So this week I was given the incredible opportunity to take my son (Vaughn) to Montreal so for us to watch our first Canadiens game together. This was a great time and despite the score it was a wonderful game. Vaughn was a lot of fun and I was so blessed to have another opportunity to invest in my little man and hopefully place more nuggets of God and how a man of God is suppose to act and treat people in his life. This is truly a high calling and I am blessed to be able to have this calling in his life.
On to the point. While we watched the game Montreal was down by two goals at one point, but incredibly came back to tie the game in the third. In the last few moments of the game the intensity level was at a high and all in the stadium were on the edge of their seat. As each team skated back and forth and had many different scoring chances Vaughn would bury his head in my chest and say, "I can't look!!! I'm so scared!!!" At this point I said to him that this was not scary, but it was awesome. He continued to act this way. I put my hand on his chest and his heart was pounding so hard I could feel it pumping through his sweater very hard. So being a nomination for the "Father of the Year" award I told him that being eaten by a bear is something that is scary and a hockey game is definitely not. As I explained the difference between a legitimate thing to be afraid of and what we were watching this thought dawned on me, "How often have I done this in my walk with God?"
In life how many times have I said, "God, I can't look!!! I am too scared!!!" Simply put, what is there that I cannot face with God's help? What do I need to fear when the creator of the universe is on my side? Knowing in my head that it is not my strength that I run in and God is greater than the circumstance I am going through somehow often falls short when I don't apply it and walk it out.
So the question isn't "What am I facing today that I can't handle?" The question is "What am I facing today that God can't handle?" The answer to these two questions differs drastically and that is awesome!!! The answer to the second question opens the door to freedom, from fear and all that it wants to do to consume my mind, and take me out.
I looked at my son and said, "This is irrational" but I wonder how many times God looks at me and says, "Scottie, you know me and somehow you still live with fear. How can this be? This is irrational."
Scripture says that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but has given us a Spirit of power, of love and a sound mind." (paraphrased) "Perfect love casts out fear" and God is that perfect love. Real quick I want to think on what God HAS given us.
Spirit of Power - We have authority by God's Spirit. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is in us when we accept Him into our lives. If that isn't power and that doesn't give us authority to to walk victoriously in this life and it's struggles, then I don't I don't know what is and does. Simply put, there need not be such a thing as wimpy Christians. We are given power!!!
Spirit of Love - We just celebrated Valentine's day and I have to be honest. It was the best one I think I have had... ever. Now don't get we wrong, I was prepared to go it alone and be okay with that, but within the past two weeks God has blessed me with a gal who is simply put, amazing. As we spend time together we push each other toward Jesus and as we experience His perfect love it creates a deeper love for Him, His people and each other. If we are living in fear it is tough to love. It is tough to love the unlovable, those who we do not know, those who hurt us and those who do love us, but we are fearful of being hurt again. God says cast away that fear because I offer you a perfect love and I want you to live in that love giving that love without fear of anything.
Spirit of a Sound Mind - This is perhaps the most difficult aspect for me. It is so tough for me to shut of my always spinning, never quiet, constantly over thinking mind. As a thought pops in my head it is hard to not analyze it and pick it apart until it totally consumes my focus. As it consumes my focus it then in turn distracts my mind to an unhealthy level. If then allow it to get to this point it is likely that it affects my actions which often manifests itself in fear and doubt. But God says, "Because of the power/authority that I have given you, you can confront this lie, fear or whatever it is and command it to back off because I my desire for you is sound mind. (peace)" Don't get me wrong, peace isn't the absence of crisis, but the prescence of Jesus in your life. When crisis comes we have peace because of who Jesus is. Do we have peace or do we have fear?
So here's my challenge: Like my son was at the game, are we consumed and overwhelmed by the irrational fears in life or are we living in "power", in "love" and with a "sound mind"?
I am grateful that I/we do not serve some distant diety that says, "Work it out/hug it out/rationalize it out" but rather says, "I care and I am here." This is my peace and the way I want my life to be lead.
What say you?
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