Have No Fear – Sunday Devotion
Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Psalm 112:1 (NIV)
Fear can be positive or negative. It can paralyze us, or it can give us a healthy respect for something and help us avoid danger. For example, when I was younger, I was afraid to return to school after a day out for being sick. I was painfully shy and self-conscious. The thought of going back to school in the middle of the week had me so fearful that I literally got sick and often missed an entire week of school. That type of fear was not helpful. On the other hand, telling your child the dangers of playing in the street might cause a bit of fear but that “healthy fear” will keep them safe.
To fear the Lord is to have respect for Him. We understand that obeying His commands is what keeps us safe in His care and in His will.
Another example of unhealthy fear was my relationship with the scale. I used to become very anxious before I stepped on the scale. I feared that number. When God set me free from diets and a bondage to the scale, I also felt some fear at first. I was afraid that I would gain a ton of weight if I didn’t follow a strict diet. That was not a healthy fear. When I put my trust in the Lord and built my healthy life on a foundation of faith, I was able to proceed with confidence in caring for my body. Now I have no fear of gaining weight because I know that I can trust the Lord with this area of my life.
When we fear the Lord, we have no fear of the life He's designed for us to live. Click To Tweet
Verses six through eight in chapter 112 of Psalm say this: Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
In the verses above, we learn more ways that having fear in the Lord leads to us having no fear in life. We can stand firm. When someone tries to coax you into a new diet, you will stand firm on the plan He’s given you. We don’t spend our time worrying but instead trust in the Lord. I can’t tell you how freeing it is not to worry about my weight all the time! When we fear the Lord, we have security and know that no matter what happens, we come up triumphant on the other side. He loves us no matter our size or our looks.
When we fear the Lord, we have no fear of the life He has designed for us. We can proceed with confidence as we follow His lead.
Action Step: The next time fear rises up in you, take a deep breath. Ask God to go with you so you can proceed in obedience and experience peace in Christ. If you struggle with fear and worry in regards to weight gain, it’s time to be brave and submit this area to Him.
Happy Sunday!
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