Dropping Fear, Hatred, Shame And Sprouting Comfort, Love, Dedication to Faith

Hello friends and welcome to ‘Dropping Dead Leaves’. This series concept is an autumnal metaphor that I came up with: In fall, trees drop dry, decaying leaves that are not beneficial to the tree. In the same manner, uswhobelieve, can drop things (at the feet of Jesus) that are not beneficial. And, just as the trees sprout new leaves, we can replace our ‘dead leaves’ with good.

Our first ‘dead leaf’ that we can drop today is: fear.

Google defines fear as an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

The Bible says that God can do more than we could ever imagine. If that is the case than He can protect us in ways we can’t fathom, and He is always with us. There has never been a second in your life that has passed by without God being with you. In the past I have prayed, “God please, be with me!” and every time He says, “I never left you.” He is our protector, our rock, our comfort. Fear is a liar and will not add to your life but will only take away. It will steal opportunities, it will steal away rest, and it will steal happiness. So, cast your fears in the fire.

Our ‘leaf’ of fear has fallen away and now we can sprout comfort from God.

Our next ‘dead leaf’ to drop today is: hatred.

Google defines hatred as intense dislike. This one is simple.

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or a sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

1 John 4:20

Even complete strangers fall into this ratio because we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. And even if someone has done terrible things, you should pray for them, not hate them. After all, we love the sinner but hate the sin.

Our ‘leaf of hatred has fallen away and now we can sprout love.

Our last ‘dead leaf’ to drop today is: shame.

Google defines shame as a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. Our sin is the wrong or foolish behavior that causes our shame.

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

The word scorn means to dismiss something as inadequate, unacceptable, or faulty. He scorned shame (a.k.a. our sins) on that cross, He dismissed them from those who believe. He placed our sin on His flesh so that they may die with Him. He eradicated our shame.

Our ‘leaf’ of shame has fallen away and now we can sprout dedication to faith in Christ.

Well, my friends, I hope you are able to drop all of our ‘dead leaves’ today and can sprout all of the good ones in their place. I hope one of them opened your eyes a little or made you smile.

There is always joy to be found and joy to be had.