Friday, May 25, 2007

Fear is really quite bad.
Fear.
Fear of many things. Fear of the devil, fear of God, fear of yourself, fear of people, fear of pain, fear of everything.
Fear stifles your life because maybe the only thing to fear is fear itself, that the 'thing' isn't so bad, it's the fear of that thing that cripples you.
Fear cripples you.
That's why "perfect love casts out all fear" because God's love is so perfect that we ought not to have our fears, but we all do. OUr faith isn't strong enough, perhaps. The disciples were so scared when they saw the storm, but Jesus calmed the storm. Jesus said "you of little faith..." and If He weren't so merciful he would have rebuked me many times for that lack of faith, that I have.

Grow my faith!
Sometimes we wonder why faith must be grown through trials. It is written "consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverence." Your faith is small usually but if you really did know how big and how wonderful your GREAT AND GOOD GOD IS, and how he is able to overcome all of your trials and so immesurably more, you should have total faith in Him. Which I haven't learnt yet!
We know it, but we can't do it!

So no more fear. Not to live callously of course, but not to be so stricken with guilt, and learn that you have the blessing and favour of the Lord and that doens't change.