Fearless

Today is the fourth day in our 43rd week, reading the Bible through in a year.  Our scriptures today are: Ezekiel 10-12; John 4; Psalm 83.

"You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, declares the Lord God (Ezekiel 11:8 ESV)."

Today is Halloween--a day in which people have fun with fear.  Children dressed as ghosts, goblins, and witches wander the streets.  Teenagers play pranks on unsuspecting neighbors.  After the trick-or-treating is done, people settle in to watch a scary movie.  That might be all in good fun, but God's Word tells us that we need to be careful what we fear.

Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) says, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he"  In other words, we tend to become what we think about.  Whatever we focus our hearts on, that's what we develop inside ourselves.

There's a spiritual principle that says, "Like attracts like."  This means that goodness attracts more goodness.  Evil attracts more evil.  Suspicion and intrigue invite more of the same.  Gratitude and generosity open you to receive.  Jesus said, "All who draw the sword will die by the sword (Matthew 26:52 NIV)."  It's a universal principle.  There's fairness and reciprocity inherent in God's creation.  Through Ezekiel, God told the people of Jerusalem that since they feared the sword, that's exactly what they would get.  So be careful what you fear, because you tend to get what you're afraid of.

In the same way that you should be careful what you fear, you should also be careful what you say you're afraid of.  Would you tell your worst enemy what your darkest fears are?  Of course not--because you know they'd use your fears against you.  So why would you speak fear, even when you think you're alone?  The enemy of your soul is listening--and when you speak your fears, you've just given him a weapon to use against you.

It's better to be fearless.  2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV) says, "God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."  1 John 4:18 (NIV) tells us, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

Jesus has defeated the powers of sin, hell, death, and the devil.  If you're a Christian, then you ought to be fearless.  Don't let fear grip your soul.  Don't spend your time thinking and speaking about the things you fear.  Focus instead on Christ, and on His unfailing love.  Philippians 4:6-9 tells us:

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.