1 Samuel 15:24, "Then Saul admitted to Samuel, ‘Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the LORD's command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.'" 1 John 4:18, "...perfect love drives out fear."

Think

Living in fear comes so naturally to us. We are all afraid of something because we're human! But, to live in a regular state of fear means that we have placed our trust in what's tangible and forgotten that we have a God who loves us and wants to take care of us. This past week, we uncovered that Saul's biggest fear was the fear of rejection. It caused him to listen to the wrong voices, deeply affecting his decisions and his relationship with God. God is bigger than our biggest fear. The Bible tells us that God "didn't give us a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, love and of a sound mind." God didn't create you to wake up every day feeling like you are walking around on eggshells. He created you to live a life relying on him and trusting that he is in control. The Bible tells us "perfect love drives out fear!" Are you living your life consumed by the worries of everyday life or are you secure in God's perfect love for you?

Act

God tells us 365 times in the Bible to "Fear Not." Label the alarm that wakes you up every morning to say "Fear Not" as a reminder that God is in control. When fearful thoughts start to enter your mind, reach out and let someone know. Together, and with God, we can lay fear to rest.

Pray

Dear God, Thank you for loving me perfectly. Sometimes I lose sight of that and place my trust in only what I can see. When fear creeps in, help me to keep my eyes fixed on you, as the source of my comfort. Remind me that I am not alone and that there is a community of people in the church who can stand with me in the face of my fears and help me overcome them. Amen.