We all know the quote: "Greater is He Who is in you
than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). But how often do we meditate upon it?
If and when we do -- if we did enough -- there'd be far less fear in our lives.
It is an amazing fact: each one of us has more power inside -- individually -- than the prince of this world who looks so very, very forceful, who can inspire wars and holocausts, who can cause famines and plagues, who can make a person rich or famous: an overnight "success."
A billion dollars? That can be done -- by that prince. A bevy of consorts? A mansion? A Bentley?
If his terms are met: no problem. That's power.
And yet greater than such a dark spirit -- greater than the spirit who promised Jesus all the kingdoms of this world -- is what is inside you when you have Jesus, when you have taken Him to heart, which means inside your heart.
When He is, we are "lion-hearted," instead of fearful of the lion who prowls about the world. We have holy boldness. Anxiety finds no roost. We know our needs will be tended -- no matter how dismal or hopeless or dark a quandary currently seems.
Conversely, when we don't have Him in us, to His fullness, the prince of this world becomes the roaring lion.
Fearlessness and truth go hand in hand. Deception is what causes disquietude. It places us in bondage. It makes us slaves to the deceiver.
Greater is He Who is in you. That means God. If Jesus was, and is, astoundingly powerful, remember that, as He Himself said (John 14), "the Father is greater than I."
God created the universe.
Meditate also on Philippians 4:6-9: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things."
It is the truth that frees us. Never forget it. There is no fear when we know the Truth, and if we know the Truth we know Jesus (they are synonyms). Jesus was meek, not weak. And remember as a website says, "In the Bible, the word we translate as meek is the same word they used to describe war-horses. The Greek word is praus, which loosely translated means 'power under control.' This word was used to describe a horse that was trained to obey instantly and absolutely, no matter how brutal the battle."
For the Lord, moving a mountain is like your shooing away a particle of dust (or even something much smaller).
Does that mean with simple belief we are free and clear? Not exactly. Life on earth is a trial, a struggle. "The ruler of the world is coming," said Jesus before He ascended. We have to put up with the onslaughts and we have to endure the temptations of the ruler of this world. "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God," says Acts 14.
But as Jesus also said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.'"
And He does return -- when we empower what is inside of us by moving with faith in God instead of fear, which is faith in the devil.
[resources: A Life of Blessings and Secret to Happiness; also: Michael Brown retreat, New Mexico]
