Saturday's Verse of the Day Devotional

Good morning! Fear is rampant in the world today. From wars and rumors of wars, political and financial uncertainty and violence all over, we see people afraid. But a spirit of fear is different than the emotional response to trouble or danger.

A spirit of fear is a demonic entity that desires to rule over you with fear. It is a looming, oppressive presence that takes you captive to fear. It will paralyze you to the point of not wanting to even leave your home for fear of something bad happening.

Howard Hughes, a billionaire aviator, film producer and business tycoon, is a perfect example of what a spirit of fear can do to a person. He developed a germophobic condition that led him to living in dark hotel rooms using tissue boxes for his feet as to not touch the ground with his feet. He would burn his clothes if anyone who had even a sniffle got near him.

His paranoia grew so severe that he became addicted to narcotic drugs that he used to calm his nerves and dull the pain of his stress. He died of heart failure in a dark hotel room naked and alone. The spirit of fear literally scared him to death. How tragic!

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a Holy Spirit who gives power, love and a sound mind. God doesn't give us a weak and cowardly spirit. He doesn't give us a hateful, resenting spirit. He doesn't give us a chaotic, confusing, illogical and irrational spirit. He gives us peace, love, strength, overcoming power, clarity and wholeness. Let His Holy Spirit keep you in peace as you fearlessly go out and make a great day!