Today’s Verse:
I am led by the Spirit
of God (Romans 8:14)
Now, in context:
So then, brothers, we
are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live
according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the
deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are
sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into
fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry,
“Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are
children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with
Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with
him. (Romans 8:12-17)
I think the only way NOT to live in fear and worry in
today’s world is to be led by the Spirit of God. I turn on the TV or the radio, and I am
bombarded with violence, disease, and fear.
I go to work receive training on how to deal with active shooters, how
to prevent, avoid, and deal with sexual harassment, and how to recognize and
report the signs of child abuse and neglect.
In any given month, I go through fire and earthquake drills and ensure
that we have all the necessary supplies for a prolonged evacuation in case of
an emergency. The biggest challenge I’ve
experienced lately is teaching my son how to stand up for himself and deal with
bullies. There are so many things I could choose to fear in today’s chaotic
world, but where would it get me?
Mentally and physically exhausted, most likely.
Renewing my mind in this context means not allowing the
concerns of the secular world (the flesh) to plant fear in my mind. Keeping my
heart set on higher pursuits and my mind on more worthy thoughts is essential
to drive out fear. At work, this means
finding joy in the laughter and innocence of the beautiful children I see every
day and sharing triumphs with the caregivers who love their students as if they
were their own children. At home, this
means reading and watching more uplifting media rather than fear based, praying
and studying God’s word, and giving of my time and energy to purposeful
activities (such as spending time with family in nature, volunteering to help
those less fortunate, gratitude journaling through this blog, and encouraging
my family by supporting and helping them navigate the challenges of this
life).
What does it mean for you? How do you drive out fear and
find purpose in your daily life?
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