A SON IS FEARLESS

In this week's blog, we read David proclaim that he is not afraid of anything or anybody. I believe that this declaration was not a result of some macho bravado that he had in his own abilities but rather in his unwavering confidence in his God to protect him.

We know from David's story that he did not just talk the talk, but he also walked the walk as well. When all of Israel was gripped with a paralyzing fear facing a daunting Philistine army, this young shepherd boy was the only one in Israel's camp ready, willing and able to take on the giant Goliath!

The reason why this young man wasn't afraid of Goliath was because he learned earlier on in the shepherd's field of God's faithfulness to protect him from every enemy. When a bear came to looking devour the sheep under his care, God was faithful to protect him. When a lion came uninvited, he too was killed by this teenage boy. David knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he had nothing to fear because of the greatness of his God.

It is interesting to note that in this same psalm, King David also deals with the fear of parental rejection when he says in verse 10...Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. (NIV) No matter what we are afraid of, the love of God is enough to calm every troubled heart.

It is an undeniable fact that a son who knows he is loved has a different perspective on fear. When we are convinced that God is for us,  then we will be convinced that nothing can ultimately stand against us (Romans 8:31) even though many things may try.

In 1 John 4:18 it says... 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. (NIV) The more we are convinced that we are perfectly loved, the less that fear will have a hold on our life. It is an absolute fact that fear cannot abide where love abounds!

The more that we are convinced that we have a Father in heaven who is our protector, the more we will rest in His ability to watch over us and less in our own ability to protect ourselves. Knowing that we are loved does not insulate us from trouble in this fallen world but it will sustain us even in the most difficult of seasons.

Paul the Apostle writes about this in Romans 8:35-39... 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (WEB)

I believe that it is our Father's heart to persuade us that nothing in all creation can ever separate us from His love. The more that this revelation becomes real to us, the more it will eclipse any struggle or hardship we experience in this life.

My prayer today is that we would all be more convinced today of the love God has for us than when we woke up this morning. I pray that every expression of an orphan mindset that causes us to live in fear would be consumed by the ferocious love that God has for us.

May each one of us embrace the boldness of a lion (Proverbs 28:1) that causes us not to be afraid of anything or anyone. May we choose to live our lives in the secret place of the Most High, living in the safety and shelter of His wing (Psalm 91). May we echo the words of David today and declare that the Lord is our light and our salvation... whom shall we fear!

2 Timothy 1:6-7
6 For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.  (WEB)