By Rick L. King

January 14, 2017

I live out in the country. I see many critters and so enjoy the variety that seem to frequent my yard. I especially enjoy the deer as they seem to be amazing and beautiful animals. The weather here has been very cold and we have had snow this year.

Several years ago I was staying with and helping my sister as she had purchased a house and lots of work needed done before she moved into it. Her rental house had a big apple tree about ten feet from the back door. I noticed when all the apples were falling off of the tree that we got many deer that feasted on them. They would get on their hind legs as if to climb as high as they could get to get the apples that had not fallen yet. They really seemed to enjoy apples.

Remembering this since it was so miserable outside I decided to get some apples just for the deer. There were two does and their babies that came often. I left apples out for them and eventually they seemed to disappear. I figured the deer were getting them. The deer would then be close to my window and I would talk to them and they seemed unafraid. I decided to throw some apples on the ground as I figured they would get them. To my surprise all they did was run away. Even though they must have known I wasn't going to harm them just the apple falling near them frightened them.

One night recently I was awake at 4 A.M. and looked out the window. I noticed a critter looking up at me. I turned on my flash light and saw a raccoon. It stood up and just looked at me. I thought would a raccoon eat apples?  I then tossed an apple out about four feet away from it. It walked over and with both front feet, picked up the apple and put it into its mouth and walked away. I then decided that the apples that I left out that the raccoon was eating and not the deer.

I saw an analogy through this experience. The deer were afraid (fear) and missed the treat or blessing. The raccoon was unafraid, stood its ground and got the blessing. I realized that this is what happens to us. If we give in to fear we will lose always. If we stand firm by faith we win. Both have fruit figuratively and naturally. The fruit of the spirit in:

Galatians 5:22 and 23:

22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The fruit of fear is fear. It is not our fear but is the devil's. He tries to make us think that it is ours but it isn't. The Word says:

2Timothy 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

When we have or allow fear to rule we lose our power, love, and our sound mind. Fear is designed to steal from us a blessing.

John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

When we allow God's fruit, the fruit of the Holy Spirit we get a blessing. When we allow the devil's fruit of fear, we will get stolen from.

We are told that:

1 John 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

If we are to receive God's blessings then we need to get rid of the fear. We need to really fall in love with Jesus and He will deliver us from all of our fears. Let's be bold as the raccoon and stand firm with no fear and receive all that God wants for us in this new year of 2017.