Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.  Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)  There is truth to the old saying, “No risk, no reward.”  You see, God created us to take risks. Now, I’m not talking about gambling with your life or behaving recklessly. But the truth is, anyone who tries to live an utterly risk-free life will limit their enjoyment. In fact, trying to avoid risk at all costs can hold you back from the promises of God. Why?  Because fear works as a trap: it clamps down and prevents you from going anywhere. It limits what you’re willing to go for because you’re scared of what you may lose. It can hold you back from thoroughly enjoying relationships, church and God. It …

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  1 John 4:18 (NKJV)  We’ve been talking about ways to deal with fear in our lives. Second Timothy 1:7 makes it clear that fear is a spirit from the enemy’s camp, and it can produce several crippling symptoms if we allow it into our lives. Let’s unpack a couple of them.   A spirit of fear tortures people mentally. Some people can barely function because they’re in a continual state of mental anguish. Fear can even bring people to the point of feeling physically ill. These symptoms stem from psychological torment, and God didn’t create you to live like that.  …

So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge.”  Numbers 13:32 (NLT)  Faith and fear operate the same way in your life. They both work to create a vision inside of you that will grow if you entertain it.  But here’s the difference: fear pictures something terrible taking place in your life, whereas faith visualizes something good.  Numbers chapters 13 and 14 give us a good look at what happens when we allow fear to paint pictures in our minds. Moses led the Israelites to the edge of the Promised Land, then sent twelve spies to scope it out. All of …

Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!  Hebrews 12:2 (TPT)  Imagine that after twenty years of marriage, your spouse turned to you and said, “Life’s been downright miserable, and I’ve suffered a lot being married to you. Look at all I’ve sacrificed because of my love for you.” That doesn’t sound very heart-warming, does it?  In the same way, if Jesus hadn’t been motivated by love, He could have crossed His arms and announced, “Well, my Father’s making me do this. I’m here now, so let’s move this thing along.”  But His heart wasn’t …

“Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”  Matthew 26:53–54 (NLT)  Jesus loves you more than you could ever imagine. How do we know?  When we study the Scriptures, we find God’s plan for mankind’s redemption has love written all over it—from start to finish.  For example, when the Roman soldiers arrived with Judas Iscariot to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus faced a big decision. While legions of warrior angels waited for His command, Jesus simply let the soldiers take Him.  It’s mind-blowing when you think about it. Imagine knowing you’re facing certain …