God has the power to cast out all fear

Growing up we lived in an extremely old house in northwest Missouri that had an extremely creepy basement.

There were horror films that had nicer basements than this house. The basement was always wet and smelled of mildew. If you touched the walls, they would crumble on you. The only way to turn any light on was to descend a ladder like stairs and yank the pull chain. It was a nightmare.

We kept our freezer and extra cans of vegetables in the basement. One of my jobs was to retrieve whatever it was that was needed for that night's dinner. Once I retrieved whatever it was I was sent after, I stood in a pregnant moment readying myself to pull the chain and turn off the light. I was convinced the only thing that kept the demons and monsters who lived in the basement at bay was that one 25 watt light bulb. As soon as the chain was pulled and darkness flooded the basement, they would be unrestrained. Then I would be forced to choose between getting upstairs as fast as I could and slamming the door behind me or becoming their dinner. This basement freaked me out. To this day I can't stand horror films.

I thought about that basement after reading about Joshua, Caleb and the other 10 men who, for a brief period of their lives, went into what looked like a land of monsters. In Numbers 13, Moses sends 12 men to check out the land they were going to. They were to see what it and the people were like. All came back with a clear picture of large men, fortified cites and bountiful fruit that was in the land. Ten of them were afraid of what they saw; two looked past what they should have been afraid. All the people chose fear, staying where they were and missed what God had for them.

Fear has the power to prevent us from pursuing God's purposes in our lives. What's worse is often what we are afraid is isn't real. It is FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear is not from God. He has given a spirit of power, love and clear thinking -- not fear.

Every now and then I need to be reminded I have no reason to fear -- there are no monsters in the basement.

Rob Hurtgen is a husband, father, minister and writer. Read more from him at www.robhurtgen.wordpress.com.