“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (1 John 4:18)
I have often turned this into a source of guilt rather than power. I struggle with fear, therefore my love is imperfect and inadequate. Such negative thinking does us no good and serves no purpose but to discourage us, and therefore is from the devil and should be cast out.
Rather than beating ourselves up for our inadequacies, lets focus on the truth that, by focusing on our love for God and cultivating a Christ-like love for one another, we can overcome the fear Satan uses to torment us and keep us from being all God created us to be.
Lord, we love because you first loved us. When we are afraid, remind us of your love for us, strengthen us in love for one another. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for your love. Thank you for the strength to walk in them and not in fear. Continue to empower us today to overcome the evil one’s attacks on our emotions as you mold and shape us back into your perfect image. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.