What is the Opposite of Fear?

For anyone that read chapter 10, you know the answer.  For those who didn't, its not as easy as you think.  Peace?  No.  Trust?  Wrong again.  Calm?  According to Elyse Fitzpatrick, and 1 John 4:18, the opposite of fear is love.  And, she suggested that the way to combat fear is to replace it with love.  

Dani lead us through a review of this chapter by taking us through the questions in the back of the chapter.  We read Matthew 10:26-31 and discussed how God's care for the birds encourages us to love Him.  We also discussed the difference between a holy fear of God and a dread of Him. Lastly, we discussed the Sprugeon quote which says, "Dear heart, God is your best Friend, your choicest love".  If we don't think of Him that way, what is it that stops us? Here is the full quote from which the above was taken:

"There is a loving, holy fear, which is never cast out. Filial fear grows as love grows. That sacred dread, that solemn awe of God, we must ever cultivate; but we are not afraid of him. Dear heart, God is your best Friend, your choicest love.

"Yea, mine own God is he,"

you can say; and you have no fear of him now. You long to approach him. Though he is a consuming fire, you know that he will only consume what you want to have consumed; and will purify you, and make your gold to shine more brightly because the consumable alloy is gone from it. He will not consume you, but only that which would work for your hurt if it were left within you. Refining fire, go through my heart! Consume as thou wilt! I long to have sin consumed, that I may be like my God. Say you not so, my brethren?" C.H. Spurgeon

I thought that was a great quote and adds a lot to our discussion.

Thanks Dani for all your work and for leading us through this insightful chapter.