Sunday, May 5, 2013

WHO MADE YOU AFRAID: Devotional from ”Am I Okay, God?” by Lorilyn Roberts






Are you afraid are rejection? Are you afraid your boyfriend will leave you? Are you afraid you will let your parents down? Are you afraid that no matter how hard you try, you’re going to fail anyway? Are you afraid of being bullied at school? Are you afraid you won’t pass that Algebra test—God just didn’t wire you to do math?

Are you afraid you’ll say the wrong thing at that party and make a fool of yourself? Are you afraid of losing your friends? Are you afraid that you’ll never finish school, or you won’t get accepted into the university you want to attend? Are you afraid for others to know you deep down, that if people knew the real you, they wouldn’t like you?



From Seventh Dimension – The Door, a Young Adult Christian Fantasy

The dog stretched and cocked her head enjoying the rubdown.
I laughed. “Is your name Much-Afraid?”
“I was always afraid until the King healed me.”

In The Donkey and the King, Much‑Afraid was terrified for Baruch to leave her behind at the stable. During the time while Baruch was gone, the King helped Much-Afraid to conquer her fear. When we meet Much‑Afraid again in Seventh Dimension - The Door, she has overcome her fear. God could then use her to help Shale.



I John 4:18 states, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”

Do you know that the opposite of fear is love? Shale, too, had many fears until she embraced the King’s love. Every time you are afraid, that means you are not allowing God’s perfect love into your heart. God’s perfect love will cast out your imperfect fear. In fact, your imperfect fear is made perfect in weakness. In your weakness, God can help you. Once you recognize your weakness, you won’t rely on yourself and your own abilities. You will rely on God to help you.

Begin with prayer. Most of us struggle with fear at some level because we don’t love perfectly. We aren’t able to receive God’s love fully because we are sinners. Still, God never gives us more than we can bear. Just as the King helped Shale to overcome her fear of rejection, God will help you to overcome your fears, whatever they might be. Pray to your heavenly Father, cry out to Him—He won’t reject you, even if it seems like everybody else who is important to you has. 

The King told Shale, “I love you more than you will ever know.” In the same way, God loves you. Someday when we meet the King face‑to‑face, we’ll truly know how much He loves us.

Every time fear threatens you (and I do believe there are demons of fear), remember the words of the King. Let His perfect love fill your mind and your heart. Let every cell within you find intimacy in your heavenly Father. Find all your strength in Him. Don’t just be a fan of Jesus Christ, like on Facebook or Twitter, be a follower. Make Jesus your King of kings and Lord of lords. Let His love conquer any fear that creeps into your heart. Then you will be able to love others in the same way God has loved you.

Again, focus on the King’s love. Believe. Your heavenly Father is waiting on you to surrender to Him. He is never too busy, and I guarantee you, He is not sleeping. Imagine touching Jesus’ scars with your hands.  Remember, the King died to defeat every fear Satan will tempt you to believe. Don’t be seized with a knot in your stomach and crippling doubts.

Let God’s love indwell you. Put aside every anxious thought. You must choose to trust in the King. There is no other way. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Don’t wait. Begin with reading Scripture and pray for God’s help. Take captive every fearful thought, and give it to Jesus Christ. Meditate on God’s Word. If you do this every time you become fearful, you can claim victory over this in your life, but it will take time, especially if you are prone to being fearful. Old habits die hard, and Satan is relentless. But God will help if you are faithful in prayer and read your Bible.




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