Hello and happy Wednesday! It is a beautiful day here…the sun is out and everything looks so much greener after the rain we’ve finally been having. Love it. Anyways, today I thought I would deviate from my devotional journal and talk a little bit about something that has been on my heart lately. Fear. How many of you are afraid of something? You all better have said yes, because everyone everywhere is afraid of something at some time or another. Or, if your anything like me, you’re afraid of a lot of different things. Fear is a normal human feeling. We’re always going to feel it to some extent at certain times, but that doesn’t mean we have to LIVE in fear. Let me explain.
The Bible talks a lot about dealing with our fears. More specifically, it tells us not to fear. Here are a few that I found…
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalms 23:4
We don’t have to be afraid. Even when things seem unbearable and terrifying, there is no need to fear because God is with us. Fear does nothing for us except to make us afraid. It doesn’t strengthen us or help us in anyway. I know it’s easier said than done, but it’s really quite useless to fear because no matter how fearful we become, we are unable to improve our fear filled situations on our own. We have to rely on God to come along side us and protect us from our fears.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
God is always with us. He will not leave us or forsake us. Ever. Remember, God is bigger than anything we could possibly be afraid of. He is bigger than our fears. And he isn’t going anywhere. Even when we feel overwhelmed by fear, he is with us. We don’t have to fear anything, because he is all powerful.
“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
Isaiah 41:13
God is our helper. When fear begins to creep into our lives, we need to turn to God for help. He won’t let us fall.
“There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
1 John 4:18
John says it best—there is no fear in love. Choose to love instead of fear. Choose to look your fears straight in the face, and choose not to be afraid. You can’t reach your full potential in Christ if you are living a life of fear. The devil knows this, and he tries his hardest to keep it that way. He wants us to live in fear, because that is when we are weakest. He prefers us to be cowardly and fearful instead of strong and courageous. He would rather have us live in fear than to live in love. It may seem easy to give into fear, but it’s important that we resist the temptation. Don’t give into the lies of the devil that would keep you living in fear your whole life. Choose to trust God and live in his perfect love and peace. Choose to be strong and courageous, and to break out of the darkness.
Are you living in fear? Be strong and courageous. Choose today to trust in God, and to live a life of love instead of fear.
God BlessJ