What God has NOT Given Us.

The kids had been sent to bad, all SIX of them. Finally, it was quiet. Just Holly and I sitting and watching a show together, in peace. No screaming, no hitting, no crying, no punching, no pushing, no teasing beyond limits, no griping, no whining... I think you get the point. It was so nice to finally be done with the day.

My youngest daughter, 7 years old, had different plans. She walked sheepishly and quietly into the living room, stood silently in her p.j.'s waiting to be recognized. I looked over after feeling her sad countenance on my face pleading for help, and said "What is it?" She replied, "I can't sleep." She was hugging her Bible to her chest. Her eyes were so big and sad. I asked why she couldn't sleep. With a quivering voice and a tear tucked in the corner of her eye she responded quietly, in a whisper, as if she was telling a secret. "I'm sacred." I wasn't too surprised at her big reveal for she is at the age where shadows make her tremble with fear.

It was then my mind went back to my lack of fatherly duty as I had not tucked the younger three in bed, I had not sung my normal two songs, nor had I prayed with them. I looked at her standing there and reminded her of the Bible verse I sung to her MANY times. 2 Timothy 1:7: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." I explained to her that fear was not from God and that God is greater then all her fears. God can defeat any fear.

We live in a time where fear is rampant and people are afraid of what the future will hold. Please allow me to say that the fear we see in the world, on the t.v., in our newspapers, online, in our own homes, and even - at times - within ourselves, is NOT given to us by God. Fear makes us weak, causes us to stand still, look inwardly at self and worry about self preservation. Fear twists our way of thinking, making us feel in harms way, or unable to do the task we have been called on to do, or that we are failing as a spouse, parent, child, friend. My daughter is completely safe. We live in a great neighborhood on two and a half acres, four dogs, and three cats, yet her fear was so real to her it caused her to be weak, worry about her own safety, and think she was in danger.

Child of God, no matter what happens, we are NOT in danger. We are in the great neighborhood of God's grace, mercy, strength, and wisdom as neighbors. We have plenty of God's love in which we live. We are secure in the hands of Jesus and the Father. We have the Holy Spirit residing in us, comforting us. We are safe, secure, and loved.

When you are fearful in the situation of your life, run to the Father. Talk to Him and let Him give you POWER to overcome your situation, LOVE to think of more than self, and a SOUND MIND to think properly, realizing you are in NO DANGER. You, through God, are ABLE to do what He has called you to do. God has not left you high and dry. He is with you as He promised. God does NOT give you fear, He gives something so much better - POWER, LOVE, and a SOUND MIND.

2 Timothy 1:7: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK!