"God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, bceomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day-our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fewarful life-fear of death , fear of judgment- is one not yet fully formed in love." (1 John 4:18, The Message)
We have so many emotions and fear is one them. Fear can be a good thing or a bad thing. There is a healthy fear that helps us and warns us of dangerous situations. Then there is the fear that binds us and grips our hearts keeping us from living the full life God intended. We determine what we do with the fear that is in us.
Our response to fear is so important-when that unhealthy fear creeps up on us, we can run into the arms of our heavenly Father and find safety and peace or we can hide and allow it to overwhelm us. We are God's children and just as our children run to us for peace and comfort, we can find that place in Him where the fear will not torment us.
I remember when my children were small and that didn't understand the dangers of some things, but after being taught and after getting hurt a few times. There are lessons we have to learn even as adults, things we have to go through that develop a healthy fear in us or helps us to realize we don't have to be afraid of some of the things Satan brings our way. Now there are some things I will always be afraid of, snakes, lizards, frogs, and the such like. But there are things like lies from hell, gossip, worry, sickness, and such that I know my Heavenly Father will keep me through.
The more we get to know our Heavenly Father the easier it is to trust Him and to know we can walk through this life each day and even face death and not have to be afraid. When we understand that if He cares enough about us that He counts the hairs on our heads, then how much more is He concerned with the things we face each day. He wants us to come to him. To crawl up in His lap and to find the safety that He has promised us throughout His word.
The challenge for you today is to write, "Perfect love drives out fear" somewhere you can see it throughout your day. Ask yourself if you are allowing anxiety to consume your heart. Admit these things to God and allow Him to reveal his love to you in a way you can live without fear. I have heard it said that worry is simply meditating on the problem, we need to meditate on the problem solver and find our life is so much easier.
Grab a cup of coffee and a little bit of chocolate and let's share together of the grace and mercy of God.
