Our devotion this week, Dangerous Prayers, comes from the YouVersion Bible App. It was provided by Life.Church. For more information, please visit: https://www.life.church/
Show Me What I’m Afraid Of
Yesterday we asked God to search us, reveal the hidden things in our lives, and help us to get rid of them. Usually when we think of God revealing sin, we think of things like sexual immorality, lies, and gossip. These are definitely sins God wants to bring to the light. However, there is often darkness in us that’s even better at hiding.
Is there anything you keep avoiding? Is there a certain responsibility, level of relationship, or step of faith you always run from? You may be experiencing fear. What we fear the most reveals where we trust God the least. Does every single conflict with your spouse freak you out? Maybe you need to learn to trust God with your marriage. Are you a helicopter-parent constantly hovering over your children? Maybe you fear their failure, separation, or death. Do you fully trust God as your protector? Do finances cause you endless anxiety? Do you really trust God as your provider? We all have some hidden fear and trust issues.
Fear tries to call God powerless. It says, “You may have God, but He’s not enough. You should still be worried.” Now do you see how fear is at enmity with God? There is good news. Perfect love casts out all fear. Who has perfect love? God does. That’s what makes Him our good King who’s so dangerous to our enemy.
Think about it like this. Pretend you’re a mansion. Which rooms does fear live in? What about the nursery? The kitchen? The bedroom? The family room? The office? Now, imagine inviting God’s perfect love into all those rooms. Fear and all its baggage get kicked to the curb. What’s left? All sorts of places for the Holy Spirit to come fill you, renovate you, and … well, surprise you with His incredible blueprint for your new life.
Pray: Holy Spirit, show me what I’m afraid of. Show me how fear tries to discount the enormous power of the Almighty God. Father, I want Your perfect love to destroy fears I’m facing. I want to live out Your plans for my life. Amen.
Read 1 John 4:8.
18 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.
Read 2 Timothy 1:6-7.
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Read 1 Peter 5:6-11.
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lionlooking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
