Victory Over Fear

Here is a past devotion that encourages us not to be afraid...

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

We all struggle with it to varying degrees. It can immobilize us and quench our witness for the Lord. It can derail us on our quest for God's best for our lives. It can cause us to lose sleep, run from intimidating circumstances, and avoid certain people. I'm referring to unhealthy fear.

Healthy fear keeps us from walking in front of oncoming traffic. It protects us from exposing ourselves to harmful situations. But unhealthy fear saps us of our spiritual strength. Paul said that fear was a spirit, therefore, we must deal with this type of fear in a spiritual way. David said in Psalm 27 that he wasn't afraid of anyone because he understood that the Lord was his stronghold. He could stand before enemy armies with great boldness. David had an intimate relationship with God. In the same psalm he said, “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.” David's fervent relationship with God gave him courage.

In 1 John 4:18 it says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” And prior to this, in verse 16, it says that God is love. As we get to know the God of love, our fears melt away like ice on a hot summer day. His love causes us to rest.

There are times when we need to use our God-given authority to command a spirit of fear to leave us. We can address Satan and his cohorts and command them to flee from us. We can bind them and demand them to leave us in the name of Jesus. If we are submitted to God, the enemy will run in terror from us, when we do this. In Luke 10:19, Jesus declares, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” The Greater One lives within us, and he is more powerful than any demonic force.

God wants us to be free from fear so that we can enjoy our relationship with “Him and so we can serve Him without hindrance. Let's rejoice in the love the Father has for us and allow our fear to melt away in His kindness. He wants us to come to the place where fear no longer has a grip on us. He wants to give us victory over all our fears.

Dear Lord,

I thank you for Your great love for me. I give all of my fears to you. I surrender my life to You afresh, and in the name of Jesus I bind the evil one, who would try to make me fearful. In the name of Jesus I command you to leave me alone. Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for setting me free. In Your name I pray, Amen.

Undeserved Grace

 

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'? On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners." Mark 3:16-17

The Pharisees scrutinized and dissected the law. They were Hebrew scholars who prided themselves in their religious knowledge and who believed they were above reproach. The Bible tells us not to be wise in our own eyes. The fact that they called the people Jesus ate with "sinners" (believing they were not), reveals a holier-than-thou attitude. Their hearts also quickly judged Jesus for dining with them.

Christ said He came not to call the righteous but sinners. The word righteous here refers to those who believe they are faultless through their own merit. The Pharisees did not see their need for a Savior. They saw themselves as blameless before God because of their role as spiritual leaders and because they outwardly obeyed God. They knew how to look and act right but their hearts were far from God (Matthew 15:8).

Did you know that it is impossible to attain to a righteous life through the practice of good deeds?  None of us can earn our way to heaven. Instead, we need something outside ourselves to make us right before God. That Something is the Savior. Jesus was the only One who lived a sinless life. His life in exchange for mankind on the cross, brought those who believe, new life.

When we seek Him for the complete forgiveness of our sins, we are made in right standing with God our Father. If we will cease placing our trust in our own good works, and place our confidence in the One who saves to the uttermost, we will experience peace with God, and one day we will abide with Jesus in heaven forever.

If you have already received Christ's forgiveness and been born anew, you can spread the beautiful message of our Lord's redemption to others. We have been given a mission to tell everyone the good news, and it is important they realize it is by grace we are saved through faith not by works (From Ephesians 2:8-9).

Lastly, for those of us who have walked with Christ for a while, let's be careful not to become inflated in the estimation of ourselves. God gives grace to the humble but He opposes the proud. Jesus was profoundly merciful and kind but when it came to the self-inflated religious leaders of his day, He was curt and often angry. Instead of behaving with a big head, let's act like children before our Father God thanking Him daily for his undeserved grace.

A Prayer for Those who Desire to Live for Jesus,

Dear Father God,

I understand that I can never be good enough to earn your acceptance or to find myself in heaven one day. I realize that my good works are filthy in your sight. I ask you to forgive me for I truly am a sinner. I place my trust in the work you did at the cross, and I declare you, Jesus, are my Lord and Savior. Because of your blood, I have received the gift of righteousness. In your name I pray, amen.

 

If this is the first time you have prayed a prayer like this or if you are renewing your commitment to the Lord, please let me know. I would love to help you in your walk with the Savior.

Blessings and Congratulations,

Tom