I’m no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God. Bethel Music (“No Longer Slaves”)

Romans 8:15

In a slave-master relationship, the master imposes his will on the slave, making the slave subject to whatever the master wants. Fear acts very much like that master, making us react and respond the way that it wants. When Jesus was on the boat and the storm came, He was asleep on a pillow on the deck below, while the disciples feared for their very lives. They had been walking with Jesus all of that time, had seen the wonder of the miracles He’d performed, and had heard the Word of God that He’d preached. Yet the tempest caused them to revert to the fear of death that was probably understandable (Matthew 8: 23-26).

Fear causes me to respond in a number of ways, most notably by trying to control situations and circumstances. I start to work in tandem with fear; we become partners. We begin to plan our efforts together in order to manipulate and influence outcomes. To describe myself as a comrade with fear in this manner is a bit unnerving even for me to admit, but all of it is true. Fear is that kind of master: one that manipulates and coerces and intimidates. It bends your will and causes you to catch your breath until you give in. That’s its job.

Romans 8:15 says “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father.” Orphans who have not been fostered or adopted do not have parents. They are alone and without parental guidance, love, and support. There are many things that orphans have to be fearful of. On the other hand, we have been redeemed by our kinsman-redeemer, and we are not orphaned. We have been adopted into the family of God, through His Son Jesus, and have no reason to fear abandonment, bondage, or destruction.

The lyrics of “No Longer Slaves” says, “I’ve been born again into Your family, Your blood flows through my veins.” Only we have the power to break the slave-master relationship and that power comes through communion with the Holy Spirit. He gives us the strength and power to break the yoke of bondage to fear. Knowing that we belong to God, that He has called us by name, and that He is our loving Father is all that we need to move beyond the captivity of fear into the liberty of freedom.

Prayer for Release: Lord, how grateful I am to You that fear is not my master! Thank you for the opportunity to choose to lean into You, to feel Your comfort and know that I am protected and need not fear what can happen to me.