"You did not receive a spirit of slavery leading you back into fear, but a spirit of adoption" (Rm 8:15). Satan, however, tries to make us lifelong slaves through the fear of death (Heb 2:15). In this battle against fear, we can claim Jesus' victory by accepting the grace to:
Jesus commands us: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and can do no more" (Lk 12:4). He adds: "Fear nothing" (Lk 12:7). In the Scriptures, God commands us 365 times: "Do not fear." Because the Lord always graces us to obey His commands, we constantly have the grace to be free from the fear of man. Jesus says: "Do not live in fear, little flock. It has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom" (Lk 12:32). In Christ, you are fearless.
| PRAYER: | Father, send me the Spirit of courage (see 2 Tm 1:7) to face the fears in my life. |
| PROMISE: | "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you just; exult, all you upright of heart." –Ps 32:11 |
| PRAISE: | St. Paul of the Cross was a missionary to Italy for fifty years. Particularly devoted to the Passion of Christ, he especially ministered to the sick, the dying, the lapsed, and the sinner needing reconciliation. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College