​1 Peter Chapter 4

“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 (NASB)

Arm my daughter with the desire to do the Will of the Father. Give her a clear mind and self-control so that she may pray and seek You. Above all else, may she love deeply, serving others with all grace and joy. Oh God, use what You have given her to minister and bless others through the opening of both her heart and home. Strengthen her, I pray, to serve and speak Your words that others may come to know you and be blessed. When she is insulted, I pray her joy amid sufferings and for Your Spirit of glory to rest upon her. Even in her distress, may You fill her mouth with praise that she may commit herself to You and continue to do good. ...

A Prayer Over Our Children

Sweet Pea received her first bee sting. Never having felt the painful jab of a stinger, it frightened her, resulting in hysterics and tears. Praise the Lord, the swelling quickly resided, and no allergic reactions surfaced. Yet, even after the physical pain subsided, the fear of that moment still remained.
     
“It’s going to get me!” yelled Sweet Pea, grabbing my arm in a death grip, her eyes frantic and large. We were out for a walk and an insect hovered in the air above our heads. “Go away, go away!” she shrieked.

The insect flew and swooped closer, causing panic to rip raw through her little body. She grabbed my shirt, trying to take cover beneath it.
     
“It’s okay,” I soothed, attempting to claim back my t-shirt, “just leave it alone and it won’t bother you.”

The route we were walking was a well familiar one. Insects had always accompanied us along the grassy path. But, with the bee-sting still fresh in her mind, Sweet Pea perceived every insect as a flying menace out to get her. By the time we reached our destination, Sweet Pea was so worked up with fear, that a meltdown of epic proportions was well underway. 
     
I confess right now, that rather then feeling sympathetic or empathetic, I struggled against frustration and irritation. NO real threat existed, yet despite its absence, fear still held my daughter hostage.
     
“You will not be a slave to fear,” I pronounced to my daughter, squatting down to look her full in the face. Although my words were directed at Sweet Pea, they were said in proclamation to the heavenly hosts and the spiritual principalities which surrounded us. “You will be brave,” I commanded the little girl standing in front of me. Each word was clearly enunciated as if by mere spoken words power could be imparted over her fear.
     
“But Mommy,” protested Sweet Pea with tears in her eyes, “I am afraid.” My heart melted. Here, in front of me stood a little girl who was viewing the world through fear-tainted lenses. Her little body trembled, and her fingers twisted anxiously.
     
“Oh, Sweet Pea!” I hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. My heart broke for my sweet girl. Her trust with God’s creepy-crawly creations had been broken. She now knew pain could be inflicted by the very things she once trusted. The ignorant bliss where bees buzzed only to pollinate flowers and make honey was now marred by an equally real and present truth of which now she was most painfully aware. Worse, fear now gripped her heart and controlled her emotions.
     
“Jesus can help you be brave.” My voice gentled as I spoke the words aloud. “Fear is not of God but is of Satan,” I reminded her. Sweet Pea’s eyes misted over and her bottom lip trembled.
     
“I know,” she wailed, “but I do not know how to stop!” She buried her head against my shoulder as tears waterfalled down her cheeks. Oh God,  I inwardly pleaded, How can I help her with this fear? Immediately, an idea popped into my mind.
     
“We are going home now, Sweet Pea,” I said, looking my little girl straight in her eyes, “but as we walk home, I want you to say aloud, ‘I am brave!’” Sweet Pea looked at me like I had 2 heads. “That’s right,” I repeated, “I want you to say out loud, ‘I am brave’ each time you feel afraid. We are going to take each thought captive,” I proclaimed.

With dragging feet, Sweet Pea reluctantly agreed as we turned to face the short journey home. It was hot now. The sun beat down on our hair, causing sweat to glisten on our foreheads. Sweet Pea grabbed my arm as a bug buzzed by, ducking her head.
     
“What was that?” I asked brightly, “I don’t hear you!”

Sweet Pea mumbled the words, obedient only in action but not in spirit. 
     
“Louder!” I enthused, “I want to hear it!”

Sweet Pea’s words came this time as a muffled echo, barely audible above my tapping cane. 
     
“Let’s say it together,” I offered, “I am brave! I am brave!”

Sweet Pea’s voice finally joined in, lending her young voice to the vocal renderings.

“I am brave, I am brave!” We declared together. Each time we repeated the words, Sweet Pea’s voice strengthened.
     
“Mommy,” she spoke up, “can we change it to, ‘I am not afraid?’” It was her first unsolicited contribution on our march to bravery and I was pleased that she now cared enough to articulate her opinion. 
     
