Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Fear Not!

Luke 2:10 (KJV)
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Good morning!

Have you ever been scared? Do you ever worry about your life or about someone whom you love? Have you ever felt frozen in fear?

When I was a child, I used to dream in technicolor. I used to have this repetitive, roller-coaster nightmare which involved riding in a really fast car with my father. We were traveling eighty miles per hour on a windy, hilly Ozark road, up and down, brakes squealing around every little curve. Suddenly, we would go up a hill and find ourselves flying through the air toward the river. The bridge was out, and there was nothing we could do to stop in time. The car would careen over the edge of the bridge and head nose first into the cold water. That recurring dream has a profound effect on the way I drive my automobile today, and how I feel about bridges in general. If it had not been for my parents’ insistence, I might have chosen not to apply for a driver’s license. Having a healthy fear is a good way to protect oneself from potential harm. Allowing fears to immobilize you can steal the many joys of living life to its fullest measure.

Fear is defined as a basic emotional sensation and response system initiated by an aversion to some perceived risk or threat. People experiences fear in many forms and under certain situations, such as a fear of darkness, or a fear of failure. Feelings of fear can be overwhelming. Fears can protect, immobilize, and create a panic inside that is simply impossible to ignore.

What does it mean to fear the Lord? When we regard our God with reverence and awe, we stand in fear of His holy Word. A healthy fear may keep us from the sins that separate us from God. We stand amazed in the presence of the One who created us for life. He knows all, sees all, and loves us with a love we cannot begin to understand. He guides and directs us, as we seek to know Him even more. We yearn to walk closer to the Lord, with trembling and fearful hearts. He is holy and perfect and awesome. We are not. It is only through His grace that we can stand in His presence today.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, she was filled with fear. God saw something very special in Mary’s heart, and knew she would willingly agree to the task He needed her to complete. And what a job it was – to carry, give birth and raise the Savior of the world! Mary was to be the earthly mother of God incarnate. Her love of God was enough to calm her fears and give her courage to do what the Lord asked of her. When God calls your name, are you able to lay aside your fear and serve Him wholeheartedly?

Every day He calls us to share the Good News with others. Do not be afraid to answer His call. Fear not!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com


Pray for: the ability to set aside your fears and serve the Lord with all your heart. He calls you today to be His light to a dark world. Will you answer the call?

________________
© Copyright 2006, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.