📜 The Word

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
— Book of Psalms 27:1

🌎 The World Behind the Word

Psalm 27 is traditionally attributed to David and reflects the lived reality of a leader who knew both anointing and exile. It arises from a world where threats were physical, political, and immediate—enemies, warfare, betrayal. This psalm was not written from safety but from pressure. It functioned as a public confession of trust meant to shape Israel’s imagination about where true security is found.

❓ The Meaning

David names God with three titles: light, salvation, and stronghold. Each answers a different fear—confusion, guilt, and vulnerability. Fear is not dismissed; it is interrogated. The psalm does not deny danger, but it refuses to let danger have the final word.

This is a verse of declaration; it’s a personal commitment. It’s a “posture” that carries David forward. This is great when you are going into a difficult situation. Seems obvious, right?

But guess what— again, it’s not.

The Lord is my light”

We’ve been sort of conditioned to think of light as a blessing, or a visual of perfection and love. Sure, light is indeed a blessing but what it means in this scripture is “visibility”. It is guidance, truth, and presence. Here David is saying, “God gives me sight”. What did we do when we were young laying afraid in bed? We asked that the light be turned on.

“…and my Salvation”

Meaning: Deliverance, being pulled out of my fear.

These two together mean, “I can see my path before me, it is scary, but I know I have God with me to carry me forward no matter what I face.”

Whom shall I fear

The Hebrew uses this as a verb— describing an internal condition. This is fear, or expectation of it, BEFORE evidence of it. but the light puts darkness at a disadvantage. Keep that thought…

“Stronghold of my life”

I know I’m not protected by the events, but I am protected by God’s promise, his Covenant. This is the ah ha moment. Could be scary, but God…

“of whom shall I be afraid?”

Fear here shift from verb, to object in the Hebrew.

Putting all that together: “I’m scared, God lights the way, I can do this.”

The danger may still exist, but it no longer determines your stance.

That whole of it describes transformation. The result of it describes formation. From inner clarity (know God) to out obedience (God’s got me).

🌿 Covenant Contrast

Old Covenant thinking (under threat):
“If God protects me, danger will be removed.”

New Covenant living (Epistle to the Romans 12:1):
“In view of God’s mercy, I offer my whole life—even amid danger—as living worship.”
Fear loses authority not when threats vanish, but when trust becomes embodied obedience.

After this many emails, I hope you are starting to see a pattern. Many of us still live in the Old Covenant way of thinking. Our journey passes through there from time to time, but it is not our home.

🤵 Pastoral Word

Fear thrives when unnamed and unchallenged. Today, confront it directly by confessing who God is before measuring what you face. Fear is a silent killer, and its only true remedy is God.

Let’s be clear about fear:

Fear says: What if?

Faith says: Even if.

That should shed some light on it.

Afraid of what you are getting into tomorrow? Worried of that next panic attack? You now have the remedy.

🙏 Prayer

Lord,

Be my light where I am confused,

my salvation where I feel exposed,

and my stronghold where I feel weak.

I choose trust today.

Amen.

🔥 Carry this With You Today

God’s presence redefines what deserves your fear.

A Story

An old man is walking to the seawall just as the massive storm comes ashore. He isn’t hurried; he isn’t afraid. He simply has a committed heart.

He carries a lantern, it’s just enough to give comfort, not enough to fend off the storm. As the storm continues to intensify, he hesitates next to a large seawall to shelter from the wrathful wind.

As he pauses, catching his breath, another younger man approaches from down the breakwater wall unseen by all but the storm itself.

Waves are folding over him as he struggles to keep his footing. The darkness has captured him, and he can’t see if he is heading in the right direction. He is uncertain of his footing but quite certain he will be tossed off into the angry sea. His fate sealed by cold turbulence.

Then, when hope seemed a fantasy, a faint light ahead. It’s barely visible. It’s not enough to light the ocean. It’s not stopping the wrath of the storm. It’s just there, steady, just bright enough to aim at— and so he does.

The old man braces himself against the stone, not panicked— just present. The lantern throws warm light across his face and hands. The storm rages, but it won’t take this flame.

The old man looks up just as the young fisherman reaches him.

The old man looks the young fisherman in the eye and smiles. He then simply pulls his cloak around both of them and says, “Glad to see you back, son.”

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The Light