I John 4:17-19 tells us we can have boldness in the day of judgment. Why? Because the perfect love of God casts out fear. I needed to hear that this morning.
Satan loves to torment us with fear. He feeds on our insecurity and doubt. Just last night I was praying from a place of fear and defeat. Some say Satan whispers, but at times I feel like he is shouting at me …. “YOU’RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH, YOU’RE NEVER GONNA MAKE IT, YOU ARE A FAILURE … etc., etc., etc! It’s the same condemnation he has tortured me with all my life.

• Yes, it’s true – I am not good enough, but Jesus is and He took my judgment!
• Yes, on my own I could never make it, and that is why God sent the Holy Spirit to be my helper. I am not in this fight called life alone.
• Yes, I fail God everyday. But God assures me in His Word that He will forgive me if I confess my sin.

I love that God often gives me a verse of scripture in response to my prayers. As I read these verses this morning what stood out to me was, “But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”  

You see, our perfection doesn’t come from our performance. It comes from being hidden in Christ. He didn’t choose me because I was worthy, He chose me because He loved me … with a perfect love.