Fear Not

I think this time of year brings anxiety for some. I wrote this to be of help. Some Christians do confess all fear as sin. Not all of them though. On that topic it's amazing to me that when angels appear to people in the Bible they always say, "fear not" because the person is seeing something not of this earth and they go into a fear of some sort. A verse to focus on is: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." II Tim 1:7 another helpful and well-known one is: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" Phil 4:6 Jesus put it this way: "And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind." Luke 12:29 Having said all that people do have fear of certain things. I think the key is relinquishing our rights to have things go our way and to be safe all the time. That is not ours to possess and as soon as we realize that God possesses that, not us, then it helps a lot. Fear of flying for example. I used to have that until I realized that the Lord could take me any time, anywhere He chooses to. I can't control that. That doesn't mean I'm going to go lay down on the railroad tracks but it helps me to know what is my concern and what is not. If I die in a plane, so what? Really. It's okay because I don't believe that could even begin to surprise the Lord God. Why? Because He already knows all of the details of my life. You might be comforted (and that is a good word) by choosing a verse or too to repeat to yourself. The list of what to think about is a GREAT one: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." Phil 4:8 This is good too: For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body" Phil 3:20-21 So one more time the list is: Whatever is: true noble just pure whatever things are: lovely of good report of virtue praiseworthy That could help anyone suffering with any kind of mental turmoil whether it's seeing unsavory relatives this season or other things like getting it all done!