What are you afraid of?
I am afraid of poisonous spiders, but not the other kinds.
I am afraid of heights, but after my zipline adventure, less so.
I am afraid of losing a loved one. Now, that’s a fear. A real fear. One that takes my breath away because my family is my heart.
What do you fear? And what does this have to do with living like Jesus?
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. 1 John 4: 16-19 (NLT)
Can we really live like Jesus?
If we live a life closely connect in our relationship with Jesus, then yes.
If our confidence is in His power rather than our own, then yes.
If we rise up each day expecting that God will show up in our every day lives, even the messy parts, then yes.
If we hand him our fears, even those that take our breath away, and realize that He has promised never to leave us, then yes.
Living in fear is different than facing those fears, even when they come true, with God right there with you.
What do you fear?
How can perfect love cast out that fear?
This really ministered to my Suzy! In order to be trained for my new job, I have to fly from Chicago to Idaho in a couple of weeks. I hate flying! I used to be fine with it, but the last time I flew it was because my now ex-husband chose to leave me in the middle of a vacation! It has been almost 20 years since I’ve flown. Definitely feelings of anxiety and separation connected with flying. This post has reminded me that He will never leave me. He will be sitting right there next to me on that flight. His perfect love will be casting all my fears away. Plus, I need to remember that in order to influence others, I need to take this flight. I’m driven by opportunities of influence. You have no idea how much this has helped me today. You continue to speak directly to my heart. Thank you.
We have a home in WI and when we are there in the summer l am usually with my husband, l have challanged mySelf to go there to be alone with the Lord, but as night falls l become afraid. Everyone around the lake knows l’m afraid to be there alone they know all the lights will be on inside and out its a joke that l’m afraid to be alone. What a wittness to the other ladies and there husbands if l could truely say my confidence and trust is in the Lord not just to keep me safe but to trust in what ever happens to let it be a wittness to the Lord. Please pray for courage and confindence to be alone with the Lord.
Father, thank you for stepping into this place of fear and bringing peace. As Lynda steps into that alone place, fill it with Your presence. May the noises that sweep into fearful thoughts be revealed for what they are – a branch blowing in the wind, a house creaking with age – and may you also be revealed for what you are. Our comfort. Our shelter. Our banner. Our mighty and powerful God. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Thank you for giving KD courage that comes from trusting in you. Fill those fearful places with peace. In the name of Jesus, amen.