The Freedom To Act . . . Unencumbered!

I wish to get right into my subject, so I'll do just that! (In the interim, life is wonderful - as always!) It occurred to me a half-hour or so ago - while reading a piece on the law of attraction - that much good has come into my life since I succeeded in large measure in slaying "the dragon" of unbelief, doubt, and fear. I say "in large measure" because I am far from perfect, and there is an "enemy of our souls" who delights to taunt us with thoughts of our past failings - and the distorted conclusions of our own unworthiness that resulted therefrom.

We can, in fact, become captive to, or enslaved by, our fears - first that we have proven our worthlessness, and second that even still we might lack the courage to right the wrong if the opportunity presented itself. (I had lived with such thoughts for over forty years!)



In part, what liberated me was to realize that I had attracted the events or circumstances that led to my "failure," and that had my thoughts been right beforehand, the events would never have occurred - or, at the very least, I would have known how to respond if they had.

Another thing that helped free me was the understanding that "Perfect love casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18). I understood that if I had truly loved those whom I had feared, as I would love a friend or a brother, that I would not have feared them - even though they would still have been capable of doing me harm. (Fear is a result of feeling separated from someone or something, rather than feeling "one with" that person or thing.)



Finally, what helped to extricate me from my fears was the principle of forgiveness - a natural outgrowth of the principle of love. As I loved those whom I had feared, and freely forgave them for their actions towards me, I was also able to forgive myself for what I had failed to do.



The net result of these various influences was that I felt purged of the darkness and fear (disbelief, in a word) that had surrounded me for years. I believe this cleansing was the direct result of being filled with light and truth, which simply drove the darkness and negativity away. What a profoundly liberating experience it has been!

To sum up my experience, I would say that the "father of lies" had succeeded in getting me to conclude that I was worthless. I had not "stepped up." I had blown it, and as a result my career (in at least one area) was over. There would be no second chance - and consequently I would have to atone or suffer for my "sins." I was plagued with feelings of worthlessness over my failure, but the signal of my life was clearly distressed - albeit below the surface. I tried and even succeeded on the (visible) surface to be positive and confident, but deep down I was a failure, and undeserving of true or overall success. The inevitable result was a sabotaging of my every attempt - no matter how valiant, or how close I came to reaching my goals. I simply couldn't succeed. It "wasn't in the cards," and I knew it - and this continued for some forty years!

Those reading this may not believe it if they know me now; although they may not have believed it had they known me during most of the intervening years. I can only say that I now know that "Perfect love casteth out fear." I also know that God, the Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ, are the source of all light and truth; and that the light which comes from them drives out doubt and fear. We can become perfected in them.

Light dispells darkness. Truth drives out error. Love overcomes fear. Joy replaces sorrow.

The principle of gratitude is eternal. It is a characteristic of godliness. Forgiveness also is a principle of power and perfection. These two cause us to be filled with light - which is the love of God. When we are filled with this light we are also filled with faith.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).