  to "Follow Me."

Help us to not just hear

           but to heed Your words,

to listen and respond,

to tie on our shoes,

     ready to stay,

     and ready to walk with You.

You open us up

      and make us aware

    of Your Presence,

always a different journey

and a radically new outcome

          even right where we are,

strengthened by You.