Got Fear?

What sort of things are you afraid of? Me? On the surface, I am afraid of looking stupid. I am afraid of writing a post that won’t mean anything to anyone. I’m afraid that I will find I am unimportant and uninteresting.

On a slightly deeper level, I am afraid of being an insufficient wife and mother. That I’m never going to be physically fit. That I will never be good enough.

Ultimately, my deepest fears are of failure. And indeed, if I am left to my own devices, I am assured of it. It would be foolhardy of me to place my trust in myself because I am a fallible human being by nature. At least I was.

Now, I am a Daughter of the Most High God, and that changes my perspective.

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 1:12

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:14-15

The Creator of the Universe has adopted me. Has adopted anyone of us who believe and accept Him. And with that comes a conversion of our fear of the world, to a holy and righteous fear of the Lord. Only His way matters. Only His opinion. And does he accuse? Does he condemn?

A resounding NO!!

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1

If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God!
2 Corinthians 3:9

This new way frees us to live without the burden of our guilt. It opens up opportunities we have no idea are ahead of us. When we are tempted to let the accuser whisper in our ear, we need to declare in no uncertain terms that we will no longer listen to the lies! We will only listen to our Father through the Spirit who tells us not to fear.

And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
Luke 12:7

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27

So, if we insist on having fear in our lives, let it be a fear of the Lord. That kind of fear is the kind that will make us successful as a child of God.

The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
Acts 9:31

Isn’t it exciting that our loving, protective, powerful Abba Father is the only One around here to be afraid of? And we get to hide under his wings?