I’ve been thinking so much about fear, and how it is a motivation that can drive us even when we don’t suspect it. The election tomorrow in the United States has many people worried and afraid about who will be the next President. There is fear all across social media and people worried how others will react after the election. We probably could name off a dozen people or more that are scared about the election, or about Covid-19. Sometimes I worry about people who are afraid; then I start getting stressed out about them which isn’t doing either of us any favors.
So, I pray because I know one thing! God didn’t create us to live in fear. He created us to enjoy life; to have an intimate relationship with Him where we can walk with Him side by side as best friends. When you’re with your best friend, fear just isn’t a relevant factor. Why is that? Because best friends offer just the right amount of comfort and peace and usually my talks with my best friends end up with one or both of us laughing.
Best friend
How far away are we… am I… from the best friendship we could.., I could ever want in my life? Sometimes, until the past couple of years.. my relationship with God would just go through cycles. Hot, then cold. Faith or fear. No matter what I did, it seemed like I could never unravel the secret to having a relationship that I craved my entire life. I think it was mostly because I was trying to have a relationship instead of having one.
💡 Lightbulb Moment!! 💡
See, that’s the thing. When you have a relationship with someone and you work so hard to have that relationship; your time is spent in acts and deeds; words. Those are not necessarily bad things – I’m sure I did a lot of good things over the course of a lifetime. I prayed hard too. Really hard.
Prayer time with my bestie
Prayer doesn’t have to be hard. Sometimes we go into battle…. and that’s a different type of prayer… but the prayer I am talking about is conversation and learning to listen. Learning to play and laugh, make jokes. God has an amazing sense of humor but I was so worried I would somehow wind up in hell that I didn’t take the time to enjoy God. He doesn’t need us to beg Him for anything…. He is waiting for us to recognize the authority we have as His Royal children and ask, declare and thank him in faith.
Relationship instead of fear
See we don’t need to stress so much about the election. When we start tuning in to our relationship with our BFF (God) and our prayer life we get so overwhelmed with ways to relate to our bestie- and fear doesn’t have a chance to come in between us and God.
But I’m scared
So emotion is what it is. When we are afraid and anxious we take it to God. Simply asking God to take it, we can in faith confide in God and let go of fear. Is it instantaneous? Sometimes, yes it is!! sometimes, we give it to God and then we spend time dwelling on what we just have to Him do we wrestle it back.
So then what do I do?
Start Meditating the right way-
Wait…. what???? Meditating?!!!!
If we choose to spend hours dwelling on negativity from the world – media, friends, politicians, news then we are choosing to meditate on things that are not what we are supposed to dwell on. Why is this so important? Because God created our minds to be powerful and there’s power in what and how we think. Think of all the articles about how powerful positive thinking is. It’s because it works. Not in a Pollyanna way… although that’s nice too. But a Biblical way of being positive is to follow scripture ….
Philippians 4: 8
New King James Version
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Digging Deeper: Additional Resources
New Life Alliance
Click to access Christian-Meditation-notes.pdf
Caroline Leaf
Prayer: God, thank you for reminding me that you like to have fun and enjoy me. Thank you For spending time with me every day, for listening to all of my problems, and for exchanging my fear for courage. Thank you for giving me peace every day so that I can get up every morning knowing I am in Your arms. Thank you for guiding us every day and all of our ups and downs, through elections, viruses, injustice, and an exhausting world. Thank you For showing me how to look at the world and others through your eyes of love. Thank you for filling my heart up with your love for others. Oh and God- thank you for teaching me how to meditate on the good things like your words and your promises for me instead of negativity. Amen 🙏🏼
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