If you're living and walking by faith, you should not be worried, or have fear about anything. Because worry and fear are indicative of a lack of faith, and the Bible says that anything not of faith is sin. In Hebrews we read that "it is impossible to please God without faith."

You wouldn't dream of standing before God and telling Him, "I cannot trust You to protect and take care of me." Yet, that is exactly what you're doing, when worry and fear are allowed to control your life.

Now wait a minute, "I'm afraid of fire," someone may say; or, another "I'm afraid of water." Well, let's examine the matter more closely. You own and operate a vehicle, driven by a combustion engine and carrying a tank of flammable gasoline. So, you must not be afraid of fire, under control. You cook with heat. But, you won't stick your hand on a hot stove or into an open flame… I think you have respect for fire. You drink water, wash yourself and your clothes in it … but, probably don't want to be dropped from an ocean liner in a mid-Atlantic crossing. You respect water.

Speaking of life's trials, Isaiah wrote (Isa. 43:1-3), "But, the Lord who created you, says, Don't be afraid for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name and you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fires of oppression, you will not be burned up -- the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, your Savior, the Holy one of Israel."

Someone has said, "FEAR, spelled F-E-A-R stands for "False Evidence Appearing Real." The 23^rd Psalm even calls death a shadow. Shadows are False Evidence Appearing Real, and we know that shadows can't hurt us.

But you ask, "Aren't there some things in life that even Christians should be worried about?" The answer is NO! Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

The Greek word for "anxious" here literally means "anxious to the point of distraction" --and the enemy of your soul wants you to be distracted. You can become so overwhelmed by the stuff of life that you forget as the Psalmist explained, "He is beautiful (or, the God) for every situation." (Ps. 42:8)

By some dreadful stretch of your imagination do you really think that you can some how manage life apart from God? Are you striving "to get things under control" … your control? Another scripture that will help remind you to apply faith to a given situation is I Peter 5:7 "… casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." You were never designed to live without a real dependence upon God.

Fear paralyzes … Faith energizes! You cannot be powered-up for His glory, until you are free and remember, it is the Truth that shall set you free. Child of God, you are who God says you are; you have what God says you have; and you can do what God says you can do!

Make Today Count,

Pastor Steve