DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT MONDAY - HIS GIFT OF LOVE DRIVES AWAY OUR FEARS.

Sometimes the Lord calms the storm. Sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child. – Source Unknown.

There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment. We love because God first loved us. - 1 John 4:18-19.

I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath--these are not my native air. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely--these are my native air.

A John Hopkins University doctor says, "We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non-worriers, but that is a fact." But I, who am simple of mind, think I know; We are inwardly constructed in nerve and tissue, brain cell and soul, for faith and not for fear. God made us that way. To live by worry is to live against reality. - Dr. E. Stanley Jones.

One of the problems that are prevalent in some Christians today is fear. Fear is an agonising and stressful emotion, and this is experienced in the fear of being rejected, fear of failing, fear of harm, fear of financial ruin, fear of people, fear of sickness, fear of death etc; At first glance, it does not seem that Love could be effective in conquering these fears, but the Apostle John convinces us that it does, but it has to be the love of God that we use, not our love, that love can fail.

We need to accept the perfect love, which the Apostle John speaks of, here is how this works:

LOVE FOR GOD
The more we love God, the less fear we will have. It is a matter of trust. When we realise that God will take care of us, it relieves our fears. My children when they were young, did do not worry about having something to eat, for all of those years my wife and I had provided for them, they trusted in us. Now if I had not provided for them, they would have been worried, but they knew we loved them and provided for them, so they had no fears about that.

And we as parents had no fear in that area, because we trusted in the Lord, and He provided for us, and still does to this day. But we had other fears that had to be dealt with, some of them are listed above. How did we do that? Well we applied the same principle as we did for our family’s provision, and pretty soon we had a handle on it, we knew we could do nothing apart from Christ, so we used His love to drive out those fears.

For example, just recently my wife contracted Septic Arthritis, this came about through a small blister on her toe, the bones inside the foot were infected, and being a Type 2 Diabetic it compounded this problem, and she was told that she might lose her toes, at once the fear of this began to realise itself, but the teachings and the trust of Jesus came into effect, and she applied the principles of His perfect love.

After four operations and five weeks in Hospital, Jean is now convalescing, she still has her toes, and is on the way to full health recovery, praise His wonderful gift of Love! We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose. - Rom 8:28. His wonderful gift of love relieves our fears!

A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on "The Love of God." As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. There was nothing else to say. - Source Unknown.

LOVE FOR OTHERS
Another aspect of His gift of love, is the more that we love others, the less fears we will have. Love causes us to overcome our fears for the good of others, and we begin to serve each other, as we have never served before. His gift of love causes us to tell others about Jesus, to teach a Sunday School class, to pray for each other, to carry one another’s burdens, to care and comfort each other, and too help others in need.

William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story. The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child's breath. Once when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother, forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death.

Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said, "Momma, kiss me!" Without thinking of herself the mother tenderly kissed her daughter. She got diphtheria and some days thereafter she went to be forever with the Lord. Real love forgets self. Real love knows no danger. Real love doesn't count the cost.

The Bible says, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it." – Source unknown.

Yes, His gift of love, His perfect love, drives away all our fears. Why don’t you apply these principles today, and watch as your fears are driven out! Hallelujah!

Loving Father, I thank you that your perfect love drives out all fear. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to use this gift of love that is available to me, and use it to deal with my fears. In the wonderful name of Jesus, Amen!

GBYAY