Yesterday, I was talking to a co-worker about her sister, and how she was unwilling to change. She decided to keep making the same choices she always made. I realized at that moment just how grateful I truly was for God’s persistence in helping me make the right choices when it comes to fear.
Romans 6:16 says this: “Don’t you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master?”
Whatever you choose to obey in your life will become your master. If you choose to listen to fear and obey its demands, you will become its master. Fear says things like “Don’t go over there. You could get hurt.” And, if choose to not go over there, then fear is your master. “Don’t drive to work today. You could be in an accident.” If you avoid driving, then fear is your master.
I have made this promise to myself: if fear tells me not to do something, then I do it. Conversely, if fear tells me to do something, then I don’t do it. I purposefully and methodically do the opposite of what fear is telling me. I have to. If not, fear will become my master.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There is rational fear and irrational fear. Rational fear is good. “Slow down as you get close to the turn.” That’s a good fear. That’s a God fear. Step carefully when walking through brush in south Texas. There are snakes. These are good thoughts, helpful thoughts, rational thoughts.
But, irrational fears are those areas in our thought process that can start to control us, make us do things we don’t want to do. Irrational fear is like a boss who never backs off his employee–pushing, driving, goading, pressuring–until total fear sets in.
Today, I challenge you–what is fear demanding in your life? And, are you giving in? Are you subjecting yourself to the demands of irrational fear? If so, stop. Just don’t give in any more.
With Christ in your life, you have the power to choose. The same power the raised Jesus from the dead lives inside of you (Ephesians 1:19-20). Fear no longer has power of you. You belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God (1 Corinthians 3).
Be free!
