‘Perfect love casts out fear.’ 1 John 4:18 NKJV When God says, ‘Fear not,’ He is basically telling you, ‘You’re going to have to deal with fear, but you can conquer it. You can act in spite of it.’ The Bible says, ‘... perfect love casts out fear.’ Sometimes we mistakenly think that Scripture means if we [...]
by Bob and Debby Gass
Refuse to live in fear (3)
‘Perfect love casts out fear.’ 1 John 4:18 NKJV
When God says, ‘Fear not,’ He is basically telling you, ‘You’re going to have to deal with fear, but you can conquer it. You can act in spite of it.’ The Bible says, ‘… perfect love casts out fear.’ Sometimes we mistakenly think that Scripture means if we love God perfectly enough, we won’t be afraid. No, the only perfect love is God’s love for you. And it’s unconditional. Knowing that He always loves you, walks with you, defends you, supports you, and has promised to bless you in all that you do is what casts out your fear. And it does one more thing: it strengthens your faith. ‘But without faith it is impossible to please Him …’ (Hebrews 11:6 KJV). When you know that God is pleased with you, you begin to rise above your fears. When fear knocks on your door and finds you full of faith, it cannot enter. That’s why you need to meditate continually on God’s Word and let your conversation be filled with faith. If you’re used to allowing your mind to go everywhere it pleases, meditating on God’s Word will require making a new habit. Don’t become discouraged if you discover you have good intentions but many failures. The Bible says, ‘… we walk by faith …’ (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV). How did you learn to walk? By getting up one more time than you fell down until you finally did it. When you set your mind to speaking fear-defying words of faith, the Holy Spirit will come to your aid and strengthen you. As one minister says, ‘Courage is not the absence of fear, it is progress in its presence.’ So just keep progressing, and you will get there!
SoulFood: 1 Kings 6-7 Matt 13:10-23 Ps 101 Pro 12:12-13
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2023
Tap here to get this reading each day directly in your inbox
Refuse to live in fear (2)
‘The LORD is on my side; I will not fear.’ Psalm 118:6 NKJV God has created you for a life of growth, adventure, and acceleration. But you must take bold steps of faith. And you can’t do that if you’re perfectly satisfied to live in the safe zone. Even when you feel afraid, don’t let it stop you! [...]
Refuse to live in fear (1)
‘Fear involves torment.’ 1 John 4:18 NKJV Advice columnist Ann Landers received about ten thousand letters every month. When asked to name the most common problem in her readers’ lives, she said, ‘Fear! People are afraid of losing their health, their wealth, and their loved ones. People are afraid of life itself.’ If you allow it to, [...]
Start saying, ‘I can.’
‘Many are they who say of me, “There is no help.”’ Psalm 3:2 NKJV Maybe you have repeatedly heard the words ‘You can’t’ throughout your life. Many people like to tell others what they cannot do. Even people you wouldn’t automatically consider to be against you – teachers, coaches, parents, family members, friends, and leaders of church [...]
Depend more on God
‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV The secret of being able to do what you need to do is in realising that you cannot do it alone; you can only do it through God’s empowering grace. God said to Paul, ‘My grace is sufficient for [...]
Through Christ, you can do it
‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.’ Philippians 4:13 NASB Paul writes: ‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.’ (Philippians 4:13 NASB). Paul believed he could handle whatever life threw at him. Do you believe that too? What are the things that trigger your fear and cause you to say, ‘I could never [...]
Rebuilding your marriage (4)
‘Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it.’ Song of Solomon 8:7 NLT You must be open with one another. You must be transparent, sensitive, responsive, and willing to trust one another. Stop and think about how you feel when the doctor is about to give you an injection. Your first reaction is to [...]