God will move us from fear of calamity to the Fear of the Lord.
From love of this world and distractions to the Love of God.
Perfect Love casts out fear.
There is an unholy spirit of fear that tries to attach itself to the child of God. That spirit of fear is manifested in worry, terror, a sense of foreboding or expectation of disaster or disease. It can be debilitating and draining and cause one to forget who he or she is as a royal citizen of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ.
Whatever you feed grows. If you feed the spirit of fear by too much television news, or being around fearful people all the time, or neglecting to hear what God says about you and about circumstances, fear gains a stronger influence in your life.
There is, thank God, an answer for unholy fear. That answer is to be filled with the “Fear of the Lord”.
The fear of the Lord is healthy. It is to be desired. The fear of the Lord is not terror or false humility- it is simply and profoundly to have a deep respect and reverence for Who God is. To be in His Presence and on the quest to know Him by His Spirit and Word is to learn to love what He loves and hate what He hates.
To be a recipient of grace is a wonderful and overwhelming thing. It is not, however, a license to be casual in our dealings with the Almighty.
Some may say to have the fear of the Lord is an old-fashioned, unenlightened way of relating to God. That is not what is taught by the Word of God:
“The fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom.”
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Blessed is the man or woman that fears (has proper esteem, reverence and respect for) the Lord. My FATHER is the King of the Universe. I know that He loves me unconditionally and will never reject me. I am safe in His love. As I get to know Him better, my awe and respect, yes my “fear” of Him grows as well. It’s a good thing. Indeed a necessary thing to fear the Lord.
As I was praying and playing piano before the Lord this morning I realized that God in His goodness was giving me the grace to put off the unholy fear that has been subtly (and sometimes more overtly) paralyzing me, and receive a fresh baptism of the fear of the Lord.
We become like that which we behold.
I have been allowing myself to be consumed by distractions, a love for entertainment for example. It isn’t that I have been watching things that are blatantly sinful, it’s just that I have allowed myself to be distracted by the unimportant in an attempt to fill up what only God can satisfy. I am asking the Lord to refill and refocus me on Him. Ministry doesn’t ultimately satisfy, good works, money, even cherished relationships can’t fill up the part of me (and you) that is reserved for God alone.
“…we with open face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord” 2nd. Cor. 3:18
So Lord, thank you for replacing unholy fear with your Holy fear, and replacing earthly distractions- other loves- with Your Love. Your Perfect, Mature Love.
Thank you for giving us a singleness of heart.
“One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek after- to behold the beauty of the Lord and to dwell in Your Presence forever.”
Perfect Love casts out fear.
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