Welcome to today's encouragement from the Our Daily Bread Devotional.

Our reading titled, Fear Not, was written by Anne Cetus.

Linus, in the Peanuts comic strip, is best known for his blue security blanket.

He carries it everywhere and isn't embarrassed at needing it for comfort.

His sister Lucy especially dislikes the blanket and often tries to get rid of it.

She buries it, makes it into a kite, and uses it for a science fair project.

Linus too knows he should be less dependent on his blanket and lets it go a science fair project. Linus, too, knows he should be less dependent on his blanket

and lets it go from time to time, always to take it back.

In the movie, a Charlie Brown Christmas,

when a frustrated Charlie Brown asks,

isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?

Linus, with his security blanket in hand,

steps center stage and quotes Luke 2, 8 through 14.

In the middle of his recitation, he says,

Fear not. He drops his blanket, the thing he clung to when afraid.

What is it about Christmas that reminds us we don't need to fear?

The angels that appeared to the shepherds said,

Do not be afraid. A Savior has been born to you.

Matthew Chapter 1 declares that Jesus is God with us.

We have His very presence through His Holy Spirit, the true comforter,

so we don't need to fear.

We can let go of our security blankets and trust in Him.

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