PARANOIA IN REVERSE - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2026

Our Daily Bread - Sunday, July 11, 2016
by RBC Ministries

Details

PARANOIA IN REVERSE

READ:
1 John 4:

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.
-1 John 4:18

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalms 1-3
Acts 17:1-15

I remember watching television news reports in 1991 as the non-violent revolution took place in the streets of Moscow. Russians who had grown up in totalitarianism suddenly declared, "We will act as if we are free," taking to the streets and staring down tanks. The contrast between the faces of the leaders inside and the masses outside showed who was really afraid, and who was really free.
Watching the newsreels from the Red Square on Finnish television, I came up with a new definition of faith: paranoia in reverse. A truly paranoid person organises his or her life around a common perspective of fear. Anything that happens feeds that fear.
Faith works in reverse. A faithful person organises his or her life around a common perspective of trust, not fear. Despite the apparent chaos of the present moment, God does reign. Regardless of how I may feel, I truly matter to a God of love.
What could happen if we in God's kingdom truly acted as if the words of the apostle John were literally true: "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). What if we really started living as if the most-repeated prayer in Christendom has actually been answered - that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven? - Philip Yancey
Far, far above thy thought
His counsel shall appear,
When fully He the work hath wrought
That caused thy needless fear. - Gerhardt

Feeding your faith helps starve your fears.

More From Our Daily Devotional Archives

Open Heavens
for Thursday, December 5, 2013
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

UNCOVERING EVIL

The presence of the supernatural power of God in a church can take that church beyond limits.
It can also uproot the presence of evil in the midst of Gods children. In Acts 5, a couple were uprooted through this. If we are going to sanitise the church, we need the Holy Spirit. Just as we need Him to heal, save...More

Open Heavens
for Sunday, December 15, 2013
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

APPLY THE KEY

Every blessing worth its salt requires a key without which the seeker cannot access it. While some people have never experienced open doors, others once did, but the doors hitherto opened to them have been shut. In

Bible in one year:
Psalm 82-84

Key...More

Open Heavens
for Sunday, January 19, 2014
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

HOLINESS & VICTORIOUS LIVING

Once you are living a holy life, it's going to be well with you. You will be able to abide under the shadow of the Almighty God. No harm will come near you because the Almighty God will cover you with His wings according to

Bible in one year:
Colossians 1-4
Psalm 19:1-6

Action...More

Open Heavens
for Friday, September 12, 2014
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

HIS PRESENCE, OUR BLESSING

There are many blessings in the presence of God. This is the key to drawing multitudes to the Lord through His presence in your life. When people notice that God is mightily present in your life, they will seek Him through you. It is not about making noise; it is about the visible and verifiable workings of God....More