“Sure!” We had just entered the grassiest area of our walk and I knew making Sweet Pea’s involvement and input was an important part of her journey to victory over her fear. 
     
“I am not afraid. I am not afraid.” We said together, “I am not afraid! I am not afraid!” The words began to form a natural rhythm and our steps automatically fell into cadence with a march.
     
“I am not afraid! I am not afraid!” Sweet Pea’s voice rose louder as her little knees stepped higher. Her feet struck firmly down on the path with arms now proudly swaying. “I am not afraid! I am not afraid!” Her chest puffed out in newfound confidence.
     
“Mommy,” asked Sweet Pea again, this time more brightly, “Can we sing it?”
     
“Of course!” With a quick prayer flung heavenward, my brain searched frantically for a melody so to continue the momentum that had been building. In the time it took to march 2 steps, a simple melody floated in my inner ear.
         
“Okay, try this…” Sweet Pea quickly learned the simple song. Before I knew it, we were both singing lustily at the top of our lungs. Knees lifted high to our chests, we swung our arms back and forth with elbows fiercely jabbing the air behind us. 
     
“I am not afraid, NO!” We yelled, uncaring of how we may look or sound to the passing cars. Our heads were held high with loud proclamation while our steps were purposeful and strong.
     
“I am not afraid, NO!” Sweet Pea’s voice rang out loud and clear. Her eyes sparkled as she marched forward with joyful determination, unnoticing of the flying bugs with which she had been so fearful of just minutes before. Her little arms swung in proud rhythm and her enthusiasm bubbled over.
     
“I am not afraid, at all!” She declared, vigorously shaking her head back and forth, “at all, at all, AT ALL!”
     
To our front door, we marched and sang, punching the air with our “no’s” and filling the air with our triumphant proclamation. Not once did Sweet Pea flinch or turn her head, not once did she whimper or cry when a bug flew by, so focused was she and fixed upon our song that all fears and distractions melted away.
     
How many times are we like Sweet Pea? Experiencing pain by the very things or people we trusted? Sometimes the sharpness of the attack can leave so strong of an aversion that the seeds of fear are planted and begin to grow. Slowly at first it can weave almost imperceptible roots or like Sweet Pea, it may grow to monstrous proportions overnight. Yet the result is the same. We become slaves to fear. We allow worry, anxiety, and stress to over run our lives.
     
Praise the Lord, that Jesus sets the captives free and that through Him we are free, indeed. Every chain will be broken and every stronghold destroyed. All we need to do is put our faith in Him and trust Him. We need not to be afraid because the God of this Universe, the very God who split the seas, and raised the dead to life, is our Defender and our Deliverer. Through Him, we have been given the keys to overcome. We just need to grab hold.
     
However, sometimes our fears may seem insurmountable. Like Sweet Pea, you may have no idea where to start. Even as I write this, I recognize every situation is different. Yet, what I can say is that sometimes in order to lay down our fears, we must first take hold. Perhaps this ‘taking hold’ comes in the form of taking each thought captive and refuting the lie through the truth of God’s Word. Perhaps it looks like an inaudible whisper for help or a faltering step towards the path of recovery. Regardless of what it may look like, we must first take hold of the hand of Jesus that we may gain victory over our fears and problems.
     
Look at Peter. He walked on water when he kept his eyes fixed on Jesus. But, when his eyes strayed, he began to sink. Just like Peter took his eyes off Jesus, so we may also as the winds of life blow against us. But so too like Peter, when we cry out to Jesus for help, He will reach out His hand to save us. Our eyes need to be fixed with unwavering intensity on Jesus so that we do not sink or fall. You see, like Sweet Pea, it is when we keep our eyes firmly fixed upon Jesus, that all fears and worries fade in the light of Christ. For in the perfect, holy presence of the Lord God Almighty, all distractions and anxieties disappear. The fears and storms of this world may assail us, but they will never prevail if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and take hold of His hand. 
     
​Dear precious friends and fellow parents, may each of us this day, lay down our fears, worries, and burdens before the throne of Christ. He who has the power to calm the winds and the waves, also possesses the power to calm our fears. Let Jesus free you from the very things which hold you captive so that you might take hold of the abundant life Christ offers freely to you. Lay down your burdens my friends and take hold of the hand of Jesus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8TkUMJtK5k

​A Parent's Prayer

Dear Lord, please help me lay down my fears and burdens before You. Break any stronghold and release any chain which binds so that I might live a life of abundance and freedom in You. Fix my eyes upon You, Jesus, and take hold of my hand this day.  Amen.