"Fear not!"

How many times are those words spoken in Scripture. I heard someone once say 365 - one for every day of the year. I haven't counted! But even in the Christmas story they are spoken a number of times.

In the Kingdom of love - the realm where God rules in all his goodness and love - there is no fear. His perfect love has cast out all fear. So is fear the root of sin and disobedience? If we trusted and did not fear, we would have no cause to sin, surely?

Jesus tells us not to fear lack or need. "Seek first the Kingdom of God... and all you need will be given you." Paul assures us in Romans 8 that we do not need to fear condemnation or being unacceptable, or being accused or being separated from the love of God.

I am becoming more and more aware of how love banishes fear. Whenever I find fear rising (about my computer messing up - about people not co-operating on something I consider important - about failing to meet deadlines or find the mental space to write a promised piece...) I speak to my soul about being loved, now, by Abba Father ("He is loving me right now") and I speak to him as my big Daddy who can fix anything even while I sleep! I am more and more aware that I do not have to carry the 'weight' of things. That is his role, not mine. "Cast (throw rapidly) your care on him, for he cares for you." Soooo simple really.

But my heart still needs to learn - in all those little nooks and cranny's - to rest, to trust, to enjoy waiting for his answers. My 'make it happen' personality has to lie down quietly until the anxiety is replaced with restfulness. It feels almost like a game now... "Oh - here it comes again... that anxiety... now just lie down, my heart, and rest again in his love... there - that feels better! All will be well." I see waves rising and falling... and they seem smaller than they used to be. Hallelujah!