CAGE

When I look back on my own life I see wrong choices I've made because I was afraid -- opportunities lost because I was afraid to seize them -- moments I was paralyzed fear.

I don't think any of that is what I'm known for and yet, inside the deepest part of me over and over I've found fear grabbing me by the throat and throwing me in prison, making me smaller and smaller instead of bigger and bigger.

And even inside my own cage of inadequacy and fear Jesus speaks:  "Even the hairs of your head are numbered.  Fear not, for you are of more value than many sparrows."  (Matthew 10:30, 31)

You won't find freedom from your cage until you find your value in God.  All the courage in the world won't set you free from fear.  Only love can do that.

'There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  Whoever fears has not been perfected in love."  (I John 4:18)

So wherever there's love, there's no fear.  Am I reading that right?  I think I am.  And wherever there's fear there's a place God hasn't been given control yet, because perfect love casts out fear.  It drives it out.  It chases it away.  It doesn't politely escort it to the door.  It kicks its butt.

You already know how powerful fear is.  But it's powerless against love.

You won't find freedom from fear until you find your value in God.

Every other master will use your fear against you -- to control you and take over your life.  But when you give God your fears -- when you fear Him and only Him -- when what He says is all that matters -- you don't need to be afraid of rejection or inadequacy or the dark or other people or cages or anything.

When you direct your fears to God, He directs all His love toward you and there's nowhere for fear to live anymore -- you can open the door of your cage.

'Say to those who have an anxious heart, 'Be strong; fear not!  Your God will come and save you.'"  (Isaiah 35:4)

And be blessed.