Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever constantly walks afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection. 1 John 4:18
News Flash! Love defeats Fear in a long-standing battle!
Love Wins!
"How would you treat someone who lied to you as much as your fears do?" Jack Hayford
I've been mulling this one for a while.
I would not have anything to do with someone constantly lying to me.
Either I keep hanging around fear, or it seems fond of me.
My current questions are:
What would I accomplish if I weren't afraid of failure?
How many of my decisions (yes and no) are based on the fear of not meeting others' expectations?
How many of my actions are based on loving and being loved versus fearing losing another's love and acceptance?
How would all my relationships change if I listened to love and not fear?
How deep could my relationships be if I didn't hide in fear of revealing the broken parts, thus, risking not being accepted or loved?
Some of my experiences and exploration have brought me this far with my old companion, Fear.
I fail when I allow fear to control my decisions instead of love.
I fail to grow, fail to love, fail to be loved, and experience the life God has designed for me to live.
I believe that whatever God commands, He gives me His grace to do.
Fear seems to be something that God addresses continuously in scripture.
How often I read, "Do not fear or do not fret"!
Yet, I see some victory as I meditate on this fearful reality.
First of all, fear implies some measure of risk.
So, overcoming fear requires faith.
Exercising faith can lead me to trust that no matter what, God's perfect love for me will cast out, chase away, and overcome fear.
When I realize that I am loved unconditionally by my Papa, the creator, and sustainer of everything, fear cannot inhabit that place, too.
So, regardless of others' opinions or outcomes in my life, my Beloved gives me the safest place to live, which is in His love.
Without fear, there is no need for courage.
My view on fear has come to this; fear is not my friend.
I cannot deny fear’s existence, but I can refuse it a place of negative influence.
Fear leads me to the choice of trust.
I can use fear to choose to trust God to overcome and be victorious in my life. On this journey, I am learning to hide in the place without fear, in His perfect love.
Where does fear influence you?
In relationships?
In your plans?
In your workplace?
What would you accomplish if you had no fear?
Meditate on how God’s love casts out fear.
Lord, thank You for Your perfect love. Amen