I feel like I may have shrunk away or rejected the faith. It's always on my mind. It was a point in my life when I was so afraid of God and of eternal punishment that I shrunk away from faith. I can remember (only recently; I feel like I'm coming out of a fog) saying to myself in my inner dialogue that I rejected Christ because my fear was so intense. It wasn't the kind of fear we are told to have. It was the same fear demons must have, and I don't know why I was forced to endure it.
Please help. It was a point of weakness and I was exhausted battling fear in my mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:18 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
- You are being
SANCTIFIED. Praise the Lord!
Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that
God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
-
REJOICE!
Luke 10
(NIV)
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
22 All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and
no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
24 For I tell you that
many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
- You have been
SEALED and
INDWELT by the Holy Spirit!
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...
Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit...
- Be encouraged!
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things
John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
