No Need for Fear...

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father.—Romans 8:15

As a child of God, I long to live always pleasing my Father in heaven...doing His will from my heart.  So often, however, my flesh gets in my way.  My head can know and believe that I am His child and as such...as unbelievable as it sounds...an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ, but my actions don’t always follow what my “head” knows. More often than not, they follow what my “heart” believes.  

Truly, I need  NOT be afraid.  But I am.  My heart, it seems, takes way longer to believe a truth than my mind. I have lived more than half of my lifetime in bondage to sin and to my flesh. It takes time for these truths to really sink into my heart so that my actions are affected by them. This morning I am so thankful that God has sent His Spirit to dwell in me.  He is my witness...His inward presence reveals the truth of my sonship to my heart.  He helps me in my weakness, leads me in right paths and overwhelms and encourages me with His love. He is my strength and my song. I am never alone.  

I AM no longer a fearful slave but the MASTER’s child!  By His grace and power, I CAN walk in His Spirit and fulfill His will.  I do not need a spirit of fear.  His perfect love in my heart testifies to that truth.  He has given me His Son!  The Great I AM...the Becoming One is with me!  He will perfect those things that concern me.  He will give me what I need to see me through this vail of tears.  It is God who works in me both do will and to do for His good pleasure.  I just need to draw near and abide.  And even that desire comes from Him.  

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,

And He who formed you, O Israel:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name;

You are Mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,

Nor shall the flame scorch you.—Isaiah 43:1-2