Freedom’s Fireworks for July—Part I
Tomorrow, we in the United States celebrate our Independence Day. Citizens of the U.S. observe our freedom from England when we declared our independence on July 4, 1776. Firecrackers, fireworks, and sparklers all simulate the war of independence. But physical freedom isn’t all there is. We can have emotional and spiritual freedom, too. Each Tuesday this month, we’ll focus on some aspect of emotional and spiritual freedom. #FreedomsFireworks4July #donnalhsmith #IndependenceDayJuly4
We can have freedom from fear. I once heard “fear” put this way: False Evidence Appearing Real. What a great acrostic.
So many of us live in fear of what will happen to us. Are we secure in our jobs? Our homes? Our families? There are terrorist threats all around. Radical people of another faith want to wipe us off the planet. They’re not afraid to die — and take many people with them.
We watch the news and get discouraged about all the crime, all the violence. There are so many problems in the world today. Infectious diseases, plagues, cancers, AIDS, and autoimmune disorders are threats to our health.
Drugs, alcohol, chemicals, and pollution also threaten us. Our poor choices land us in some hot water with the law — or in the hospital.
With so much to deal with, our adrenal systems and emotional health take a beating daily.
People develop ADHD, PTSD, schizophrenia, and bi-polar depression in growing numbers.
Why? And how can we possibly live and not be in fear?
We can be free of irrational or even rational fears. Why watch the news all the time? Media outlets slant their delivery based on their political bent. I stopped watching the news several years ago, except on occasion. Whenever I get on the Internet, I see the headlines. That’s all I need. It helps keep me peaceful.
Choosing to limit exposure to the pressures of the world helps keep me in peace. But I also am a Christian, and I believe that God, in his omnipotence, knows exactly what is going on in the world. He’s not up in heaven wringing his hands over a bomb exploding or a mass shooting. He grieves, because he knew it would happen. Why didn’t he stop it? The free will of the people involved. They chose, and they didn’t ask God’s opinion.
I keep at peace because I know God has everything under his control. Nothing escapes his notice. The Bible says, in Psalm 139:2, “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.”
Verse 7 says, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?”
Is God greater than your fear? Because you can make him greater in your life than what you’re afraid of.
II Timothy 1:7 says, “…for God gave us not a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control.” ESV The NLT says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power love, and self-discipline.” The New King James version says, “sound mind” instead of self-discipline or self-control.
What scares you? Leave a comment and let me know. FreedomsFireworks4July #donnalhsmith #IndependenceDayJuly4
Donna L.H. Smith 