Shalom,

Jerry Savelle's devotional for today speaks to something that is a very big problem for some people. It can be especially challenging for young people. 

The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25 NKJV).

The fear of man is one snare that every Christian will have to face and conquer at some point in life.

As long as you care more about other people’s expectations and what they think about you than what God’s Word says about you, you will not be free to fulfill God’s call on your life. So, how can you determine if you are ensnared by the fear of man? Let me ask you a few questions:

Do you get depressed when you perceive people are thinking negatively about you?
Do you feel insecure if your Christian peers think you are carnal or that you’ve missed God?
Do you spend hours thinking about how to set the record straight?
Do you always seek to justify your decisions or actions?

This type of thinking is indicative of a spirit of fear—specifically the fear of man—operating in your life. The fear of man is a form of mental bondage that serves as a snare. It will entrap you with worry and will rob you of the inner peace that is yours in Christ.

Jesus said, “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44 NKJV). In other words, receiving honor from man prevents you from seeking what comes only from God.

Instead of caring what others may think of you, cast the care of your situation onto God and then trust Him to sort things out His way. Trusting God will free you from the snare of the fear of man. When you cast off your care and trust God to look after your reputation, insecurity will be a thing of the past. You will no longer need to look to people’s opinion of your for security (after all, their opinions are subject to change).

Who you are in Christ is unchangeable. So release yourself from the snare of the fear of man and put your trust completely in God. When you do, you will enjoy a life of freedom, secure in the knowledge of who you are in Christ.

Confession: I refuse to allow other people’s opinions of my ideas, decisions, and actions to ensnare me and steal my peace. I cast my care on God, knowing that He cares for me and will sort out everything to my benefit. My security is based solely on God’s Word and who He says I am in Christ.

AMEN! Such wonderful advice from one of our trusted partners! I use to be crippled by shyness when I was young and without JESUS in life. Shyness is, for the most part, fear of man! Other people's opinion mattered, sometimes WAY too much! As I have grown up in the LORD and in His Word, I have found that there will ALWAYS be someone who thinks negatively about you! My responsibility is to please God! HE will deal with what others think and say about me. He only leaves me the instruction to love others and to pray for them! When I DO that, the peace of  God envelopes me with such  thoroughness that what others think becomes of such little importance! TRUST Him in this! HE IS FAITHFUL! Thank You, JESUS! Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Future Marches In":

Shalom in Him!