July 19

"Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.  After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.  Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:22-31)

Peter felt scared. Peter was not a person imprisoned  in fears. But, for a while he was afraid.
These are two things we need to discern: to feel afraid and to have fears.
To feel afraid is inevitable. But to have fears is optional.
When you have fears you may become anxious, stressed, tired or lose sleep.
You may have heart or stomach problems. And with these symptoms, you can begin to self-medicate with caffeine, you can eat more or eat less, you can abuse on energy drinks, alcohol, drugs, start gambling, you can be slaved by sex, or anything that brings you a momentary comfort.
If you have fears, probably it´s because you doubt that God is with you, holding your hand.

It´s is possible to be a disciple and to be afraid. Indeed, since the first apostles we find this. Everything depends on your intimacy with God. Let's see in Acts 19: 1-2:

"While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

The higher your intimacy with God, the greater your assurance that He is with you.

The phrase "do not fear" happens  several times in the Bible. Check these examples:

• Genesis 26: 24 - God speaks to Isaac
• Isaiah 41:10,13 - God speaks to Israel
• Jeremiah 1:8 - When God calls the prophet
• Luke 1:30 
• Revelation 2:10

Please do stop and reflect on your actions and reactions before circumstances. 

Be honest, you have had or have been afraid?

"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (I John 4:15-18)

Fear prevents you from being who you should be.

So we, believers, are forbidden to be afraid. We can feel afraid! (This is temporary…) But we can´t be fearful people!  

What are the main  reasons that make us afraid:

1. We do not believe in the Sovereignty of God

The fear in our lives is not always rational. Most often, the fear is based on what may or may not happen. It is God who is sovereign, not you. Stop fearing what you do not know and start to trust that He knows everything.

2. We create our own vision instead of pursuing the Vision of God

When we become paralyzed by fear of the future, we're basically seeing the future without God. We say something like: "I see the future. God is not in it. God will not be there for me. God will not help me." But this is the opposite of God's own words. Check in Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD; thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. "

3. Often we behave as mistaken future tellers

Being a false prophet is to predict the future incorrectly. The fear in our lives can transform us into false prophets, foretelling things that maybe not - probably not - will happen. This often affects not only ourselves, but other people in our lives whom we influence. Instead of speculating about an unknown future, we must rest in Jesus' words in Luke 12.22-31:

4. We follow False Gospels

When we are afraid, we denounce the confidence and comfort that we have in things rather than in Jesus. We try to control our lives. We grab money. We move away from communion. We rebel against authorities. We do all these things to live in a vision of paradise before the resurrection, created in our own imagination.  This is a false gospel.

And how can we solve the fears?

1. Do not repress your fears: talk to Jesus about these feelings. Do not try to control your life!   Think about the loving care of God and try to rest. Psalm 37:5

2. Break the fear: fear rules over you only if you let Jesus out of your life. Bring light to your life. (John 12:46). Remember that God is present to help us to deal with any situation. Even His yoke is smooth. (Mt 11:30: He occupies one of the places under the yoke and walk with us. So the burden is light.) Be assured that you will not be tested beyond your strength. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

3. Keep in mind that there is power in the name of Jesus: Philippians 2:9-10 .

4. Rest in the Lord, in the certainty of His care. Romans 8:31-39

By Ana.