I just have some rambling thoughts on the subject of fear in a Christian woman's life.
I believe that the society we live in today is one that is full of fear. We are afraid of being burgled, afraid of strangers that get too close to our children. We are afraid of parking lots at night-and for good reason according to the nightly news it seems. We are afraid of speeding tickets, accidents, late bills, people who come to our doors (sometimes). Fear of the unknown, fear of the known! Fear has a grip on the female mind in this age we live in, and in this country (and world as far as that goes). Fear of attack on our person, fear of old age, fear of being alone for the rest of our lives. Fear of death, fear at birth My sister and I have talked about fear before, about how some fear is good for us-like the feeling that we shouldn't do, or go, or stay somewhere. And than the fear that hinders us in our lives, and cripples us, puts us in a cage. Most of the things mentioned above are things that should cause caution in our thinking and actions, but when caution becomes fear...I believe it becomes a spiritual matter. I know from my own personal experiences that Satan uses fear to grip us and build strongholds in our lives. I believe that some fear is right to have just to keep us safe, but excessive fear is sinful, because we are not putting our trust in our Heavenly Father. I have memorized these verses to help me when I am feeling that "sinful" and normal fear creep up on me...
1John 4:18-19
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him, because He first loved us. 1John 4:18-19
5 comments:
I have been thinking to blog on this, too.
I also like the verse, "He has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind."
Good post.
Very true and I like both the verse from Julie and the verse from Kay!
Who are you? I now find both of my daughters are immensely deep thinkers. I think I became more aware of danger after I married a guy who worked at the mental hospital. He knew too much about perverts, etc. I learned to lock the doors at all times, to not let the kids get too far away, etc. I also think we are fearful because there is so much on the news about the bad things happening. At one time we didn't hear about the murders in Detroit or New York City unless it was especially horrible. Now everything is basically "celebrated" by the news media. This food is tainted, this drug is tainted, this car is recalled, etc. This new study shows that we were wrong about this or that, blah blah blah.
There's also the verse, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee." (Ps. 56:3) The verse Kay quoted is the verse I thought of regularly when Gail was sick and after she passed away. Also there is the lovely verse that says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusteth in Thee." (Is. 26:3)
I think I am afraid of Gary or me losing our health and of the future and how we will survive. I know, God is in control. He will provide. But then I say, "But how?" He doesn't have to let me know ahead of time.
The verse Kay quoted was also the verse my sister (QOTW's mom) focused on a couple of weeks before her last major health crisis; she had one of those "Aha" momnents and she tried to get me to see it also, but I just couldn't seem to get one of those "Aha" moments at the time.
It was God's perfect timing for her, though. It gave her immense peace.
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