Whether we want to admit it or not, fear has probably been a factor in our lives at some point. Very few people, if any, have not been affected by this debilitating disease at some point, both in their personal life, as well as in their Christian life. Consider some of the things fear can keep us from:

– Reaching out to people with the Gospel of Christ because we fear rejection.
– Obeying the Gospel because we fear not being able to live up to the expectations God has for us.
– Making sacrifices in our lives because we fear what our lives will be like after the things we give up are no longer a part of our lives.
– Developing lasting relationships with fellow Christians because we fear being disappointed by others.
– Serving the Lord as He (God) intended, because we fear what others will think of us.
– Forsaking all else because we fear ending up alone.
– Embracing the future because we fear what we don’t know and what we can’t see.

This list could go on and on, but I think you get the point. Fear hinders us and our relationship with God. This is why I believe God wants us to remove fear from our lives, because it paralyzes. Fear keeps us from honoring and glorifying God and this is a major purpose of our lives (Col. 3:17; I Cor. 10:31).

The next time you feel afraid to do something that will bring glory and honor to Christ, remember the words of the apostle Paul when he said, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim. 1:7). God did not create us to fear. Fear should not be a factor!

“I’d rather attempt to do something great and fail than attempt to do nothing and succeed.” (Norman Vincent Peale)

Now that’s Something to Think About!