Imagine you are alive in 1941 and Japan attacks your nation. Imagine the different emotions you must be feeling: anxiety, doubt and most certainly fear. At that time the war had been proceeding in Europe and America was watching.  Many people did not want to join the war: they were called isolationists.  After the attack on Pearl Harbor we were drawn into the battle.

President Roosevelt gave a speech to the American public and told them that we have nothing to fear but fear itself.  How true those words were and are today.  We are blinded with a media assault of nothing but fear.  We have certain church leaders whose central message is fear.  Hollywood likes to join in as well as professors claiming destruction is at our doorstep.

God has not given us a Spirit of Fear, but Love, Power and a Sound mind.  Our Father does not intend for us to live in fear of what man or nature may do to us.  Jesus said, “Do not worry about what you will wear or eat or drink.”  Can a man add a cubit to his stature by worrying?  Fear is a great enemy, which likes to strike when we are weak.  Have you noticed your biggest fear thoughts are when you are tired, hungry, or worn out?  Mark Twain once said that, “98% of the things he worried about never happened”.

Fear can stand for False Evidence Appearing Real.  Years ago I had a staff member come to me stricken with fear. When I first saw her, the fear wanted to come over me.  Her face was showing the symptoms of a stroke.  As we were getting into the van to take her to the hospital, the Holy Spirit spoke to me. I knew it was false evidence appearing real.  I had the peace of God that this woman would be fine.  When we arrived at the emergency room, her diagnosis was Bell’s palsy, a paralysis on one side of the face thus mimicking a stroke.  In her case it was caused by stress and through God’s help she made a quick recovery.

Jesus left us with His peace.  I encourage you to live one day at a time, for his mercies are new and tender each morning.  I pray you seek for the peace only Jesus can provide.

Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord!