Zach Williams “Fear Is A Liar”(Devotional #6)
There is one basic truth about God that has the power to change your life if you let it. It is found in 1 John 4:16: God is love. It seems like John wanted to write that first to ensure we keep that in mind when a few verses later, he writes, ΓÇ£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. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.ΓÇ¥ It sounds harsh but when you unpack it a bit, you can see that the two cannot co-exist ΓÇô love and fear.
Just like when you canΓÇÖt hate another person and feel the love of God, you also canΓÇÖt hate yourself and fully feel loved by God.
Fear comes in and starts telling you lies about yourself ΓÇô YouΓÇÖre not good enough. YouΓÇÖre not strong enough. YouΓÇÖre not worthy. YouΓÇÖre not loved. YouΓÇÖre not beautiful. That is not what God intended for you to feel and think about yourself. He sees you as nothing but beautiful, worthy, loved, and enough.
Fear is a liar and it takes the strength of God to put your foot down and say, ΓÇ£Fear ΓÇô you have no power here.ΓÇ¥ ThatΓÇÖs when you can start feeling warmth creep back into your veins as God breaks down the fear that has built up those lies in your heart. John writes that we know we live in Him and He lives in us because he sent His Son to us. When we think of the gifts God gave to us out of love, we can cast that fear into the fire because we remember that He loves us, He IS love, and fear has no place here when God is in us.
Prayer: “Lord, thank you for loving me and telling me IΓÇÖm enough. Thank you for breaking down the lies that fear has told me. Thank you that your perfect love drives out fear. Amen.”
I needed this message. Thank you for the reminder.