Today's Thought - Fear

 

Romans 8:15 – “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 

‘Abba! Father!’”

One of my favorite of all creatures is the Bengal tiger. For many years these big beautiful creatures have puzzled researchers. It seems that when tigers hunt they have a remarkable capacity for causing their prey to paralyze with fear, a capacity greater than any of the other big cats. As the tiger charges toward its helpless prey it lets out a spine chilling roar. Now you’d think this would be enough to cause the prey to turn and run for its life, but instead it often freezes and soon becomes tiger food.

A tiger's intimidating roar has the power to paralyze the animal that hears it and that even includes humans. Elizabeth von Muggenthaler, a bioacoustician from the Fauna Communications Research Institute in North Carolina states, "Humans can only hear some of the sounds that tigers use to communicate," says von Muggenthaler. "Humans can hear frequencies from 20 hertz to 20,000 hertz, but whales, elephants, rhinos, and tigers can produce sounds below 20 hertz." This low-pitched sound, called "infrasound," can travel long distances permeating buildings, cutting through dense forests, and even passing through mountains. Tigers can create sounds at about 18 hertz and when tigers roar they can create frequencies significantly below so you can’t hear it, but you can feel it. "When a tiger roars-the sound will rattle and paralyze you," says von Muggenthaler. (Source: "The Secret of A Tiger's Roar," Science News, 29 Dec. 2000, sciencedaily.com). The effect is that you are momentarily paralyzed, so even though there may be time to avoid the tiger, you are tricked into standing still long enough for the tiger to leap on you.

The “spirit of a slavery,” produces only fear. The slave is under constant fear and alarm. But the “spirit of adoption,” the feeling of affection, love, and confidence which pertains to a stranger as one’s own child applies to Christians because God treats us as His children. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” God comes to us to rescue us from things that brings fear in our lives. Are you fearful today, call out to Abba! Father! He will set you free and indwell a confidence in you.

Have a blessed day!