Day 20 – Nothing to Fear – We Can Say Yes to God! – Julie Earl
Romans 8:15-39
Fear is the main hindrance when God asks us to do something – fear of messing up, fear of looking stupid, fear of being made fun of or persecuted, or fear of being inadequate for the task. When the Holy Spirit prompts us to share a specific word of love from His heart, pray with a stranger for healing or go on a mission trip, what does the devil throw in our faces to stop us? Fear. Romans 8:15-39 gives us eight reasons why we have nothing to fear:
#1: We are sons and daughters of the King! “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship….Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:15, 17). We have all the rights, privileges and power that Jesus had on the earth because we are co-heirs with Him. We can do what He did!
#2: Satan’s worst attacks are like a spit in the bucket compared to an ocean of God’s glory! “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). No matter what Satan and the world attack us with, those things are nothing compared to the awesomeness of the glory God has for us when we say yes to Him.
#3: “The Spirit helps us in our weakness” (Romans 8:26). “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). When we say yes to God’s promptings, we give God the opportunity to show off through us. We don’t rely on our talents, skills, wisdom, power and strength. We rely on His!
#4: God works all things for good! “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). No matter how scared you are about something God asks you to do, when you love Him and say yes to His plans for you, He’ll work each encounter for your good. You may experience ridicule or persecution, but in the end it will be for your ultimate good. You can trust Him implicitly!
#5: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). He’s really, really BIG! ‘Nuff said.
#6: God equips us for everything He asks us to do! “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). All means all! God will happily and graciously give us everything we need to do what He lovingly asks – courage, boldness, wisdom, words, power – everything!
#7: God loves us perfectly! “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35). Nothing! We are loved beyond comprehension, and everything God asks is because He loves us. How can we not be confident to say yes to our God who loves us perfectly and completely! “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives our fear” (1 John 4:18).
#8: “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). A conqueror wins the battle, but someone who is more than a conqueror takes home the riches. What riches will we get when we defeat the devil by saying no to fear and yes to God’s promptings? The joy of watching people be touched and transformed by God’s love; greater confidence in God’s ability to speak and our ability to hear; and a love for God and people like we’ve never known before!
You can say yes to God without fear because you have a loving, powerful, awesome God who takes really good care of you!
You can do it!
Julie Earl with Crazy About You Ministries (CAYM)
All Scripture taken from the New International Version 1984 Edition unless otherwise noted.