This Changes Everything.

Fear must leave me.

If you've followed my blog, you will have read about this gripping fear that has hung around me since about Thanksgiving time last year. It is a fear death, a fear of judgement, a fear of not having faith strong enough to endure persecution.

But this morning I read Romans 8:15:
"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father'."

Well, this changes everything. I have not received a spirit that puts me in chains to fear, but a Spirit that allows me, enables me, persuades me to call to the Lord, "Abba. Daddy." This is the Spirit of adoption. It is the Thing in me saying, "Yes, I belong to Him."

I read the Chronicles of Narnia over Spring Break. When Lewis depicts the Judgement Seat, all the animals come before Aslan and have to look Him in the eye. Some see there peace and belonging and move to His right, some hate and abhor the sight of Him and they go the left. When I stand before the Father...I mean, I think I'll really belong. I don't think I have a choice but to belong to Him. He's home to me. And that's the Spirit of adoption that "bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (verse 16).

How wonderfully freeing! How...home.