Beat Fear, Love More

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Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)

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How do you respond to the changing world around you? I don't know about you but when I'm dealing with change in the world, I revert to control. Every tiny bit of my life I can control - I do. This isn't healthy and not how God intended.

Everywhere we turn at the minute there seems to be uncontrollable things going on. This week we find ourselves at the start of a ever-deepening coronavirus crisis. Fear and panic have struck the nation and like me, some of us have responded by doing the only thing we know - control. If there is one object that symbolises this most, it is toilet roll. Whilst other nations race to get food, water, and other essentials, us Brits have bought up the nation's supply of toilet roll. I wonder today, how do you fight your battles?

Coronavirus is one of the greatest public health threats for generations. All around us the world is shutting down, encouraging people to go into isolation. Fear and panic reign supreme and show no signs of giving up anytime soon. What about other battles? Battles we have been through before, or ones we are currently fighting. We all have them; fear, doubt, self-loathing. What about illness or addiction? One way or another we all go about fighting our battles in our own way. For me it's control, for others it may be other unhealthy habits. But you see, when our response is us taking control, we are doomed to fail. Our Father, the one who created us in our Mothers' womb, the one who loves us immeasurably, the one who sent His one and only son to die on a cross - He is here. In the midst of it all, He is surrounding you with love. So I want to ask again: How do you fight your battles? Do you fight knowing He has it all? Are you always humble? Are you always gentle? Are you always patient? Do you always love?

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Be humble. Be gentle. Be patient. Tolerate one another in an atmosphere thick with love.

Ephesians 4:2 (VOICE)

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Do you "tolerate one another in an atmosphere thick with love"? Whilst the world is going into isolation, full of fear, panic and dread, it is our responsibility as Christians to take the love surrounding us and sharing it with everyone. Showing each other, regardless of race, age, gender, or any other barrier - absolute love. All of us have our own battles going on. All of us are facing the prospect of coronavirus, but together we can and will be more. Showing humility, gentleness, patience and who knows? In the little moments, amongst the chaos and the panic, God may shine through. So, how do we beat fear? Love.

This week on the street, be mindful of this. Show love and through it all, aspire to be more like Him.

Dear Lord,

The days ahead are going to be tough for many people.

I pray that you will give us the strength to continue to fight with humility, gentleness, and patience - living a life of authentic love.

When the hard times come help me to continue to fight the battle knowing you, your spirit, and your unending, absolute love holds me firm.

In this time of panic and fear, reaffirm in me a peace and hope which gives me the strength to carry on.

The world we live in is scary with or without coronavirus but I just pray that through the chaos your love will break through and move among us in ways we can only imagine.

Thank you for all you have done in my life so far, and for all the things still to come.

Amen

It may look like I'm surrounded But I'm surrounded by You It may look like I'm surrounded But I'm surrounded by You

This is how I fight my battles This is how I fight my battles