Wednesday, October 21, 2020

From Fear to Faith

Notice these 3 aspects of Jesus' life: He met with and ministered to people (social connection), had them follow His example (discipleship), and He spent alone time in prayer (solitude). Nothing in this world can satisfy us like the life Jesus offers us to live. 

In my own experience, I know what it's like to feel awkward socially and use video games as an escape. What I was missing was the peace of God in my heart and prayer is the only way to receive it. Prayer is the opening of your heart to God as to a friend about your actual life. Jesus is the best Friend to turn to when you need advice in life because He is the very Author of it and only He can give you peace.

Without God's peace, what is left is these two paradoxical fears: The fear of unwanted attention and the fear of abandonment. The former leads to avoiding people and the latter leads to clinging to people. All this anxiety comes from worrying about the expectations of others instead of keeping one's expectations on the unfailing word of God. 

God's word reveals to us His will and reassures us that He hear us when we pray according to His will (1 John 5:14). God's word reassures us that He is near when our prayers are sincere and as long as we know that He is near, we do not have to be afraid of being witnesses for Him (Psalm 145:18, Isaiah 43:5, 10). And if you know Jesus as your best friend in life, then why would you not want to testify of Him? Remember the three aspects of Jesus life mentioned earlier? That's what the Christian life is all about (social connection, making disciples, and prayer). 

Do you find that you easily lose the sense that God is with you and feel too paralyzed by the fear of man to live for God? We tend to believe more what we tell ourselves than anything else, this is why prayer, meditating on what word says about God's love toward you and others around you, and sharing that with others is so important. Speaking and living by faith God's word inspires more faith in yourself and others around you, so don't worry what others think, that doesn't encourage faith. Faith is not a feeling, but as you keep taking action and walking by faith, you'll find the feelings will eventually follow.

Study the word with prayer, know that God fully knows you and loves you in spite of yourself, knowing Him will change you and you will want to share this love with others. The temptation to fear will still be there, but it doesn't have to control your life anymore because God is with you, His love in your heart casts away fear and nothing can separate you from His love. 

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