Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name! Praise Yahweh, my soul, and don’t forget all his benefits, who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Yahweh executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel”
Psalm 103:1-7 (emphasis added)

Why are we told again and again not to fear? Because it’s easy to forget. Life can be scary. Living for God within a world determined to reject Him has complications and difficulties. In the natural realm, we’re only supposed to fear when we have a reason to. Because there is an unknown or a threat. We rarely if ever fear for no reason. Sometimes it seems so, but it ends up that our senses have detected something our conscious mind hasn’t. Our fear then kicks in so that adrenaline flows and we fight or flee. Now that is a perfect description of how the world views fear and interacts with it in the natural.

But as BELIEVERS, we have NO reason to fear. There are no unknowns or threats that God doesn’t see ahead of time (Isaiah 46:9-11). There nothing that is above Him (Philippians 2:9-11). That is the gift of His leadership and the miracle of His kindness. The benefit of the Spirit dwelling within us. “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful” (John 14:26-27). Taught ALL THINGS. Given REAL PEACE. These are the benefits of ABIDING in the Lord.

Add to that the fact that God gave humanity dominion on this planet, and you really have no reason to fear. Authority — yes, we gave it away, but Jesus got it back for us IN HIM — is there for us to grab and use — in accordance with the will of God which is the Word of God — so that we can face and conquer ALL situations that face us without ANY fear at any stage of the situation. We will still have a sense of danger, common sense, and self-preservation, but we will NOT be ruled by fear or terror. We will have CLEAR thinking.

Abide. It means: to endure without yielding or bear patiently, accepting without objection; to remain stable or in a fixed state, to continue in a place; and to accept without objection, to conform to. That’s a lot right there. And totally impossible without two things: the Word of God and our will to choose to obey.

The Word of God is alive (Hebrews 4:12). It is sustenance (Matthew 4:4). It is a weapon that God wields as we speak it (Ephesians 6:17). And Jesus told us we’re blessed when we obey it (Luke 11:28). The Word is powerful. We access that power when we meditate on it. All the time. As often as we can. When we retrain ourselves to view the Word as completely true in every verse and every concept and in every command, promise, and teaching. It equips us to see God in every page. Jesus in every chapter. The Spirit moving over every word. It gives us supernatural no fearishness.

In the natural when we break the law or disobey (a boss, government, or a parent) there is a fear of being caught (or the arrogance of daring them to catch us and/or punish us). Not with God. He kissed us with forgiveness. Didn’t smack us one as we deserved, but kissed it away. Like a boo-boo on an infant (Acts 22:16). We may do wrong again, but we have forgiveness and repentance to deal with it (1 John 1:9). We have a freedom to obey, not to sin again (Galatians 5:13).

None of these things God does and offers to us have ANY attachment to fear in ANY way. We do NOT need to be afraid of God. He is NOT angry at us. Good tidings of great joy: good will to man (Luke 2:14). That good will toward us has provided us with amazing things too numerous to count. But here are a few of the highlights.

Every disease or sickness has been healed inside and out. That’s pretty good. Who doesn’t fear the diseases of the world? Believers who believe what God says, that’s who. Diabetes, Cancer, Leukemia, leprosy, you name it. If it’s a disease or a sickness, it’s gone. Need corroboration from more than a Psalm? Isaiah 53:4-5 looks forward to a Messiah who has “borne our sickness and carried our suffering”. 1 Peter 2:24 looks back to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross “that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.”. And Matthew 8:16-17 tells us Jesus physically healed people so that He might fulfil the prophesy of Isaiah — before He died, got resurrected, AND healed our spiritual selves as well. That’s two types of healing (physical and spiritual) that two thousand years ago Jesus released into the world.

Supernatural health and physical healing are available for those who would look to Him and believe. By Grace, through Faith. Again and again in His earthly ministry He said “your faith has healed you”. Faith. Belief. It works. James 1:6 says “But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.” Believe. Stand on that belief in total faith. How? Get into the Word. Read it. Believe it. And then receive what it offers.

He rescued us from Hell and saved our lives (Ephesians 2:8-9). What better reason to love someone is there than that they have saved you (John 3:16)? We all have sinned and fallen short of God (Romans 6:23). On our own we deserve it. Humankind is inherently selfish. Look around at the world. At yourself. So much of what we do has to do with ourselves. Disgusting, really. But God saves us from that. He gives us a new nature. He shares our love. He saves our lives (John 3:17). Beautiful, truly.

He satisfies our desires, not with cheap and temporary things. Or things that seem great but ultimately hurt us (fast food, I’m looking at your delicious awfulness). But with good things (James 1:17). Satisfying things (John 6:35). Helpful things (2 Corinthians 9:8). Plentiful things (Philippians 4:19). Prosperous things (Matthew 7:11). We get to land on our feet because He places us there (Psalm 18:33). Every time.

This isn’t about having vast money, possessions, riches, or not having mass wealth. This is about total and complete contentment and satisfaction with where we are and what we have so that things and the desire for things don’t have a hold on us. Then it doesn’t matter if you have a lot or not. It won’t become a stumbling block. God saves us from that. He is SO GOOD to us.

We get to have and live a life of peace (2 Corinthians 13:11). Anxiety free. Full of blessing and favour and calm and awesomeness. Even when there are difficulties it’s great. Why? Because He gives us all the answers and all the authority to get out of the situation. And when it is humanly impossible? He does it FOR us because we’re letting Him operate in our lives (Matthew 19:26).

He is the God who makes things right (Romans 8:28). He is the God who heals us (Exodus 15:26). He is the God who redeems us (Titus 2:11-14). He is the God who renews us (Isaiah 40:31 and Romans 12:2). And He really does. In small and big ways. He helps, saves, assists, loves, blesses, hugs, and kisses us in every way. He is a GOOD God. Why fear? It’s a hurricane of love and we get to be in the middle of it, throw our arms around Him, and stand in Favour, Blessing, Love, Peace, and Purity. All because of God. Fear? Naw. I’ll live Faith, thanks. And I’ll love on Him like crazy.

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: Psalm 103:8-22

Yahweh’s love is a flooding river. He doesn’t seek to get even with us for all we’ve done – He forgets it completely. He shows us mercy, steadfast love, tender feelings, and all of that while knowing us inside and out. All the good. All the not quite as good. How can we look at that and NOT feel awe and love toward Him who does it all for us? Bless and praise the Lord whether you feel it or not. Serve Him and fulfil His desires. It isn’t hard or burdensome. It’s easy and fulfilling and wonderful and awesome. Bless and praise Him with your whole heart. Do it today. Do it every day.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.