9/14 Verse of the day! 1 John 4:18

#verseoftheday #biblestudy #dailydevotional #bible #biblestudy #JesusChrist “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.” (1 John 4:18 NIV) The New Living Translation says, “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” The Amplified Bible says, “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].” I’m going to be completely honest. This morning I broke down crying while doing my devotional for today’s verse. I had a complete revelation and I couldn’t do anything but cry tears of joy. You see, each morning before beginning my devotional and Bible study, I ask God to let my mind and heart be open to new understanding and allow me to connect to Him in new ways in order to gain a deeper relationship with Him each day. And today, He did just that, in a way that I hadn’t experienced Him before. Today’s verse is all about love. God’s love. We think about all the love He gives and shows us everyday. We think about how He’s constantly and consistently showering us with grace and mercy. We describe His love by explaining how He gave His only Son for us. We describe His love by remembering His character as being compassionate, gracious, merciful, gentle and forgiving. There are so many descriptive words to explain God’s love. So many ways how He shows every day that He is there for us. He’s love is infinite. His love is unmeasurable. His love is unchanging. His love is unending. We do not deserve it and we cannot earn it. Not because we aren’t worthy, but because the love of God is God Himself. This blew my mind when I read it. We can’t earn God’s love, He freely gives it to us because His love is He, Himself. He gives Himself to us everyday. Not part of Himself, but His whole self. He is THE compassion. He is THE mercy. He is THE grace. He is THE gift. We don’t need anything, but HIM. He is The Great I AM. He is and will be everything for us in any moment we need Him to be. So in any area where fear, doubt, worry, anxiety, hatred, jealousy, anger, or any other similar emotions are present, God is not. There is an absence of God when these things are in us because today’s verse tells us that God’s love is perfect. His perfect love drives out fear. It drives out worry. It drives out anger and malice. Each day as we continue on our walk with God, we experience Him, His love, more and more, allowing His power, The Holy Spirit to change us and grow us. As the fruits of the spirit work in us, we become closer to His love as He drives out all of worries and fears. Trusting in God, trusting in His promises, is how we experience His perfect love. If there is an area of your life where fear is present, give it to God. Trust in him. Have faith. Faith that no matter what issues arise, God, the same God that brought you through your last storm is the same God that will bring you through this one. He has never forsaken you and He never will. Faith is having hope in things unseen. You can’t physically see Him, but can you feel Him. He is there. He is always there and will always be there. He is the only constant in a world full of uncertainty. He is waiting and wanting to give Himself to you. To make Himself readily available whenever and wherever you need Him. All you have to do is call on Him. Let Him in, lean on Him and trust Him. So, today, reflect on those areas where God isn’t present in your life. Ask Him to come in and drive out all those things that don't align with His character. Ask Him to give you the heart, mind and courage to give Him all the power over your life and situations. Ask and you shall receive. God’s love, God Himself is giving you every part of Him that you need. Take it, abound in it and never let it go because God’s love will stand the test of time