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Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

1 John 4:18

March 23, 2024

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear…”

— 1 John 4:18


How many people are prevented from ever succeeding because they allow past failures to short-circuit their faith in the Lord? They forget what God can do with us when we let Him.


Questions put to me sometimes are very amusing. One young man recently said to me, “Oh Dr. Kennedy, I so admire your intellect. You graduated from graduate school summa cum laude.” That’s not the way it was always. Before I was a Christian, I went to college for two and a half years before I quit. In the last course I took, I received an F—F for failure.


“Oh, you speak so easily. You are so articulate.” I remember when I stood up and could not get out three sentences in a row. I sat down in great humiliation.


“Oh, you are such a good teacher.” I can still feel the pressure on my back when the first time I taught a class. Someone had to physically push me into the room to teach my first students. I was paralyzed with fear.


But I learned something. I learned that God can use me when I concentrate on the power He gives me. His perfect love casts out our fear. Instead of focusing on your fears and your past failures, realize that God can use even those failures for His glory. He can make you a new person and remove those doubts and fears.


God of love, cast out my fears today, and give me strength for today to go forth in Your power and do the things You have set before me. Let Your love so fill my heart, mind, and soul that there is no room for fear…


BY GOD’S STRENGTH AND IN HIS LOVE, OUR FEARS ARE CONQUERED.

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