I don't think we fully appreciate the damage that fear causes in our lives. It keeps us from opening up to God, life, and to others. While I don't plan on giving out too many details in the blog (may be sharing some of this on Sunday), the thought that keeps running around in my head is this:
If all of our Christian influence is fear based, then what spirit are we operating in? In other words, if the greatest motivator of our devotion to God, our salvation experience, and the way in which we conduct our lives is fear; then we really don't understand the heart of God.
God has removed every barrier that would keep you from experiencing abundant life in Him. The perfect love of God casts out fear. There is no reason for it to hang around. In fact, if there are areas of your life that are still dominated by fear, then those are the areas where God wants to manifest His perfect love in your life.
My son is playing middle school football right now. The past 4 years he had been involved in recreation league play. I knew there would be a lot of changes. He would move out of a league where he excelled and into a system that would require some learning. His playing time would be earned. His position would be his to get and keep. The first few weeks I could see that this new environment was difficult. He wasn't excelling. He was struggling. The position he had played over the last 4 years was no longer his. His playing time was limited at best. In the midst of all of it, he began to question himself. He even told me that he missed being good at football. After a lot of conversation I discovered that his problem was that he had been playing in fear. Somewhere along the way he got intimidated. This fear that had grabbed the attention of his heart was keeping him from enjoying the game he loved. Not only that, but it kept him from reaching his full potential. Once I was able to motivate him properly, he began to take his place among the team. He wasn't shrinking back anymore. He was going out there, working his tail off, and earning every minute of playing time. This approach earned him a starting spot this past week and allowed him to play almost the entire game. What have we learned? Intimidation is a cheap weapon and it only works on those who are willing to be distracted by it.
God doesn't want you living in fear. In fact, once you come to faith in Christ, He places His Spirit inside of you to ensure that you don't have to give in to it. He wants you confident. He wants you full of faith. He wants you living in expectancy. God, being God, ensures that His children have everything they need to make this possible. Fear doesn't have to be a motivator in your life because it will only serve to keep you bound in a slavery mentality.
As it was in the football portion of my son's life it will be in your spiritual journey. If you don't realize that fear works against you, you will always be bound to it. You will not assert yourself in life. You will simply allow life to happen to you. And I don't know about you, but that's not way to live. God has a much better plan for you. God has a much better way for you to experience Him and all He has provided.
You are more than a conqueror my friend. Live like it!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment