ITWW {25}

Into the Word Wednesday is a link up and blog hop where fellow Christian bloggers share something they have learned this week while Into the Word. If you are a Christian blogger, feel free to connect and follow other bloggers who are sharing their recent steps of their walk with the blogosphere! If you are not a blogger and you are interested in reading more biblically based posts, scroll down and click until your heart desires.

Fear < Love
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. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:18-19 {emphasis mine}

If these verses tell me my love is always a response, why do I determine whether or not it is earned before I give it?  Reading these fairly common verses was almost like a kick to the gut. I found myself listing out fears,which became three pages before I knew it.

Fear that:

things will never change

this will always hurt

my children will label their childhood with the negative

addictions will always trump me

I will fail at leading my children spiritually

I'll never have a biblical marriage

addictions will be inherited

I'll never be covered by my husband's prayer
He'll never love Jesus

As a self-proclaimed person-who-doesn't-struggle-with-fear, this was a shock to me.  I gave voice to things I felt but didn't know how to name. These fears wore masks of bitterness and resentment.  When they surfaced, love was the last thing on my mind. They dictated my tone, approach, respect, attitude, and behavior.

So, wait a second...   If there is no fear in love,  why do I let a long list of fears dictate my behavior? 

This was a huge revelation to me.  No more letting these fears wear masks and dictate my emotions and behavior, attitude and approach.  I have perfect love in Christ.  The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead maintains permanent residency within my heart, leading me, and loving me.  This perfect love casts out each and every fear.  I, then, can unconditionally love with the same sacrificial and fearless passion.

These now exposed fears have no power to choke out the truth any longer. I believe in a God who can take every fear I listed and flip it into a miraculous testimony of power and greatness.  I believe in a God who takes the seemingly impossible and makes it possible.  Bring on the cycle of perfect love!  Adios fear!

What about you?  Do you have any masked fears?  Do you struggle with fears dictating your behavior? Do you know the perfect love offered to you through Jesus Christ?

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

Stand firm, then, and 

do not let yourselves be burdened again 

by a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1 {emphasis mine}

We would LOVE it if you linked up with a post about what God is showing you in the Word or in your life. Please also stop by and see what God has been teaching each co-hosts this week:

Sarah at Fontenot Four Kelly at The Houtz House Party
Becky at Tales For Ashes
Kelly at Exceptionalistic Falen at Upward Not Inward

Share about ITWW on Twitter :: HERE :: 

Into the Word Wednesday Blog Hop Rules:

1. Write a post about what God is teaching you this week.

2. Follow the host and hostesses via GFC.

3. Grab a button to put on your blog - the more the merrier!

4. Check out (and comment) other people's blogs.

5. Be blessed by all the sisters and brothers around the world.

Linking Up Here:

Wisdom Wednesday; Followers to Friends; Follow Me Wednesday; Encourage One Another; Winsome Wednesday; WIPWed; Works For Me; Walking Redeemed

The Sunshine Project; Thought Provoking Thursday; It's Almost Friday Blog Hop; Mingle With Us Blog Hop; Legacy Leavers; Thumpin Thursday; Thoughtful Thursday; GYB Blog Hop; Imperfectly Perfect Grace; Thriving Thursday; Hearts 4 Home

Want to enter a $100.00 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway?
:: GO HERE ::