Fearless

Do you guys want a preview of my youth group lesson?

It goes with the stuff God has been working on in me.    ;)

Luke 1:30

Gabriel, an angel, shows up and greats Mary, and that kinda freaks her out. (Can you blame her?)

And he says, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in you womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus."

Way to drop a bombshell on her.

And there was SO MUCH to this bombshell. She could have lost her life if Joseph (before he was visited by an angel, too) had made a big deal about her being pregnant.

If anyone should be allowed to feel overwhelmed, it's Mary.

I think that's why Gabriel said, "Don't be afraid, Mary," before he said anything else. He needed to tell her, that despite this bombshell, she didn't need to fear for the future because it was in God's hands.

In our lives today, there is SO MUCH to fear. Why, any sensible person would be afraid to step out of their doors in the morning, least something awful happen to them. And we are taught to fear from the time we are little children.

Fear finds us, grabs on, and sinks it's claws in deep. It changes, and grows. It takes on different forms the older we get, but it never fades. Not on it's own.

That's where God comes into play.

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."  2 Timothy 1:2

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

We were never meant to be plagued by fear. God never gave that spirit to us. We are supposed to have power, love, and self-control.

Unfortunately, until Jesus comes back, there will always be the spirit of fear in this world. Tribulation, life-changing bombshells, and one thing on top of another. But God has overcome this world. So take heart! Stop letting fear rule your life! NO MORE!

It's time we all took that vow: NO MORE FEAR! WE WILL BE FEARLESS FROM THIS DAY FORTH!

---Joy