Every day you arrange your life around your greatest fears—even if your greatest fears are not legitimate.
One of my children went through a phase when they were unwilling to go upstairs in our house unless they were accompanied by someone else. What was upstairs that was so scary? Nothing. It was all in their imagination. But for a while, we had to arrange our lives around that fear.
What if you are arranging your life around a fear that need not be feared? Most adults are not afraid to go upstairs, but we are afraid of being inadequate. We are afraid of being unworthy. We are afraid of enemies who threaten our way of life. The world around us doesn’t just supply these fears. The world also lists all the reasons why we should be afraid.
But when your greatest fear is God, something incredible happens. To fear God is to arrange your life around his presence and his promises. Because of Jesus, your iniquities and inadequacies have been clothed in righteousness. Because God is for you, no enemy can stand against you. Because of Christ’s resurrection, your Way, Truth, and Life can never be taken from you.
To fear God is to put to death every unhealthy fear. What unhealthy fear do you want him to put to death today?
“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
