How Perfect Love Gives Hope To Defeat Fear

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Fear can prompt us to avoid foolish decisions and keep us out of dangerous situations. It can also paralyze us and keep us from living the life God wants for us.

So, what do you and I need to defeat the fear that keeps us from truly living?

I’ve written about my struggle with fear in the past. My earliest memories include being afraid. I often feared going to bed as a child because of frequent nightmares. I could give a speech or play piano in a recital, no problem. But the fear of disappointing or losing a loved one kept me from fully living the life God wanted far too often.

Oh, I knew the verses…

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

Love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love.

1 John 4:16b, 18

I knew the words, but like the disciples on the sea in a storm, I didn’t apply them.

Now, I realize how often Jesus’ words to them were meant for me…

“Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!”

Matthew 8:26

The thing is, I was confused. I knew Jesus died and rose again, but I still felt I needed to be good and feared not being good enough.

I can’t sufficiently explain how or when the change began, but God worked in me and helped me realize that His perfect love did not depend on my behavior. My behavior was to be my response to His perfect love.

Here are three important truths the Spirit has planted in my heart:

♥ Because of God’s perfect love, I trust that His grace is greater than my fears.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

♥ I trust that I can do and endure all things when I am filled with His strength.

I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.

Philippians 4:13 (NLV)

♥ I am confident that in life and death, when I surrender myself to God’s perfect love, I can have peace today and hope for tomorrow.

Pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

I’m not saying it’s easy. The enemy still tries to taunt me with fearful thoughts. But when I resist Satan’s lies by giving my fear to the Lord, the Spirit faithfully gives me what I need to remain strong. And I believe He will do that for you, too.

We know from the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus felt fear as He anticipated the suffering He was about to endure.

“Abba, Father,” He cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine.”

Mark 14:36

Jesus showed us the Father’s perfect love. And Jesus loved us so perfectly that He obediently suffered and died for every one of us. And because His Spirit is with and within us, we have God’s love with and within us.

His love around us gives us everything we need to live with faith. And His love within us gives us all we need to defeat fear and live our faith with peace, hope, and love one day at a time.

Let’s pray…

A Prayer to Defeat Fear
with God’s Perfect Love

Lord God, You are perfect love. You define LOVE! You are our Creator, Savior, and Spirit of Life. Everything You create comes from Your love. When creation fell into sin, You gave Yourself to suffer our punishment and pay our debt. And then, You gave Your Spirit to guide us in Your truth and help us defeat fear.

We don’t have to fear death and eternal punishment because of Your perfect love. We can live with the confidence that death is just the entryway to living in Your perfect presence forever.

Lord, receive these words from the hymn, In Christ Alone from the depths of my heart…

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow’r of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.

Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

When I am afraid, I will surrender all that I am and all that I have to You, trusting that Your grace is sufficient for whatever the day brings. You are my strength and shield. Please help me follow in the footsteps of my Lord and Savior, Jesus. Help me show the world Your perfect love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Here are some quotes and verses I pray will bless you…

“If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer – His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable.” ~ John Newton

God has come to save me.
    I will trust in Him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
    He has given me victory.”

Isaiah 12:2

“I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.” ~ Thomas Merton

For the Lord your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty Savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With His love, He will calm all your fears.
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Zephaniah 3:17

May the Lord fill you with His perfect love and give you everything you need to defeat fear in your life.

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