Reflections, October 18, 2009

Sunday, October 18^th, 2009

Reflections: “There's No Fear In Love”

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 

Scripture reading for this week: 1 Samuel 16; Psalm 1; 15; 91; John 3; 1 John 1:7-10; 2:1-5...

Can I be real with you today? Not to say that I haven't been previously. But can I share with you the burden on my heart? Can I relate to you the truth about the perfect love of God, that I have not only witnessed, but have experienced?...Good. 

There is no fear in love. I'm talking about the sincere, honest, abiding, comforting, perfected love of God. In this world we walk around with masks covering up who we really are and what we really feel. Why? Why do we do this? Fear. Maybe it's the fear of rejection. Perhaps it is the fear of being looked at differently. Whatever the case—fear has managed to rob many, and it's time for us to realize that we have the power to kick fear in the rear!—and bask in the perfect love of God.

It is my deepest and sincerest prayer that this week's Reflection will be a source of encouragement, and food for your spirit and soul. I would ask of the Father, that He'd grant you new insight and wisdom concerning His love for you, and how much He desires for you to be free and receive what He has ordained for you. Not only in heaven, but here on earth. 

I was a peculiar child to many a person; even to myself! There were things that did not excite me as a child that normally should cause excitement in children. Such as: the anticipation of Christmas gifts, and birthday's with gifts and parties. Don't get me wrong: I liked those things, but they did not excite me. It was just another day to me. 

What did bring me excitement was the moon and the stars. I believe at one time or another, almost every child tries to outrun the moon! I was fascinated by the way the moon changed shapes, and would always be positioned just ahead of you, o matter how fast you ran. Or, how the stars sparkled and seemed to sit amongst the trees—seeming so close you could reach out and touch them. 

The moon and stars bought me comfort. You see, my greatest fear as a child was being alone. Being left alone; in the sense of not having a mother or a father. Many things happened during my childhood that left me wondering, and often contemplating the thought of being alone. Yet, when I looked at the moon and stars, I would feel comforted. As though, in my heart, I knew that there was Someone greater who would always be there.

It was true: Someone greater was there, and is there. That is Jesus Christ. I learned that at an early age. Our Heavenly Father was the reason for the constellation. I learned that He would always be there (like the moon and stars), watching and guiding, and even more precious and intimate than that—waiting to pour His love into my heart. I would never have to fear anything, but to trust Him. And with His perfect love residing in my heart, there'd be no room for fear—any kind of fear to reside. 

Fear is ugly. It torments and separates. It is a vehicle by which the enemy uses to drive wedges into relationships and families. To create havoc, panic, and war. It creates the mentality of, 'I have to get them before they get me'. Fear cripples us from moving freely in life, and being who God has ordained us to be. Fear immobilizes—keeping us trapped in situations that are harmful and detrimental to our very lives. 

But for God! The Father says that perfect love casts out all fear. How? How is that possible? Because God is that perfect love. God Himself is love! And when He is residing within our hearts, there is no room for anything contrary to reside. 

For so long, many of us have walked around believing and seeing God as this vengeful, angry, fear producing deity. He's often being portrayed as unfair and always condemning. But if we truly knew God; if we truly knew the Father—the one who sent His only begotten Son, Jesus—then we'd understand how much it truly aches His heart to see when His creation is bound by false ideologies and the spirit of fear. 

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

I have witnessed first hand the effects of fear on a person's life. I have lived it. trapped—unable to move or think. Even though I said I knew God. I said I had a relationship with the Father. How could this be, when God said that where His spirit is, there is liberty? How could I say that I knew God and He lived in me, and be so tormented and trapped in fear? Because, like so many, I was ignorant of the liberating power that residing in me. I was ignorant because a lack of teaching about the power of God's perfecting love. 

I was taught about the overpowering, vengeful God. I was taught to be “afraid” of God, but not “fearful” in the reverential sense. And because of this false teaching, the spirit of fear crept its way back into my heart and distorted the perfecting love of God. 

It's funny: as children, we have more faith and belief in what is pure and perfect, without any hesitation or question. W e simply believe because it is. As children, we have the ability to grasp the truth of what faith is, just by being children. We are masters at believing for that which has not appeared yet. As long as we believe in our heart, and are told yes1that's all that really matters. Our faith doesn't waiver. But as soon as we become adults—as we grow older—we lose our vulnerability. We lose that child-like faith, and we lose our ability to really hear God. That's why Jesus says we must come as children--having child-like faith. Because it takes that simplicity to understand that God's perfect love is just that simple. It's not complicated at all. No exegesis needed, or extensive hermeneutic deciphering to understand, that with God all things are possible, and that His love, His perfect love does not allow any room for anything that has been created by the enemy. 

I read something the other day that I feel is very powerful, and lends structure to today's Reflection. In his book, “Weeds Among the Wheat”, Thomas H. Green makes a profound observation. He states:

...It is a paradox which only lovers can understand: We are most truly free only when we have surrendered our will to the one we love. And this surrender is only possible when we know that we are totally accepted just as we are.

This really struck a chord within me. I truly believe that the enemy is only capable of binding us in fear because we have not truly surrendered our heart and will completely to God. We have not truly understood, or believed that God truly accepts us just as we are: flaws, faults, sins and all. And when we don't know this or understand, we cannot surrender all of our hearts. We feel, or are tricked into believing that we have to change first before God can use us or save us. Which is a lie straight from the pit of hell.

We have a fear of being rejected. The enemy would have us to believe that God will not accept us as we are. This kind of belief has tortured many. It has opened doors to many other foul spirits wreaking havoc in our lives. How many of us have been in abusive relationships or continue in bad relationships because we don't deserve better? How many have suffered because they don't believe they deserve better , and find themselves wrapped up in a spirit of fear that dictates their entire lives?

Oh! The devil is a liar! God accepts us and loves us just as we are! If we could change ourselves, then there would have been no need for a Savior. When we know this, we can surrender all our hearts to God—receiving His perfecting love into our hearts. Receiving HIM into hearts—that perfect love that brings power and a sound mind. That brings the ability to see the truth, accept the truth, live the truth.

God's love squashes out fear—trampling it underfoot—giving way to a new boldness and joy and confidence in Christ. It gives us the ability to make sound decisions; to think clearly. The ability to love ourselves and be loved the way God has ordained. Fear has gripped many hearts and has caused much pain and suffering. But God says that we can be free from fear. That we can gain strength and courage in Him. That His love—that He Himself—will cast out all fear. 

No matter how far we run, or fall. No matter how bad we believe we are, or have been—it doesn't stop the love of God from being able to reach us and take residence in our hearts. There is no place we can go where God's perfect love does not reach. He is our Father, our Daddy, and He will never stop loving us...never! 

I pray that your hearts are filled today with the perfecting love of God. May the spirit of peace and prosperity rest in your: spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, and social lives. I pray you would understand that God truly love you just as you are, and is waiting for you to surrender into His perfect, loving arms—crushing the spirit of all fear. Be Blessed.

©2009. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.