The words 'fear not' appear in the Bible all the way from Genesis to Revelation. Why is that? Because God understands that fear is not only our biggest enemy but our constant companion, and He wants to help us overcome it. Our comfort zones constrain us, imprisoning us in a thought system of our own devising. They are patrolled by sentries - negative thoughts and unexamined fears - that keep us firmly behind bars. One of the fears that I am overcoming is riding my bike again. When I was a young man I was in a motorcycle accident that kept me off a bike until last year. But the good news is, because fears are feelings, the faulty ones can be removed by faith in God, and you can become free from them. I asked God to replace the fear I had with faith. Does this mean you can live totally free from fear? No, writer Michael Ignatieff says: 'Living fearlessly is not the same thing as never being afraid. It's good to be afraid occasionally. Fear is a great teacher. What's not good is living in fear, allowing fear to dictate your choices, allowing fear to define who you are. Living fearlessly means standing up to fear, taking its measure, refusing to let it shape and define your life. Living fearlessly means taking risks, taking gambles, not playing it safe. It means refusing to take 'no' for an answer when you are sure that the answer should have been 'yes'. It means refusing to settle for less than what you are due, what is yours by right, what is yours by the sweat of your labour and your effort.' And let's add - what God has promised and planned for you. You are loved!
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