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Editors Note:  While walking on a nature path through some woods in Florida, two well-built young men walked toward me.  One of the men seemed a little distracted and kept looking around as though fearful.  I understood a little of his behavior because we had been warned that panthers had been sited in the area and that we should be extra vigilant.   Was he looking for those fearsome creatures?  Suddenly, he jumped, twisted backward and hit his legs. His movement startled me so I jumped.  His friend jumped, to, and started swatting – at what, none of us knew.  Then they both laughed out loud when they realized that the cause of our fear was a grass hopper that had landed on the young man’s leg. Chuckling as I passed them,  I concluded that because the young man already had a sense of fear because of his surroundings, he interpreted the grass hopper as the wet nose of a panther that had crept up behind him!  He saw an invisible monster where there was no monster.
I thought about fear and aging as I read Cherie’s comments on El Elyon.  And I pictured two elderly women, both living in the winter of life, both filled with memories of hard and good times.  One living in constant fear of trouble, the other living with the same circumstances but seeing life through the grid of God’s sovereign love.  If we are to be ever growing and ever green as God plans, then we have choices when it comes to facing fearful days.  I urge young women to practice those choices with the strength of youth because the choice becomes more difficult if we don’t make trusting God an automatic response to difficult days.  Cherie challenges me to trust El Elyon.  Will you?  Sharon Betters

I used to live my life in fear.  I feared everything.  I was filled with nervousness and anxiety.  I had an underlying uneasiness.  My mind was set on the mode of “What if this happens?  What if that happens?”  After becoming a mother, I feared for the safety of my children.  Once darkness fell, I laid awake worrying about their safety for the next day.  Then came the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  I was terrified to leave my house.  Going to the store brought much anxiety.  I didn’t want to leave my daughter at preschool.  I wanted to keep my family held up in our home.  Then came the anthrax scare and I was scared to get the mail.  I didn’t feel safe in my own home anymore.  The truth is that I didn’t feel safe anywhere.  I sat on the coach in my family room with my husband and cryed as we prayed together.  I was standing in sinking sand.  I was desperate for peace.
    

I thank God that He chose to reveal himself to me as El Elyon at that time.  He is the God Most High.  All of creation is under Him.  God is sovereign which means that He is in charge of the entire universe all the time.  My past, present and future are in His hands.  He reigns over all. 

Key Scripture :

Isaiah 4:24,27
 “The Lord Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.”
“For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him?  His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?”

Daniel 4:34-35
“At the end of that time, I , Nebuchadnezzar,  raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored.  Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.  His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.  All peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.  He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.  No one can hold back his hand or say to him:  What have you done?”

2Chronicles 20:6
“O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven?  You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations.  Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand.”
    

The Lord has a plan for each one of us, and it will not be altered by anyone or anything. His mighty hand rules over all of our circumstances.  He is sovereign and we can trust him.  When he does allow hardships or uncertainties in our lives, we must hold onto His promise in Romans 8:28,” And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Through El Elyon, I am no longer standing in sinking sand, but I am standing on solid rock. 
    

Are you standing in sinking sand, or on the solid rock?   Whatever circumstances surround you in your life, run to the strong tower of El Elyon.   Whether you are in a bad marriage, experiencing financial problems, facing a health issue, have job uncertainty or maybe you face true danger daily, turn to El Elyon.   There is isn’t anything that can come your way unless it is filtered through the Sovereign hand of God.  Pray to him and ask him for his wisdom and guidance.  Keep your eyes on the God Most High.

Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Prayer:
    

Dear Heavenly Father,
     Praise be to you the God Most High. We bow before you as we enter your presence.  You are the Sovereign God who created everything into existence and reign over it all.  You are above all things.  Thank you for the peace you give us when we know that you are sovereign over everything. Our life is in your hands. What a wonderful place for it to be!   Thank you for Your Words written in Psalm 91:1-2, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  Father, when you allow pain, disappointment and hurts into our lives, please remind us of who You are, and that you are trustworthy. Grow our Faith.  To You be all glory.
                           In the name of Jesus,
                                    Amen