And there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:18
As I was reading the blog of another dear friend from whom I find a wealth of experiential and spiritual wisdom, I came away with a gem she had gleaned from a book she was reading. The subject was on reactive attachment disorder and the gem that had my attention was a concept that love and fear can not be felt at the same time.
This caught my attention because FEAR, is a subject I am dealing with in my own life. Seeing exactly how fear, deep rooted and buried within until recent years has ruled my life and kept me from experiencing what real love is.
Fear has colored many of the choices I have made from a very early age. Fear that hid down deep in inner thoughts and feelings that I tried to cover with business, or distractions or the surface things of this world. Fear for me was deep in my core and I didn't want anyone else to know about it. Much of the time I didn't want to know about it. It was covered heavily with the facade that I was in control, I had it altogether; I could handle anything, even when I knew I could not.
The facade was my protective shield. Or so I thought-more later on this. In this world of broken souls and minds and bodies there are many of us who live or have lived our lives in fear, and there is an answer.
The perfect love of Jesus Christ. He is perfect love and when you come to know Him in a personal and intimate relationship He truly gives you perfect love. The kind of love that sets you free from the bondage of fear. The kind of love that let's you love others without the need of covering your inner self protectively.
The kind of love that says: "Therefore there is now no condemnation--punishment--for those who are in Christ Jesus...the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free...Romans 8:1-2 We are free IN the Lord.
When He is at the center of our lives we no longer have to fear anything; mentally, emotionally, even physically (with wisdom) because God is Sovereign, He has established His throne in the heavens and rules over all. God is in control even if we choose not to believe it so. Unbelief doesn't change this fact. We as humans get into trouble simple because we choose to disbelieve what His Word says. Either in unbelief or simply not knowing what His Words says we do not hear the precious truths that sets us free.
Jesus proved His love for us at Calvary. He gave up His very own life so that we would be free of eternal condemnation. He took upon Himself the punishment I deserved but no longer have to be afraid of as Gods child. Oh how long it has taken me to understand that I am now free and do not have to let fear reign within.
I am free in Jesus love and then free to love others as He loves me. When I love, I do not feel fear. When I fear I do not feel love. So the answer to my title is no, we can not feel love and fear at the same time. One or the other is in control of how we feel.
Does this mean I do not feel fear at all. No! Believe me when I say this is still a daily battle of my mind and emotions. But what is different now is that I can choose to believe what Scripture tells me or let my fear rule.
God speaks many times throughout the Scripture for His children to not be afraid, He is with them. Isa. 41:10 When I choose to trust this truth when I am experiencing fear, His love pours in and the fear goes away.
Oh how I desire others to know this freedom they too can experience....it's not for a few "spiritually elite". It's for each and every person who want's to except this love Christ offers us. My prayer is that any one reading this may also come to know that same Perfect Love, my precious, precious Jesus Christ.
Oh Lord, so many of this world know so little truth about you The Son of God the Father. How much You love them, each one. How you have a plan and purpose for their lives and want to lavish Your love on Your children. And who doesn't want to be loved. All of us seek it so and only truly find it in You. May You reveal Yourself to fearful hearts and set them free with Your love.
As I was reading the blog of another dear friend from whom I find a wealth of experiential and spiritual wisdom, I came away with a gem she had gleaned from a book she was reading. The subject was on reactive attachment disorder and the gem that had my attention was a concept that love and fear can not be felt at the same time.
This caught my attention because FEAR, is a subject I am dealing with in my own life. Seeing exactly how fear, deep rooted and buried within until recent years has ruled my life and kept me from experiencing what real love is.
Fear has colored many of the choices I have made from a very early age. Fear that hid down deep in inner thoughts and feelings that I tried to cover with business, or distractions or the surface things of this world. Fear for me was deep in my core and I didn't want anyone else to know about it. Much of the time I didn't want to know about it. It was covered heavily with the facade that I was in control, I had it altogether; I could handle anything, even when I knew I could not.
The facade was my protective shield. Or so I thought-more later on this. In this world of broken souls and minds and bodies there are many of us who live or have lived our lives in fear, and there is an answer.
The perfect love of Jesus Christ. He is perfect love and when you come to know Him in a personal and intimate relationship He truly gives you perfect love. The kind of love that sets you free from the bondage of fear. The kind of love that let's you love others without the need of covering your inner self protectively.
The kind of love that says: "Therefore there is now no condemnation--punishment--for those who are in Christ Jesus...the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free...Romans 8:1-2 We are free IN the Lord.
When He is at the center of our lives we no longer have to fear anything; mentally, emotionally, even physically (with wisdom) because God is Sovereign, He has established His throne in the heavens and rules over all. God is in control even if we choose not to believe it so. Unbelief doesn't change this fact. We as humans get into trouble simple because we choose to disbelieve what His Word says. Either in unbelief or simply not knowing what His Words says we do not hear the precious truths that sets us free.
Jesus proved His love for us at Calvary. He gave up His very own life so that we would be free of eternal condemnation. He took upon Himself the punishment I deserved but no longer have to be afraid of as Gods child. Oh how long it has taken me to understand that I am now free and do not have to let fear reign within.
I am free in Jesus love and then free to love others as He loves me. When I love, I do not feel fear. When I fear I do not feel love. So the answer to my title is no, we can not feel love and fear at the same time. One or the other is in control of how we feel.
Does this mean I do not feel fear at all. No! Believe me when I say this is still a daily battle of my mind and emotions. But what is different now is that I can choose to believe what Scripture tells me or let my fear rule.
God speaks many times throughout the Scripture for His children to not be afraid, He is with them. Isa. 41:10 When I choose to trust this truth when I am experiencing fear, His love pours in and the fear goes away.
Oh how I desire others to know this freedom they too can experience....it's not for a few "spiritually elite". It's for each and every person who want's to except this love Christ offers us. My prayer is that any one reading this may also come to know that same Perfect Love, my precious, precious Jesus Christ.
Oh Lord, so many of this world know so little truth about you The Son of God the Father. How much You love them, each one. How you have a plan and purpose for their lives and want to lavish Your love on Your children. And who doesn't want to be loved. All of us seek it so and only truly find it in You. May You reveal Yourself to fearful hearts and set them free with Your love.
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