The LORD is my light and my salvation—One of the most impacting and honest questions to ask ourselves is what the Psalmist asked: Whom shall I fear?
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
Fear can become a routine habit that impacts the way we manage life, including how we relate to God and others. Fear finds its way into our life through difficult or downright hard circumstances . . . from significant people in our life teaching us the ways of fear . . . and/or . . . from gradually allowing fear into our mind and behavior. As fear weaves its place into our life, we tend to respond to life in defeat, discouragement, depression, and anger.
We have the opportunity to celebrate the coming of Christ . . . Christmas . . . a time to understand that Christ has wiped out the kind of fear that pushes us into the darkness. Christ is our salvation, the One that releases us from fear, freeing us to live in the Light. The salvation of Christ powerfully frees . . . body . . . mind . . . and soul . . . enabling us to live courageously as we give it all to Him.
The Word of God continually tells us that with God, there is no need to fear. Whatever the reason, fear becomes a life pattern that must be broken off our life. The book of John, chapter 5, records the story of a man who lay paralyzed beside a pool with healing waters for 38 years waiting to be healed; however, he never asked for assistance. His physical paralysis had produced a paralyzing fear. There was a risk to ask for help and not be healed. And, there was the unknown of what life would be like without the paralysis. Fear had become a part of the routine of his life.
So. Jesus asked him the duh question, "Do you want to get well?" Duh. Of course he did. Jesus told him three simple things:
Stand.
Pick up your mat.
Walk.
A choice had to be made. He either would spend the rest of his life on the mat or he would get up and move forward in the power of Christ.
Christ is your light and salvation. Whom shall you fear? Do you want to be well . . . free of fear . . . living in the power of Christ?
In Christ:
Take a position . . . stand in faith . . . rather than living in a state of fear.
Pick up your mat . . . the things that prevent you from moving forward . . . perceived impossibilities.
Refuse to be stuck on your "mat." Walk in the healing power of Christ. Intentionally live courageously.
Learning to KickStart the day . . . answering the question, "Whom shall I fear?"
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie L. Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)