Managing Our Hearts in a Season of Fear

Friends, we have never felt led to send out a message like this, but we have never seen a micro-season like this. We see it on the national scene, and we see it in our neighborhoods, but did not realize the desperate urgency until it invaded our hearts and those of the ones we love.

What are we talking about? A cloud of accusation. We see it everywhere from Clinton to Trump and down.

What does it look like? It jumps to conclusions, it views others as enemies and threats, and so protects itself at all cost, usually the annihilation (if only in our own minds and hearts) of the person or persons we deem evil, wrong, perverse, heartless, or out to get us.

Why is this so dangerous? From the first it should be obvious, that if we are walking with accusation in our hearts that we are partnering with the enemy of our souls, Satan (that’s what his name means – “the accuser”). That should be enough to cause us to run screaming back to our loving Father’s arms, but it often is not, because we are so afraid, we are so convinced that if we do not protect ourselves horrible things will happen.

Now don’t hear us advocating for passivity or checking out. No, in fact if there was ever a season to be active at every level of society and our relationships, this is the one! But we can only act with power, if we disengage from the dialogue with fear. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

But we must be particularly wary, because if we have been partnering with fear and accusation in the political system, it will eventually filter down to our personal relationships. In moments, the enemy our souls can undo years of relationships and growth if we will partner with him. But likewise we can experience freedom from fear and begin moving in power, the moment we turn to God!

So what does this cloud of accusation feel like? Here are some of the symptoms:

If you have experienced any of these recently, you are NOT alone. This is an epidemic that has gripped our nation like never before.

But take heart! For He “has overcome the world!” (John 16:33) So what do we do? Well, first we must recognize that we belong to an entirely different kingdom. And a kingdom gets its character from its king, and our King is Love. (1 John 4:8)

So everything that does that taste of Love must go. If I am judging others (no matter how justified), then there is no room for love. I must ask for forgiveness, ask God to cleanse that judgment from me and then give me a clear view of how He sees them with the eyes of love and adoration.

If we have been attempting to discern the motives of another heart, when God says we can’t even know our own, (Jeremiah 17:9) we must repent because this is like divination or witchcraft and always brings with it the lies of the enemy, even when (or especially) when couched in truth. How many drops of cyanide do you need in a bucket of clean water to kill you? If you realize this is what has been happening, just repent! Ask God to cleanse you from this and begin to move on your heart to show you how we sees your worst enemy.

For many of us, we can’t let go of these things, because we are terrified that what we fear will happen to us, that we will be left unprotected. If that is the case for you, simply turn to God and ask Him, “If I give you this accusation and fear which I am trying to protect myself with, can You protect me?” and then don’t be afraid to ask Him, “How will you protect me?” And then allow God to fill you with His faith and trust in Him to be your source and your protection, so you can release the fear and come out again into the sunshine of His Love!

We must have zero-tolerance for judgment, accusation and fear, because these cast out love! But Love, casts out all fear! (1 John 4:18)

So let us war with Love in this season! Let us take back our hearts and bless every person and organization in our lives with an encounter with the God of Love through us. This is warfare!

We love you all and are honored to run with you in this season! We’re praying for you and believing this is going to be the best season of our lives.

In His Joy,

Peter & Masha