"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18

When my oldest son was very young, maybe three or four years old we took a trip to Dallas, Texas. It was a business trip, but we had some vacation time so my husband and I decided to take the kids--we had two children at that time.

We predetermined to take the scenic route and stop along the way and maybe take in some fun at Six Flags over Texas. I remembered going there when I was young on my parents cross country trip and it was so much fun! So this is what we did.

I can only imagine how uncomfortable a car seat can be... No one likes to be restrained for long periods of time. It didn't matter that his chair was plush and comfy. Though it was safe and secure, he was just plain uncomfortable! He was a little trooper and did just fine. But do you know what happened after we got home? Every time I would pick him up to put him in the backseat of the car he would plant his feet on the door frame of the car and lock them there. He didn't cry a lot or make a big fuss, but he was communicating to me non-verbally, "NOT THE CARSEAT!"

He had now been conditioned to expect a long ride.

In his mind he had no idea how much time he'd be there.

It took him about two weeks of this to get back to trusting me to get in the car, the trip wouldn't be long.

People shape their perceptions by their experiences with a mix of their temperament/personality type added in.

Sometimes a difficult experience can leave an unguarded area wide open to fear.

Here are a few simple or maybe common examples:

⚠️You are in a severe car accident and once you are back on the road you are extremely aware of the possibility of another accident.

⚠️Your home is robbed and you heighten security out of fear of repeat offense.

⚠️You go through a divorce and fear to remarry because you don't want to be hurt again.

⚠️You were rejected in childhood and now live with insecure thoughts that everyone is rejecting you.

God is more concerned about your outcome than your come from!

What concerns us is of no consequence to God!

He is unmoved by your fears.

He sees all...

knows all..

and has a supernatural way to overcome all!

Here are a few keys that may help you succeed from succumbing to an avalanche of unclear or cluttered thinking:

🔑Ask God to cleanse your filter so you can move toward your future free from your fears, pains and experiences of the past. More people miss their divine call and blessings because of poor thinking.

🔑Ask God to highlight the key areas of your patterns at the source. A thought can't change until you pull out by the root, just like a weed that has been lodged in your mind. Understand that some of those weed seeds may have been inherited (generational) or planted in very early childhood. The older the root and the more it's been watered, the deeper the hold and slower it must be extracted. When you know this, it will also help you with your patience and grace toward others.

🔑Just because something bad happened to you in the past, doesn't mean that same thing is going to happen to you now. When you find your mind traveling down that deleterious highway, take the detour and speak out something the opposite of your negative expectation, doubts or fears.

🔑Water your heart and mind with the Word of God. Saturate yourself with worship. When you begin to worry, combat that by beginning to worship. God will turn your woes and worries to magnificent worship! Worship is a meditation for the soul and allows you to free yourself of restriction and internal tension. Super exhilarating!

I am learning that the more people have travelled through, the more love they need in order to get through.

There is good news here!

There is nothing to fear, God has no shortage of Love.

~Nicole🦋