“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
As a young boy like many kids I used to lay in bed thinking that every creak, noise or shadow was something that was about to eat me. I would build a wall of protection around my face with the blanket no matter what temperature it was. The blanket became to me the impenetrable shield able to defend me from anything that my imagination could conjure. One day I was sure that I looked outside and saw someone standing at the window only to find that it was a plant that had been moved. Our imagination is powerful to our internal world. It is so powerful that it almost always impacts the way that we see our outside world as well.
Fear is a protective mechanism. It helps us remove ourselves from real danger. If you were to cross a busy road with trucks driving by there is a healthy knowledge that to avoid pain and possible harm you only want to cross when a vehicle is at a safe distance. That is wisdom. If however if there was a vehicle that you didn’t see and it was way too close causing you move quicker or get out of the way then our instinct is “get out of the way or else!” This is healthy.
However, if fear starts to embed itself into our thoughts and imagination then it would seek to rob you of love and this effects how you live by faith. A person who is fearful normally has difficulty showing love.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
Instead of dwelling on the aspects of the world that would cause you to fear, why not concentrate and think of the things that cause you to love. This is especially effective in the areas that cause you the greatest concern. When you ask Jesus to help you show and display love when you would normally be afraid, then you will see FAITH activated in levels that will cause miraculous transformation.
Much love
Matt
