There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:18-19 ESV)
It was never God’s intention for us to live in fear. Instead, His plan is that we live in power, love and with a sound mind and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7) However, if you’ve ever felt stress, worry, anxiety or dread, you’ve been acquainted with fear to some degree. Admittedly, I have had a life-long battle with these issues, but thankfully as time goes by, I am successfully learning to overcome them.
For me, being victorious in my struggle with fear has come as I have meditated on this passage of Scripture, and embraced it as truth. God’s love for me is perfect. It is sufficient, and complete in every way. As a result of that awareness, my life has been completely changed. Not everything that I experience is exactly as I envision that it would, or should be, but living in the awareness of the depth of God’s love for me, has changed how I see everything. If I am endeavoring to follow Him in all I do, I know that He will not allow anything troublesome to happen to me unless it’s ultimately for my good. My eternal life is secure in Jesus Christ, as is my overall success in this life, as I am willing to trust Him in every situation. Through the power of His love, and with the awareness that He has a perfect plan for my life, which He is working out one step at a time, I am confident that I can be an overcomer. So can you.
My prayer today is, “Father, please give each of us a greater awareness of Your love for us. May our lives be renewed by the power of that love.”
