Some people need medical, or psychological treatment to overcome fear.
Fear can be used as a strategy to gain advantage in sports, but it should not be used to gain advantage or to manipulate in more important areas of our lives. It is at those moments that the truth should reign ...though it should be presented with good bedside manner.
Fear should not be our approach to life in general, it is just wise to have a respectful fear of some things.
We should not fear our parents, though a certain fear of rebuke or consequences may be in order ...if not overdone.
We get insurance, not fearing something may happen, but in careful preparation in case it does.
Getting an immunization shot is viewing the precautionary measure as worth it.
A dental visit may not always be pleasant, but it can prevent further complications.
We may fear losing a loved one, a job, or our home. We may fear not being able to make ends meet ...which should center mostly on whether we can provide enough food and other necessities for our family to survive.
If I lived in another country, my fears may be more realistic and more numerous. Those living in Third World countries aren't usually privileged with worrying about global warming or a fluctuating variance on the thickness of the ozone layer. They don't concern themselves with whether a friend has a better hairstyle, or perhaps is wearing the same outfit ...or whether their golf score has not been up to par.
In our country we have a certain amount of confidence that we will maintain a certain level of stability that will allow us not to fear our survival. Yet, strangely enough, there are those who work to promote this fear.
I personally never felt comfortable with being in debt. Though I never allowed myself to get involved in drugs or organized crime either. I never had anyone demanding that I pay. I think there would be a certain measure of fear in that. But I also would never want to deal with anyone ...with any real measure of trust, who I didn't know. And there are those who I do know, to a certain degree, who I don't trust ...of course, I've worked in a prison, and that kind of broadens my scope of acquaintances.
I willingly allow myself to be vulnerable, at times, as we must risk at times ...or life becomes stagnant, and not as meaningful. But I never gamble at gaming tables, and I think it rather unhealthy if we allow our nation to borrow money from institutions or governments who are diametrical opposed to our own culture of beliefs and practices.
Yes, fear has been a manipulative tool within the campaign for the upcoming election for this 2012.
Matthew, Chapter 10, states, "Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known ..."
Yes, with politics, there is always much that is hid ...but there is also much which is known ...and the task at hand must be that we discern that which is fact, that which is fear-driven fiction, and those issues which deserve our utmost attention. Yes, we must put some of our emotion aside, and decide what is most important.
If we continue on with Matthew, Chapter 10, ...and yes, this is Jesus that Matthew is quoting, " ...but whosoever shall deny Me before man, him will I also deny before My Father which is in Heaven."
At the DNC, they claimed that the ratio was the same as it was with the angels led by Lucifer ...only a third going against God. It seemed more like half, but that doesn't matter ...I am not counting, but neither will I count on a party that is so divided within itself on something I consider most important .
Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil ...we also read this in the scriptures. The third attempt, or temptation by the devil was to show Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and he said to Jesus, "All these things will I give thee, if thou will fall down and worship me."
I heard of a salesman who claimed he was so good, he sold the same property to one person three times. Well, the devil was talking to Jesus, and would not attempt such foolishness, though all the temptations could be viewed as foolishness ...yet, the point is that the devil was offering the kingdoms to Jesus because the kingdoms were under the influence of the devil, he controlled them, and you could also say he owned them.
I follow sports to a certain extent ...and I've seen the highly competitiveness of the sports. Each team wants to beat the other team, and each player wants to best or overpower the one they are matched up against. We've heard the claim, "I own you!!" What does it mean to "own"?
Doesn't owning something, mean the right to possession? Why would the devil have the right to possess a nation or kingdom?
Well, kingdoms have rules ...and standards that guide them, and distinguish them from other nations. If God is not at the center of those practiced standards, then I guess it would be safe to say that ...well, it would really be unsafe to say. But anyone who can read this far, is intelligent and literate enough to figure it out for themselves ...I hope!!
Let me not neglect to say it ...the devil does not have the right, as long as we choose God to indwell us. Jesus stood for us, and died for us ...and we must stand for Him, as long as we live.
Let us not look at this as trivial ...and receive the kiss of death.
