But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. Proverbs 1:33 (KJV)
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He knew that He was going to die. He did not let fear of death prevent Him from fulfilling His destiny, because “perfect love casts out fear.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Fear is an awful, toxic emotion. It causes your heart to race, your blood pressure to rise, and chases sleep far away. Fear stresses your body, and the chemical reactions of this stress can make you ill and eventually kill you. Time and again, we read the words “Fear not” in the Bible. Small wonder, because fear not only has torment, but it is also a hazard to your health. The Bible shows you how to not let fear poison your life.
People Fear Real & Imaginary Things
There are both real and imaginary fears. Fears based on real circumstances are rational, and fear based on imagined circumstances can become irrational. Rational fears arise when we find out that others mean us harm. Scheming co-workers, heartless bosses, joblessness, and difficult family members are just a few sources of rational fear. Irrational fears develop when you get lost in trying to solve problems by projecting what might happen in the future. Sometimes you get so lost in figuring out “what might happen if,” you lose sight of what is going on now. When you keep your eyes on Jesus, you will know what is, because Jesus is the great “I AM.” He also “was, is, and is to come,” so He sees, knows, and is active in all things past, present, and future. Because Jesus is master of all things at all times, Christians need never be plagued by ANY fear of man or circumstance.
The Love of God Cures You of Fear
The cure for fear of any kind is to love and trust God. The following Bible verses tell us plainly that to love and trust God is the key to inner peace that cannot be destroyed by fear:
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. “ 1 John 4:18 New International Version (NIV)
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3: 5 & 6 (KJV)
You can’t control every aspect of your environment, so it is useless to try. But you can choose to love and trust God, Who is love and has all power. He is willing and able to protect you from fearsome things, people, and situations. The love of God gives us access to the peace of God, and the peace of God will strengthen your heart and mind against the destructive presence of fear.
May these words educate, comfort and encourage you to pray today. Until we meet again: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!” (Ephesians 6:10).
– Verneda
© 2013 Verneda Lights. All Rights Reserved.
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