Open Heaven Daily Devotional October 13 2022
THEME: Fear Not II
SCRIPTURE: -1 John 4:18 (KJV) “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
One of the many beautiful things about the love of Christ is that it banishes fear. When you encounter God’s love and bask in it, nothing will scare you. What the devil does with fear is that he uses it to torment and rob people of experiencing the love of God.
Fear torments; it tells you that you cannot do something when The Most High God has said that you can do anything through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13). A person who is intimidated by fear cannot express the great potentials and abilities that God has given to him or her. Such a person would always look down on himself or herself and that gives the devil control over him or her. Don’t give in to fear so that the devil will not assume authority over you. As a child of God, take authority over fear in the name of Jesus Christ and stand your ground. You must push away the spirit of fear, so that it does not steal God’s precious promises from you. The only way to do this successfully is with the shield of faith.
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. – Ephesians 6:16
Since faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17), then your shield of faith is just as strong as the volume of the word of God that you have dwelling in your heart. As the devil sends those fiery darts of fear, you block it with the word of God that you know concerning that matter. Now, if you are not a child of God, no matter how much of the Bible you quote, fear will keep overcoming you. Proverbs 28:1 says:
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
The righteous are bold because the Almighty God is the Shepherd and so they have nothing to fear. Your Shepherd will protect, provide for and guide you. However, if you are wicked, you have every reason to be afraid because the devil will torment those who belong to him with the spirit of fear. It is in your best interest to give your life to Jesus so that you will gain control over the spirit of fear and live to fulfil God’s will for your life.
Credit for today’s Open Heaven daily devotional October 13 2022: Open Heaven/Openheaven.com