We all have fears to face. Some are just short temporary fears and some are over the long haul of life that debilitates and take the joy of living God wants us to have.
What are your fears? While looking over the internet for a list I found a list 13 1/2 pages long. I never new there were so many!!!
I used to be terribly afraid of heights. Just getting up on a ladder frightened me. So I did something drastic about it and climbed Mt. Katadin. Quite a few years ago I went with a college group and with God's help and friends encouragement I was with made it to the top. Now I can handle a ladder.
Throughout the Bible we can read about fear. We are to fear (respect) God only as believers. Abraham recognized in his travels that some cities had no fear of God. Moses wanted Israel to have a healthy respect for God. Since he had seen the lack of it in Egypt, Moses knew God's people needed to understand where sin would take them if they turned back. Job feared God and David said, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
In the New Testament Paul addresses Timothy who is a young pastor about fear. II Tim. 1:7 says, "God has not given us a spirit of fear but of peace, love and a sound mind." That made me think a little...about the love thing in this verse...what's going on with that?
I Cor. 13 says love is the greatest thing. How in the world can love help my fears? Well, I John 4:18 says, "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." God has given us the ability to have a perfect love...His love...and with that love we understand His care for us. Fear keeps us from living and reaching out...love drives us to do and be all God wants us to be. If we get closer to the Lord we embrace and understand all the more just how much He loves us and will take care of us. Fear of people, places and things are NOT necessary for the believer! Go live your life for Him!
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