Do Not Fear

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
(Isaiah 26:3)

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

In the Bible, the term “perfect” always refers to the Lord. It speaks of completeness, wholeness, health, preparedness, and holiness. None of these things can be accomplished in a saint without the Lord, for He is the only One who can do a "perfect" work in us. When we are abiding in a loving relationship with Him, His abiding presence makes fear impossible. His strength fills and comforts us, and our faith grows in the face of all opposition. We can laugh at the taunts of Satan, because the heart filled with love has no space for fear! That is what Isaiah means by “perfect peace.”
 
Where there is fear, there is an absence of love. Where there is love, there is God, for He is love; and where He is, there can be no fear. The Lord will not share His place in our hearts with the devil, so we either walk with God in the fullness of faith, or we don't walk with Him at all. I am not saying we won't encounter fearful times or situations; what I am saying is the Spirit who dwells in us will defeat that fear every time, and we will walk in the courage and confidence our Savior walked in. That is His will for His children. The psalmist puts it this way, Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. (Psalms 56:3) May we say the same.
 
Let’s Pray – Dear Lord, thank You for the Holy Spirit who shed Your love abroad in our hearts. We give You free reign and residence, so we might be changed daily into the perfect image of Christ, as He is the perfect image of the Father. We ask these things boldly, in Jesus’ name. Amen.