As a child, I was exposed to Sunday worship services in many of the churches that line the main streets here in Fayetteville. I was taken to, or sent to, Sunday schools, youth seminars, summer vacation bible schools, Christmas plays and choral concerts. Then, when I was about ten years old, our family started attending church on Saturdays; observing this faith’s Sabbath from Friday sundown to Saturday evening sundown.
In this ‘Saturday’ church, I remember years of dramatic, attention grabbing sermons with a major emphasis on the ‘world-ending-soon’. So, suffice it to say, I came to learn about life and my spiritual relevance more from a ‘fear-based’ approach to worshipping and understanding God. Please realize I am in no way, making any commentary about this particular church for any purpose other than to illustrate how my exposure to it and my lifelong struggle with ‘world-ending-fear’ go hand in hand. So, my path to where I am today has been pretty much lived in fear while waiting for the world to come to an abrupt ending at any moment. And this, has led to a life lived mostly out of fear in general – complete with a lot of bad, self-coping habits picked up along the way.
Today, at 44 years of age, I can easily look back to several instances where this fear of living life has held me back from truly applying my God-given talents and purposes towards living the joyous life of abundance God wants for all of us. All fear, obviously, is not bad. Like, a fear for the Lord. Thankfully, that healthy fear was instilled in me when I was much younger. But living life in fear and having a fear of the Lord are two vastly different things.
After too many years, I finally turned to the bible and to God in prayer for answers and relief. Good news! In Isa 8:13 we’re told not to fear anything except the LORD Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear him, you need fear nothing else. - 2Ti 1:7 tells us: For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. And there are literally dozens more verses in the Bible that will guide you away from worry and fear. God knows we need help to save ourselves from ourselves and a life of fear and destruction – and he’s given us this help… in Jesus Christ and in His living word, the holy bible. Since turning to God and His word for guidance – rather than my self and my own ideas – He has removed my debilitating fear of the world, this earth, as we know it, ending. In fact, I now actually look forward to the day when this world of struggle and sin comes to an end… and I’m finally at home, safe and secure – with the eternal loving companionship of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I assure you I’m far from perfect; I still struggle with sins that my flesh desires… and when I do; fear and a host of other bad consequences, in one way or another, rears its ugly head again. I now know that the struggles between fear and evil versus love and righteousness is very real. But even so, I now defeat my old self and the Devil’s desires for me more and more with, and only with, the power of my personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul's words of encouragement from Philippians 4:13 – reminds us that; "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
I pray that if you’re currently mired in worry and fear for any reason… fears similar to the one I shared with you, or perhaps, financial worries, health issues, the loss of a job – whatever the fear – whatever the worry: Remember that fear and worry aren’t from God. Start your own walk with Jesus today. Remember to pray and read His word daily. Experience the freedom of your life and the wonderful joy within it as your faith and relationship with Jesus grows and your worry and fears go away. I’m Lloyd Rachels, the Midday Guy – now you know why I remind you that God Loves You – and He Means It…. And… that’s my 107 Seconds.
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