The spirit of adoption

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out 'Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:14-15 NASB)

I'm still at Writing Conference. The last few days have been a whirlwind. In case you're wondering, the day starts with worship at 9 am, then classes until lunch, then more classes until the late afternoon, when there's a panel discussion that ends just in time for dinner. After the evening meal, there are "night owl" sessions. Meetings with agents, editors, and mentors are sandwiched in between all the classes and meals. 

It's been late when I've finally headed to my room, and even later when I've finally settled down after the excitement of the day. My head has been in a whirl, and so has my heart. 

After the last nine months of 12-14 hour days spent poring over my computer, writing up a storm, editing until I wept, and agonizing over just the right word, I'm finally pitching my story while trying to fine tune it. It's been a solitary life these last months, and the bustle and crowd this week have been a shock. 

Even more shocking has been this business of pitching my story in two sentences. Thirty seconds to tell what has taken most of a year to write. As a person of many words, the restriction of words frightens me. Pitching to people who could impact my future terrifies me.

When I read this passage, however, I'm reminded once again that there is no need to fear. As a daughter of God, I have not been given a spirit of fear, which enslaves me. The logical thing, the way of the world, might be to have, instead of fear, a spirit of courage, but that's not what God gives us. 

Are you ready for this? 

We don't need courage because we have been given a spirit of adoption.

That's counterintuitive to me. I want courage as I head to these meetings. I want to be bold and brave and strong, but courage and bravery and strength are a distant second to the great gift God has given me.

The spirit of adoption, as a child crying out Abba Father, changes everything.

The one in charge of my life and my future is not an agent or an editor. The one in charge of my life is God Himself, and He's my Daddy. He has a plan and it's good. Because God is my Father, I can count on Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope." 

Our Father has a plan, and it is good.

There's no need to be afraid, because I want God's plan more than I want my own. The search is not for just any agent. The search is for the agent God wants for me, for God's plan, and that changes everything.

The truth that stuns me is that God's plan is not just for the big things like agents and editors and publishing companies. God's plan is epic in its expanse. Eternal in its duration. He is our life and breath. There is no need He's overlooked, no search He cannot solve. 

If you are searching for answers, turn to the One who is All-Knowing. Cry out to Abba Father, who doesn't give us fear. He gives us adoption, the most incredible gift of all.

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Father, Thank you that you have a plan for us and it is good. Help us to walk as children of the King and follow Your path for our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.

How to stop being afaid

"I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! (Luke 12:4-5 NASB)

Jesus knew His disciples would face persecution. He knew they would live under the constant threat of death. He knew that some of them would die horrific deaths because of their faith in Him.  He knew what they would face, and He told them, so they wouldn't be surprised. I love that about Him. 

God knows everything we will face and nothing takes Him by surprise. Often, He gives us a heads-up about what is coming, so we won't be surprised, either. I love that about Him, too. The "uneasy feeling" of trouble coming? That's not a sixth sense.  It's God, preparing us for what's ahead.

He knows about the terrible diagnosis we will hear when the tests come back. He knows about the loved one who goes astray, the husband who leaves, the wife who has an affair, the lost job, the financial crisis. He knows.

What is even more precious to me is that He knows about our fear. He knows that the thought of a trial is often worse than the trial itself. I look back on some of the hardest times of my life. At the beginning, I was scared out of my mind. Looking back now, I see those times as some of the most precious of my life. Why? Because I didn't go it alone. God was with me every step of the way through. My fear was pointless, a wasted exercise in futility.

"Fear not" is angel talk. That's what they always say to us when they come. I wish we could grasp "fear not" and hold on to it. We don't have to be afraid, because we are not going it alone. 

 Fear not is God-talk, too. "Don't be afraid," Jesus was saying. Even if someone threatens to kill you, even if they do kill you, I've got this, He told his disciples. Being killed is not the worst thing that could happen. Going to hell is the worst thing. Everything else pales in comparison.

It's time we got our fear straight. We are full of so many fears. We fear rejection, failure, loss, disease, pain, suffering, death. We fear, so we live our lives trying to avoid the very thing we fear. 

I used to do that. Finally, I got it. When Jesus said "don't be afraid," He meant it. I don't have to be afraid.  I can choose something different. I can choose fearlessness. 

So I did.

I stopped being afraid. 

I'm not perfect at it. I still struggle with it. But mostly, I'm done with it. 

Experience has taught me that there is nothing that will ever come my way that God cannot handle. He's got this life of mine. Even when I mess up, He's got it.

I am in expert hands, and you can be, too.

Make a choice. Change your life. Give your fear away to the One who abolishes fear and be done with fear. You will love how knowing without a doubt that God is in control of your life opens up your possibilities. Nothing is too hard for Him, so nothing is too hard for you.

It is life-changing.

Why not be done with fear? How? Give your fear to God and embrace what He gives instead.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; 

but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

     (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV)

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God of all power, help me to be done with fear today. Replace my fear with You power, Your love, and a sound mind that comes only from You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.