Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
—1 John 1:18 NLT
The perfect love of Jesus drives out all fear. This verse clearly states that if we are afraid, we are fearful of punishment. Those inundated with fear feel plagued with thoughts that they deserve punishment. “I can never be good enough—I can never do enough to make up for what I have done—I'm so ashamed that I failed." Do you realize that as you think you are is what you are?
Because of Jesus' love for you, His child, on Calvary, you don't need to be overcome with feelings of guilt and shame. Jesus saw you in your sin, and He died so you would not only be free of it but also the emotions that accompany it. He declared you whole and healed. Jesus died to set you free from the reminders of the enemy that you are in debt to God—that there is something you must do to be in right-standing with Him. You can never be good enough on your merit, and striving to prove you are is self-defeating! You belong to Jesus! You are in right-standing with God! You can be free from all fear. It is His promise to you. The Lord wishes to perfect His perfect love in you—to get you to the point where His love, which defeats all fear, is as natural as breathing.
You received all of Jesus the day you asked Him into your heart. You received His perfect love. For you to grasp this, you have to allow Him to change your perception of who you are. He doesn’t see the failure that plagues you with guilt. He sees you pure and forgiven. He sees you through the eyes of grace. Until you grasp the depth of His forgiveness, you will forever fight the fears which accompany feelings of punishment—of not being good enough.
The love of God was perfected by Jesus on Calvary when He died for you. You can't develop it within yourself. You allow Him to change what you can't. You face your fears with a decision that He will conquer them for you. You decide that God is not waiting to beat you up because of sin or failure. He is waiting to love you with His perfect love. You keep choosing to believe, and He brings Resurrection power to fulfill it.
Allow His perfect love to change you continually, and you shall become stronger to stand against the lies of the enemy. You won't believe any negative feelings that arise from your consciousness to condemn you. His love becomes stronger in you and perfects you. Only His love drives out fear and gives faith to believe in His peace no matter how you feel. If you remain rooted in His Word and growing in His grace, perseverance will finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything. You will choose faith over fear. Peace and joy will live in your heart and mind. His perfect love will flow like a river of living water—refreshing and empowering you to live by faith. Fear will have no claim on your life.
© 2018 Lynn Lacher
www.lynnlacher.com/2019/04/no-fear.html
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