No Fear

Happy Sunday!

Today was a good day!  I'm so ready for a good nights sleep. 

Our Children's Church Lesson today was "The Gift of Faith; Fear Has Torment".  10 to 13 year old children ask the best questions.  We have redirect them so many times, or we'd never finish the lesson.  We talked about our fears.  One young man mentioned being afraid that he would not succeed.  WOW!  At their age, I was just trying to deal with a changing family dynamic, success in life hadn't entered my mind.  I shared Joshua 1:8 with him, "Let the words from the book of the law be always on your lips. Meditate on them day and night so that you may be careful to live by all that is written in it. If you do, as you make your way through this world, you will prosper and always find success."(Voice).

Another young man was afraid he wouldn't make it to high school, and a young lady was afraid something tragic would happen to her family.  1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."(KJV).  Don't miss this!  When we lack an understanding of the Love of God, we are afraid.  Don't feel bad, or condemned.  You are not alone.  Society, family, and the enemy have all done a good job convincing us that we are unlovable.  BUT that's a lie, from the Father of Lies himself.  God loved us so much he gave his prize possession, his only begotten son. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, "God paid a very high price to make you his. So honor God with your body."(Easy-to-Read Version).

Faith is the antidote for fear.  Hebrews 11:1 says, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead."(Living Bible).  God has given every believer a measure of faith.(Romans 12:3).  What we are responsible to do is increase that measure.  It's like body building, or investing.  There are steps your must take daily, and regularly to get a return.  Reading the Bible, hearing the Word preached and taught, and prayer and meditation on the Word will ensure faith flourishes and fears fade away. 

Psalm 27 is a great book to read if you are tormented by fears.  Verse 1 says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"(KJV).  Read it for yourself.  This guy dealt with enemies, armies, wicked people, liars, and rejection.  That's a lot, but he knew that he knew that he knew, there is nothing to fear with the Lord on your side.  Let this be a reminder...Fear Not.

Love and prayers, Cynthia