Formed by Fear, Made Perfect in Love

Many things in life can skew our perception toward the negative. We can become downcast or even fearful of anything we experience negatively, believing it is directly related to something we’ve done wrong or because we are being punished and ‘getting what we deserve’.

This was my story, believing shame that was enacted or spoken over me, rather than learning and understanding the deep pool of love that God holds for me and know that He never sees me in the negative – as shameful, embarrassing, or even wrong.

I began to tiptoe through life, trying not to mark the forest floor with my footprints because I didn’t want to disturb the fairies and wake up the bad mojo. I’m saying this tongue in cheek but to make a point. We can somehow form our thinking in this way when we don’t understand that God would not have us walk in that fear or shame of being. Our perspectives can indeed become tainted with superstitions that surround us, even without recognising it.

There is no power that can rule our minds if we are surrendered to the love of God.

1 John 4:18 (NIV)

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

When we receive God's perfect love we are formed and shaped by it; our attitudes and thinking can change. It needs to. We teach ourselves to think the way God wants us to because of the way He truly sees us.

How does He see us? With compassion. With mercy. With delight. With the potential of all that He’s created us to be. With forgiveness. With tenderness. With protectiveness and pure love.

How we recognise that is by learning bible scripture that speaks to fear, and God’s tender mercies and love. Christ Himself is the story of God’s love – giving His life so that we can have freedom from shame and fear or anything else that builds a stronghold in our lives and dictates our perceptions and behaviour. Christ frees us from the judgment of any sin, by us or towards us.

1 John 4:18 (AMP)

There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].

We can change from being formed by fear to being made perfect in love when we understand we do not carry shame in front of God. He washes that off us and places His garment of perfect love over us, casting out all fear and condemnation. There is nothing we’ve done or that has been done to us that He will allow to stick to us, if we give it to Him. There is nothing we’ve done that He won’t forgive. He wants us to see ourselves as He does. Free from shame. Free from ridicule and abuse. Free from pointing fingers. Free from lying tongues. Free from all judgment. He delights in us.

Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB)

The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior [who saves]. He will rejoice over you with joy, He will renew you in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

If you want to know more about what the bible says about a topic, look up words in the back index of the bible. It will give you all the scriptures about that word. Make a study from it, learn it, absorb it and let it transform you.

Another way to study the bible is to follow the S.O.A.P. method. This makes the bible come alive and will help you learn how it applies to you.

Isaiah 55:11 (NLT)

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.