The 24-hour national pep rally for Tiger Woods was still going strong Monday evening when word came from Paris of a fire that was engulfing Notre Dame Cathedral. Woods’ Presidential Medal of Freedom worthy accomplishment of keeping a little white ball out of a creek was quickly and rightfully replaced by a different story, a bigger story, an international story, the story of the loss of a structure that was both an architectural marvel and a monument to faith.

Here’s a link to the editorial at the Southern Illinoisan.

You Don’t Have to Live in Fear
by Rick Warren

“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them . . . There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:16, 18 NIV).

Setbacks will come your way. You can’t avoid them. You may lose a job, a relationship, or your health. And when you do, you start to fear.

But you don’t have to stay afraid. Here are two important steps you need to take to break free from fear:
Remember how much God loves you. He will never stop loving you. He won’t love you any more or any less. His love is unconditional and eternal. The Bible says, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them . . . There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:16, 18 NIV).
When you invite God into the front door of your life, fear goes out the back door. Love and fear can’t stay together. In real love, there is no fear.
God is perfect love, and he drives out all fear. The more you get to know God, the less you’ll be afraid.
Remember that God’s plan is good. God doesn’t have bad plans for you. That doesn’t mean nothing bad will happen to you. But the Bible tells us in Romans 8:28, “We know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans” (TLB).

The Bible says “all that happens” fits into God’s good plan—not just the good stuff. He can and will bring good out of anything.

When Jesus died on the cross, God brought tremendous good out of the bad. Anyone can bring good out of good. God specializes in bringing good out of bad.
Both of those truths revolve around this one: You must choose faith over fear. When you’re experiencing a setback, trusting that God loves you and has a plan for you isn’t easy, but it’s the only path forward.
If you’re tired of being in prison and you want to walk through the door to freedom, you can pray a simple prayer of belief today. Just say, “Lord, I bring you the things that have imprisoned me, things I’ve been ashamed of, regrets, resentments, and worries. I don’t want to live that way anymore. I want to live a life of freedom. Today, I want to walk through the door of freedom—your Son, Jesus Christ. As much as I know how, I want to follow you. I ask you to come into my life and fill me with your love and your Spirit. Push all the fear out. Push all the pain out. Fill me with a new sense of hope. I don’t want to live in prison anymore. I want to walk through the doors of opportunity that you have planned for me. I’m asking you today to save me and to accept me into your family. I ask this in your name. Amen.”
If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
Talk It Over

Why is it so easy to choose fear over faith when you’re facing trials?
How can God’s Word help you remember how much he loves you?
What areas of your life might make you question the goodness of God’s plan? Ask God to help you trust him in those specific areas.

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.