living in the present moment

What are you afraid of?

We all have fears. Fear of the future. Fear of rejection. Fear of being vulnerable. Fear of failure. Some of us live in a constant state of fear. It’s no wonder then that the most frequent words in the Bible are, “Do not be afraid.”

“Do not be afraid.” These are the words that God spoke to the prophets. These are the words that the angel spoke to Mary–and to Joseph. These are the words that Jesus spoke to the Apostles–and they are the words He speaks to us.

But how do we overcome fear? By living in the present moment. During Advent, we listen daily to the words of the Prophet Isaiah proclaimed at Mass. Last week, a verse from Isaiah spoke deeply to my heart: “For I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’” This touch of God, this action of God grasping our hand, is meant to bring us deeply into the present moment. God is always present to us; but we must learn to be present to Him.

Lately I’ve been pondering the reality of self-awareness. Think about it: it’s only through self-awareness that we can even become aware of God’s presence. If we live in self-awareness, then we will be drawn more deeply into God’s presence in and around us. And by being fully present to God, by being conscious of His loving presence, fear disappears. Fear cannot survive the penetrating and loving gaze of God. Fear cannot survive when we allow ourselves to be grasped by God’s hand.

So live within His gaze, and feel His touch. If your mind is dwelling on the past or fearing the future, take a moment to be aware of the present moment and turn to the Lord. If you are are experiencing any kind of fear, sit down; relax; breath deeply; pray. Become aware of the indwelling Trinity. If you become deeply aware of the present moment, if you become aware of the Lord’s touch and the His loving gaze, fear will disappear and will be replaced by peace.

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How do you deal with fear? Feel free to comment

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