August 2005

1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love: true love has no room for fear, because where fear is, there is pain; and he who is not free from fear is not complete in love.

Fear is such a crippling emotion. It distorts reality and paralyzes your senses. As a child waking up in the middle of the night, what was an ordinary towel hanging on the cupboard door became a creature lurking, waiting to devour you. Your imagination mixed with fear created a reality so real that it paralyzed you and prevented you from seeing the truth. As adults the same process occurs, in our minds we mix our imaginations with fear and situations and sinarios are created of what is going to happen to us in the future. These pictures start to paralyze us and prevent us from experiencing the life God has given us. We begin to see ourselves in lack, stressed about finances, provision, protection and health. The pictures become so real that it cripples us from believing the truth about God and His promises for us. This is how fear creates pain.

Jesus has given us the answer and knows how to restore our hearts from this disabilitating emotion. When we understand His perfect love there is no room for fear. We need to see Jesus and His promises in those situations before they happen. We need to see ourselves as God’s beloved children, being looked after and provided for. When you are complete in His love there is a trust that believes He has the best for you, that He goes before you making your paths straight and that He loves you unconditionally. This trust creates hope and that dispels all fear! We need to choose everyday to renew our minds and allow God’s love to overwhelm our imaginations.