Sunday 26 July 2009

What if..??

It really isn’t an exaggeration to say that we live in a fear-filled world. Just turn on the news and you’ll hear the latest attention-seeking, fear-inducing headline. Presently it’s swine flu, last month it was the economy, next month…??
There always seems to be something to fear, either inside us or around us, to the point that we can hardly imagine what it would be like to live a fear free life.

I recently made a profound discovery that I really should have made years ago. I was reading a book by Henri Nouwen when I came across the phrase: ‘Fearful questions never lead to love-filled answers; underneath every fearful question many other fearful questions are hidden.’ Wow – just think about that! A fear-filled question springs to mind – or rather, gets thrown at you by demonic forces (Ephesians 6v12). “What if…?” “How will I…?” There are endless questions like that that seek our attention, and foolishly, all too often we give our attention to try to answer those questions. And do we come up with peaceful answers? If left to our own logic & reasoning, no. Result? Fear. Henri Nouwen is right, underneath every fearful question there’s just other fearful questions lurking.

So what’s the answer? Don’t go there! Instead, take every such thought captive to Christ (2 Cor 10v5) because he does have peace-filled answers to every situation that we will ever face. He has promised! Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27.

As Christians, we are in Christ , that means that we have the opportunity to live every moment in a vital, living relationship with Him, and he is the Prince of Peace! So who would you rather fellowship with this week; your fears or Christ?
Your choice!

Goff