Since “there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18), it is essential for us to meditate on God’s perfect love for us to move forward in faith. In fact, faith and love go hand-in-hand in our defense against the enemy–in Galatians 5:6, we are told that the only thing that counts for anything is “faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love” (The Amplified Bible).
John, the disciple closest to Jesus during His time on Earth, provided a wonderful summary of the important relationship between love, obedience and faith. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith” (1 John 5:3-4, NKJV).
If fear has been a stronghold in your life or an obstacle to living a faith-filled spiritual life, I suggest using prayer and fasting to experience freedom. Try fasting from fear for 14 days. Tell yourself every day, “I refuse fear, I refuse fear, I refuse fear.”
When you find fear assaulting you again, look at it and say: “I refuse you. I choose not to have you. I will not have you.” Then replace that fearful thought with truth from God’s Word.
God has called us all to live a life of abundant faith and love. Though the enemy is determined to steal our provision, we need to remember Jesus’ great promise to us: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Abundant life—grown out of faith and love—is our inheritance as a follower of Jesus. Let’s live in it to the fullest!
John Paul Jackson is the founder of Streams Ministries International.
