Fear Not

How many times have you heard the phrase "Fear not?" And how many of those times is it the Lord that says it because it is in His Word hundreds of times?! Obviously, He knew this is something we would struggle with. He wants us to learn to love Him so much that the fear is cast out. But this is something that is so opposite of any human nature, especially mine. Fear must be transformed so that the darkness that once entangled us is brought into His Glorious Light. So that He reigns fully in us and that His fruit is produced. I read the fruits of the Spirit today...let me refresh you: Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Without Jesus, these are impossible. Seriously, I know that my natural woman is the polar opposite of each of these. Carrie is a self-seeker. She only wants to please self. She loves only if the other person loves her back. She serves only if she will in return be served. How messed up is Carrie??? If I claim to be a disciple of Jesus, I put myself at the end of the line and I do ALL work as unto the Lord regardless of what I get in return. Not self-pleasing, but self-dying. If this is truly what I want, then I should deny my sinful nature and strive to keep in step with the Spirit. And that is exactly what I am learning.....to crucify the sinful nature and live in the Spirit (Galations 5:24-26). Part of my sinful nature is fear. Did you know that worry and anxiety and fear are sin? Worry is unbelief, or lack of faith. Anxiety and fear are just components of worry. I honestly believed that I would always be worrying about something and that that was normal and okay. I am a perfectionist and a control freak....two of the hardest issues to overcome in order to be obedient to Christ. He asks for ALL the control. There are two wills: His and our free will. When they combine, that is belief and that is Faith. When we think we can control our life better, and we use our free will to take matters into our own hands, we are living in fear that His ways aren't best. Thus, we are living in sin. I don't know about you, but that really shakes me up. Isn't our ultimate goal as Christ's co-heirs to flee from sin and bring others to know Him? How do you feel knowing that when we worry, we are sinning? I will not accept this way of life. I will not live in sin. I will take captive every thought and fight with weapons that I know have the power to demolish strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). For so long, I have found myself anxious about situations, and believed that this was acceptable. It's not. I'm redirecting my focus, giving my undivided attention to the ONLY One that deserves it. He is renewing my mind day by day. It's not a gentle process, but His yoke is way easier than my own. If I love Him with ALL my heart, ALL my soul, and ALL my mind then how in the world can there be room in my mind for anxiety, worry and fear? His discipline is only correction. He is correcting my mind.....and I love it! The battle being fought has already been won, but that doesn't mean that it will just stop. Satan's ultimate goal is to get us away from His will, whether that is attending school, quitting our job, going into full time ministry, marrying, having kids, moving, etc. Satan will do anything to deter us from what is good. And most of the time, fear is one of his main weapons of destruction. God can transform tribulation into blessing. He can do the impossible. Christ brings joy out of sorrow. Do you believe this? He is such a gracious and good Father. The goal of every true disciple is to please God. Use His Word to do this. Through it, He brings healing, power, love, restoration, and correction. Give Him your undivided attention. Let Him affirm you and fulfill you. Serve Him and find contentment in the assignment He has given you. Don't wish to be anywhere else, for every assignment is for your good. Let your mind be renewed so that your reality changes. Remember, He is shown strong in weakness. This is what I'm learning. To love Him and to die to self. It is the only way. He is the only way. Focus only on today, on the now. Tomorrow will come tomorrow. Do not be anxious, but in every situation give thanks and present your requests to God. Then His peace will come!!! (Phil. 4:6-7). So be encouraged friends! Discouragement is a form of fear and worry. Renounce it in Jesus' name and cling to His great promises!!! Learning to trust Him is one of the hardest things I have ever learned, but also the most relaxing. Trust teaches how to rest, and how to plow through every storm with His peace all around you. We serve such a GREAT God!!!!