Forty Days Without FearSample

FEAR OF GOD OR FEAR OF MAN?

On the news was a story about a man who was bitten by one of the world’s most venomous snakes. One bite from this snake contained enough venom to kill 100 people. Fortunately, the man survived because he was treated with an antivenom injection within half an hour.  Although a great story to tell your mates, it must have been pretty worrying at the time!

There are all kinds of poisons in the world today; some which our bodies naturally fight and others that require an antivenom for the recovery process to begin. For many of us, a poison that affects us greatly is fear of man. This fear has the potential to impair and destroy our lives, primarily because it causes us to believe that man has more power over our lives than God. 

Whether it be words spoken over us, actions towards us or gossip behind our backs, other people have the potential to cause us all kinds of pain and offence. The question is, whose voice are we going to listen to?

In today’s Scripture, the Bible tells us we have a choice, whether to trust in man or to trust in God to tell us who we are. We get to choose who will be the number one voice in our lives, God or another. This verse tells us that trusting in others to make us feel OK is a trap; better to listen to the voice of our Creator God!

For starters, this is what our heavenly Father says about us:

We are his children [John 1:12] 

We are Jesus’ friends [John 15:15]

We are saints, holy ones [Ephesians 1:1]

We lack nothing because we are complete in Jesus [Colossians 2:10] 

We are holy and acceptable [Romans 5:1] 

We are free from condemning accusations against us [Romans 8:31-34]

The good work God started in us, He will finish [Philippians 1:6]

God works all things together for our good [Romans 8:28] 

Action: Take these words and declare them over our lives today and on a regular basis. They are not lies; they are not wishful thinking; they are the truth, and the Truth sets us free!