ManageYourEmotionsBook8.5x5.5_RevJULY.indd

from on high that a few words dropped here and there to individuals were the means of their immediate conversion. My words seemed to fasten like barbed arrows in the souls of men.They cut like a sword. They broke the heart like a hammer. Multitudes can attest to this.” 42 This power is available to all believers, not just ministers and leaders in the church.And it’s not something we can purchase or manufacture under our own strength. It comes as a gift from God, which is there for the taking.As Jesus said, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? (Luke 11:13). Love. The Greek word here is agape, which is love in its purist form, undefiled and unconditional. Such love is pictured in the following story about a simple peasant believer.This poor farmer had a weather vane on top of his barn on which were inscribed the words, “God is love.” One day a vile unbeliever came by for a visit and upon seeing the weather vane twisting in the wind he turned to the peasant and with a condescending smile on his face said, “You mean to say that your God is as changeable as the wind?” The peasant shook his head and replied, “No, what I mean to say is that no matter which way the wind blows, GOD IS LOVE!” 43 We learn more about such love in this verse, one which ad- dresses our subject at hand: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).When God’s unconditional love is allowed full influence over our souls, angst and apprehension lose their grip. Jesus illustrates this beautifully. Despite the constant danger He faced leading up to His ultimate death, I don’t believe He ever experienced fear.Why? Because a perfect connection of love existed between Him and the Father, one centered around complete trust. Most find it difficult to love in such a way; either they weren’t raised in such an environment or they’ve risked loving in the past and been burned. Nevertheless, it’s in short supply in our fallen world and desperately needed.

45