1 John 4:18   There is no fear in love (dread does not exist), but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of the doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it thoughts of punishment, and so he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love (is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection).

The desire of all human life is to love and to be loved, to know and to be known. Love brings with it a sense of security and peace. Love is the foundation of a soul that is prospering and that is in health. The soul at rest or at peace is healing to all our flesh. Studies have been done that show that babies who are not in a loving environment fail to thrive. The same is true for us. The ultimate love was shown to us by God when He sent Jesus to die for us. This true love that Jesus showed for us. He was willing to subject himself to such suffering in order for us to live as sons and daughters of the Most High God. When we know we are deeply loved, we can handle the stresses and problems of this life much better, much like Jesus. He knew He was loved by the Father and trusted Him. He knew that His Father would never leave Him and that what He spoke He would do. He trusted the Father even until death because He believed His Father’s Words that He would raise Him up to everlasting life. This promise is true for us who believe. We have access to the Father 24/7 through the blood of Christ. God is LOVE. He is not angry and He is in a good mood. He wants to work in and through us. He does not need us in heaven but here to reveal the Father’s love to others. Unfortunately, there is an adversary, Satan, whose plan is to destroy God’s children. One of the ways he does this is through fear and unbelief.

All of us feel fear at some point in our life’s journey. Fear alerts us to a possible threat. The problem arises when we stay in a constant state of fear (anxiety, worry) or in this Fight-or-Flight” mode. As we have learned that this constant fight-or-flight response release a host of chemical one of which is cortisol. Over time, cortisol suppresses our immune system increases our risk of disease. When we break up the word disease, it reads dis-ease or unrest.  Let’s look at the definition of fear.

Fear-an unpleasant emotion induced by a threat perceived by living entities, which causes a change in brain and organ function and ultimately a change in behavior, such as running away, hiding or freezing from a traumatic events. Fear may occur in response to a specific stimulus happening in the present, or to a future situation, which is perceived as a risk to health or life, status, power, security, or in the case of human’s wealth or anything held as valuable. The fear response arises from the perception of danger leading to confrontation with or escape from/avoiding the threat ( also known as the fight-or-flight response), which in extreme cases of fear can be a freeze response or paralysis (Wikipedia).

Fear brings with it torment. Jesus said “My Peace I leave with you”. He is our peace in the mist of the storm. The Lord showed me a picture of a hurricane. In the center of the hurricane, there is perfect peace and calm. The center of this storm is a picture of a mind and heart fixed on Jesus or living the Christ-Centered life. Remember Peter. Jesus called him out of the boat onto the water in the midst of the storm. As long as his eyes were on Jesus, he was walking on the water.  When he lost focus on Jesus and began to focus on storm, he got fearful and began to sink. Jesus did not let him drown but as soon as Peter cried out Jesus grabbed his hand and held him (Matthew 14). I think this story is a picture of life. We are called out into the water or into this world and things are going along fine but then the storm happens. It is in the storm when we have to make a choice in whom we will believe or in whom we will trust. The devil would have you believe God has left you or is angry with you. This is contrary to what the Word of God says. He says “I will never leave you or forsake you”. Jesus did not make Peter suffer because of his unbelief but picked him up and held him. Jesus showed he was trustworthy and this had to increase Peter’s trust of Jesus. This is a picture of the Father to us. He doesn’t leave us in the storm but it is a time for us to press in and to trust Him. To believe Him and not to fall victim to the lies of the enemy. The one who has called us is faithful.

The bible clearly tells us that we have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7  For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and a sound mind.

This scripture reveals that fear is a spirit. It is the number one strategy the devil uses to destroy God’s people. None of us are immune to its attempts to wreak havoc on God’s precious children. Fear makes us self focus not Jesus focus. The truth of the matter is that fear and faith can’t live together. When we fellowship with fear , we are not trusting the Lord with our lives. Worrying is a form of unbelief. Fear is misplaced trust. We can feel fear but still act in faith.

The spirit we have been given is one of power, love, and sound mind. This power is the Holy Spirit that we received when we asked Christ into our lives. Love is our Heavenly Father, and a sound mind is Jesus, the Word made flesh. Ephesian tells us that we have the same spirit in us that raised Christ from the dead. We are not without power and we are not helpless. 

In the next week, we will be discussing our thoughts and how to bring our thoughts in line with the kingdom of Heaven. I will share with you my struggle with fear and how the love of the Father has transformed my life. Children of God, it is time we stopped believing the lies of the enemy and understand that God has given us authority over all the work of the enemy. The power of life and death is in our tongue and in our thoughts!

Proverbs 4:20-23  My son(daughter), attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.