"Fear not!"

The bible says again and again to "fear not". Fearing anything besides the Lord must be the root of all evil. The only thing that can counter fear effectively is God himself. The reason why God can counter attack fear so well is not just because He is mighty and just. It is much more than that. He is love and it is this love that exudes from His person, from His Spirit, that nullifies the effects of all fear. His love is perfect, so He is perfect, and so this love being Himself and His presence is also perfect. Perfect love drives out all fear. We can believe the words of 1 John 4 and know that whatever is happening in our lives, no matter how afraid we might be, we can count on the love of Christ to be with us to counter all possible effects of fear.

Fear is so nasty. In the bible fear is the number one thing that separates us from God, His presence, and His love. So many people don't end up doing what the Lord is asking of them because they're too afraid of the consequences. They think the consequences will be bad and so don't trust the Lord. God is not a trickster. He is not out to get us. If He was He sure wouldn't have sent His son to die for us. All He has ever wanted since the beginning of time is to be with us. That is all. But it is fear that keeps us sinning and it is that sin we commit that separates us from our Father in heaven. But that sin, even the efects of the fear, are all lies. There is nothing that Christ hasn't already done for us that would inhibit us from being with him and His Father. He paid the price so we wouldn't have to. It's his blood that washed us clean. We don't have to do anything out of our own strength. Rather all we need to do is believe and trust Jesus and receive our forgiveness. We don't have to beg for it because it's already been given to us. Imagine the forgiveness of God piled up in a giant bank. All we have to do is make a withdrawal and receive it. That pretty much goes for anything he has for us. Grace, love, joy, peace and strength. All these are ready for us at his bank and yet hardly anyone is there withdrawing it. People are too afraid and fearful and they're standing at the door begging to get in. It's our bank! It's there for us! We have access to the keys to the kingdom of our Lord. Let's walk in with boldness, knowing the Lord and believing in his word and then we can obey in joy and strength and not in fear and doubt and worry and anxiety.

The Lord is waiting for you to come to him. Give him your burdens and take up the cross. Sacrifice your flesh on the altar of your salvation and live with the Lord in His virtues today.