“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear..” (1 John 4:18).
Fear can be an immobilizing force that paralyses any life. It affects us in many ways, and we all have certain things that bring fear in our hearts. People fear losing jobs. Many fear for their health. Parents fear how their children would turn out. People fear that they will lose incomes based on certain current conditions. There are people who don’t fly because of fear of planes crushing down!
During the time of Covid pandemic fear ruled. Almost every piece of news was coated with a message of fear. The medicine was suspect. The health centers were woefully incapable. The health workers were all dying. Those that recovered were not fully restored. “Fear news” were freely sent and forwarded, to raise a curtain of fear.
After Covid, now other fears have replaced. There are “fears of catastrophic wars” looming on the horizons. Lately, there is “fear of AI” with super intelligent machines coming to take all human jobs!
As believers we cannot give in to “fear mongering” because of the hope we have in Christ Jesus. Once in a boat, the disciples of Jesus where hit by a savage storm, that they feared would drown them. Once they turned to Jesus, “ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” ( Mark 4:39-40).
When the news around us are all filled with fear, let us not be afraid, like a people without faith. We must anchor our faith in the saving grace of God. When the scriptures says, “perfect loves drives out fear’; the meaning here is that we have a God whose love is so encompassing that anything that brings fear in our hearts, is dispelled, because His word says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).
Today, walk not in fear; for fear is not of God! But walk with faith, which frees you, because you have hope in Christ Jesus!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I overcome fear, because of the hope I have in you through your Son Jesus Christ, who has come into my life and set me free, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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02/05/2024 - 03/05/2024 All day“That is why for Christ’s sake I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10)
We all crave to be blessed in life. But was there a believer who was so blessed beyond any circumstances without experiencing some sort of discomfort, in one way or another! A person may apparently be blessed in every single way yet have one troubling matter that constantly drives him down to his knees.
The one mightily blessed with riches may have a family situation that leaves him ever on edge. Someone who seems to be at the height of his profession may be living with an ailment that keeps him ever on tentacles. The one blessed with abundant health might from time to time be dealing with financial woes.
Why do such troubling situations plague even believers? One explanation could be found in the Apostle Paul’s life. Called into ministry and endowed with many gifts, including amazing revelations from above, yet he had a matter that constantly drove him on his knees. “Therefore in order to keep me from being conceited, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me” (2 Cor 12: 7).
Paul would often cry out to God to free him of this particularly troubling matter. But the Lord came back with, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in your weakness” (2 Cor 12: 9).
The comfort of this lesson is that God is completely aware of whatever might be ever troubling us. Moreover, it could be purposely there, that we constantly place our faith in Him, other than relying on our strength and resources, especially as He blesses us in other uplifting ways.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray that whatever matter is constantly troubling me, I know it is for a purpose and you are in total control, to bless me even more, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
