SHARE Magazine April 2017 | Page 16

PRAYER CORNER By Lynda Smith “There is no fear in love; but perfect love cast: out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fear: has not been made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 F Fear can be so bad it can bring us to a standstill. Fear, dread and terror are horrible to experience. We cannot deny that it happens to us so let us see what the word of God has to say about it. Fear entered into man’s mind in the Garden of Eden when disobedience came into play. But praise God He had a plan, His name was Jesus. Fear is the opposite of faith. We can be built up in the power of the Holy Spirit, grow in maturity and the more we love Jesus we begin to realize we do not have to fear. The perfect love our heavenly Father has for us tells us we are safe in His more than capable hands and that dispels our fear. His love for us has been shed abroad in our hearts and when we allow His promises to manifest in us it drives out fear. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 A knowing of who we are in Jesus, all that He has done for us and that He is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for us gives us a sound mind that is settled on Jesus through 16 | SHARE | MAGAZINE April - June 2017 the Holy Spirit. We are not ruled by fear, anxiety, stress, panic attacks or anything that will put us in fear. We must stay steadfast in reading God’s word because it renews our mind and we can function more clearly and be a people of power not fear. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 How wonderful are these words of our Lord. The peace of the world is fleeting. Jesus also said, “let not your heart be troubled or afraid.” We should allow the supernatural peace of Jesus to rule our hearts and minds. Is our heavenly Father not able to bring us through what ails us or has come against us? He is all powerful and more than able to do it. Jesus died for us that we may be set free from so much. How can we allow fear to rule us and get us into such a mess when the one who died for us told us not to fear? Look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who will never leave us or forsake us. He said, He would always be with us and never leave us. He also sent us the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us. There is so much we have to be thankful for because of what Jesus did on the cross for us. Let us set our face like a flint to Jesus. Why fear when He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world? He is the lover of our soul. Trust Him. Prayer Heavenly Father thank you for sending Your beloved Son to die for us. Thank you Jesus that all fear, terror, anxiety, stress, worry, fretting and being scared was nailed to the cross 2000 years ago. Forgive us Lord for the times we have allowed these things to carry us away on winds of despair. Helps us Lord through the Holy Spirit to grow deeper in what You have promised in Your word. That our utter dependence is on You and not on circumstances. Thank you. Amen. p