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Live Fearlessly by Choosing Love

Jennifer Townsend



"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)


Today I woke up early to pray with friends, and together we meditated on every section of the famous John 3:16 verse. We encouraged each other to make the beginning stanza, "For God so loves me," the truth we make up to every morning. Contemplating God's great love expels fear and opens us to remarkable possibilities.


God's love changes things. It is unconditional and satisfies our deepest need for love and acceptance, providing security for healthy development. God's love conquers the fear that breeds anxiety and keeps us from living life to the fullest.


Instead of feeding my fears by focusing on the wrong things, I want to keep my mind centered on the love of God. Meditating on this verse helps me redirect on what matters most—loving God and loving others.


There is so much good in the world that I want to be a part of instead of being entangled by all the wrong. This story circulating on social media inspires me, and I hope it does you as well.


"Sometimes I just want it to stop. Talk of Covid, protests, looting, brutality. I lose my way. Become convinced that this "new normal" is real life. But, then I meet an 87-year-old who talks of living through Polio, diphtheria, Vietnam, protests, and yet is still enchanted with life. He seemed surprised when I said 2020 must be especially challenging for him. "No," he said slowly, looking me straight in the eyes, "I learned a long time ago not to see the world through the printed headlines; I see the world through the people surrounding me. I see the

world with the realization that we love big. Therefore, I just choose to write my own

headlines. "Husband loves wife today. "Family drops everything to come to

Grandma's bedside." He patted my hand. "Old man makes a new friend." His words collide with my worries, freeing them from the tether I had been holding tight. They float away. I am left with a renewed spirit. My headline now reads "woman overwhelmed by the spirit of kindness and the reminder that our

Capacity to love is never ending."


This story is a beautiful illustration of an important biblical truth: love can banish fear (1 John 4:18). If we are overcome by fear and worry, one way to fight it is to replace it with love.


Today, let's conquer our fears by writing loving headlines of your own. Do something special to encourage your spouse. Make a care package for a friend who is struggling. Write a card to our dad and put it in the mail.

Every choice we make to love will banish fear from our hearts.

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Created by Bella Townsend.

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