Fear is a Liar
I've always had a fear of the "unknown"which basically means that you have the fear of something you are not familiar with. I have seemed to always carry this around and make excuses when certain opportunities in life would come up. Recently my wife and I booked a flight to San Fransisco, California to visit her family, take on the city, and travel out toYosemite National Park. If you know me well, you would know that I have never been on a plane in my life. Instantly small lies would come up such as, "you are going to get motion sickness,"or "this plane will crash."All of these negative thoughts led me to do a lot of research on planes, how they operate, how well trained the pilots are, and things of that nature. Immediately, I heard the Holy Spirit say to me "this is not what I have for you, Jason. This is not what my perfect love is suppose to look like in my children."
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. 1 John 4:18
The definition of fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous.Did you catch that? "unpleasant emotion caused by a belief. I think it's amazing that what we believe empowers the way we live. If you truly believe God is who he says he is, then you will always have confidence that he is for you and always has your best interest in mind. If you live your everyday life in fear, then you truly must not know the Fathers love. I know what you must be feeling by reading that. Trust me, it was hard for me to read it as well, but it's the truth and the truth sets you free. It sets you free from your fears, from other's opinions, and most importantly from yourself. Fear is a liar, fear is crippling, and fear is paralyzing. I really enjoyed the message translation ofJesus' hard-won freedom for us..
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. Galatians 5:1 MSG
During my experience of flying for the first time, I had to choose to stare my fears straight in the eye from a place of identity.That is knowing who I am (a son of God) and whose I am (I am my beloveds and he is mine.)This ultimately allowed me to trump over the fear of the unknown. I don't think I have ever felt anymore closer to God and felt anymore loved by him in that moment. In that moment I was fully convinced of the boldness that God has called me to, and everyone else to walk in. Friends, we do not have to water Gods love down to just theology. Its also experiential! It was Gods lovingkindness that brought us in. We can read about Gods love all day, but until we experience that perfect love, our view of how amazing our Father is can be distorted by things like fear and lack of truth.
I say to you today that you are bold. Your boldness comes from simply knowing who you are and what God says about you. As you continue to face your fears as they confront you, may those be a seedbed for greatness in your life. Be so convinced of your childlikeness that in moments of fear and distress all you can do is lean on Papa God and let him walk you through it all.Posture your heart towards what God is doing in that specific moment. He hears you and he will talk back. Believe it! To end this, I want to throw out some revelations and truths I have received along the way. Take these with you and hold on to them tightly:
"If our hearts are postured towards God and what he is doing, then we will always be aware of him and what he is doing."
"A willing and available heart is a teachable heart."
"Every time we choose to make our hearts available to the Father, we grow closer to him in that moment."
"Only in moments of willingness to connect with God, we can learn something new about him and his affections towards us."
