What are you afraid of?

Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good. Romans 12:21

Have you noticed lately what a mess our country is in?

Now shift your focus from our country as a whole to your state, your city, your community, your kid’s school, your neighborhood, your home. You.

You. Me. Let’s start there.

Are you in a mess? Are you confident in who you are in Christ Jesus? Do you walk out the door every day ready to face the evil out there?

For many of us, the answer is a resounding “No.” We are afraid to take who we are in Christ out the door with us to work or school or to the grocery store.

Perhaps you don’t think of it that way, but try imagining yourself telling your neighbor about how victorious Christ has been in your life lately. Feel confident? Empowered?

If not, maybe you are allowing yourself to be overcome by evil, instead of overcoming evil with good.

Are you being defeated by evil? Seriously, does it have you bound up in fear? Of what? What are you most afraid of?

Name it to yourself right now.

Now step out of your own skin for a minute and look at that fear.

Is it rational? Do you truly have control over whatever it is that you fear?

Unless it’s something small like being afraid of cavities because you don’t brush your teeth, you have no control.

But Someone does. Jesus Christ.

Now listen to what He says about the seventy-two followers He sent out in His Name:

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.” Luke 10

Realize that you are strong in Christ. You have nothing to fear. No, really.

Any fear you experience is purely of your own making. Because God is victorious over evil.

Sin does happen and causes true pain – we all understand that quite well. And one day he will overcome evil for all eternity, and in so doing, abolish all pain. But pain doesn’t bring fear. You do that to yourself.

If you follow Christ – you are in Him, and He is in you.

In other words, those of us who know Christ has saved us have all we need to stand and be what God has made us to be.

We need nothing more. Do what God says to do. Evil will be defeated.

“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” – Thomas Jefferson

We are in the state we are in because we (good men) have cowered in fear. NO MORE. Stand up.

Stop being afraid of everything. Stop being defeated.

End it now, and live the life you’re called to live.