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     There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:18-19

     Dear heavenly Father, I begin today with a desire to live much less of a driven life, and much more of a called life. In essence, I want to live with less fear and more freedom, less frenzy and more faith, with fewer obsessions and with much more adoration of you, the God of all peace.

     As I get older, I just don’t have as much energy (or man-pleasing need) to juggle as many balls or spin as many plates as I used to. This is simultaneously a humbling thing and a good thing. For if greater grace comes to the humble, then accepting my limitations is essential for my liberation. Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!

     It’s not difficult to see that my drivenness and busyness are rooted in fear—the fear of not being enough and having enough; the fear of losing face and losing control; the fear of missing the mark and missing out; the fear of being replaced and not being remembered—all targets for the liberating power of grace.

     Come, Lord Jesus, come. Your perfect love alone can free me from my default mode of performance-ism and perfectionism. Drive out my fears by a greater experience of the power of the gospel. You lived a life of perfect obedience for us as the second Adam—fulfilling everything God requires of me. You died a death of perfect love for us as the Lamb of God—exhausting God’s judgment against my sin. Your resurrection on the 3rd day is the guarantee that one Day I will be as lovely as you and as loving as you. Hallelujah, many times over.

     Indeed, one Day I will be made perfect in love, all because of you, Lord Jesus; for perfection can only be found in you. I love you because you first loved me and continue to love me. May your perfect love continue to drive all pernicious fear and performance-ism from my life. So very Amen I pray, in your glorious and grace-full name.

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