“Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends you to be.”
Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose-Driven Life”
Fear vs. faith. When you get right down to it, that pretty much sums up life’s journey. Though we’re assured of salvation, all of us, at some point in time (maybe constantly!), choose to walk by sight (fear) and not by faith. To walk by sight in today’s world will certainly strike fear in any man’s heart. Every day we make a decision of whether or not we’ll allow fear, anxiety, and stress to dominate our beliefs and actions. Fear is the thief who left your palms sweaty as you went for a job / school interview. He’s the con man who convinced you to swap your integrity for popularity. It was him who got you to say nothing and do nothing rather than speak up and act on what is right. And it was this deceiver who whispered in your ear, “no one really cares about you – not your spouse, your parents, your Sunday School class – no one cares about what you’re going through.” You’ll never be the man or woman you ought to be – no matter how many remedies you try – until you hear and heed Jesus’ words: “Do not worry…but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.” Among the greatest words that Jesus ever uttered were: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” We would be wise to do the same daily!
Psalm 27 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?
Three (3) Simple Suggestions to Dispel Fear:
1. Stop seeking the trivial, temporal things with which modern men and women glut themselves.
* Psalm 27:4-5 * 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
2. Get your eyes off yourself; focus them on God first (his face – not his hand!), and then others.
* Psalm 27:8 * Philippians 2:3-8 * 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
3. Commit yourself fully, and daily, to Christ – the same way He has committed Himself to you!
* Psalm 27:10 * John 17:20-24 * 2 Timothy 1:7
Q: On a macro level (lifetime), what is the thing you most fear? On a micro (daily) level?
Q: Which of the verses covered today will you commit to memory to dispel fear on a daily basis?
Q: Why are so many Christians “stressed out, and freaking out?”
Bottom Line: The phrase “Fear not” appears exactly 365 times in the bible (one for each day of the year?!?) …mostly spoken by God and Jesus (that’s significant!). And it’s also significant to note that nearly every time after saying “Don’t be afraid,” God then reassured His people of His presence. Listen, the chief mark of a Christian ought to be the absence of fear and the presence of joy! Do you feel God’s presence every day? Are you reminded that He’s in control of even the tiniest details? It is entirely logical NOT to fear…do you believe that? It may sound illogical, but doesn’t it make sense when you are reminded that God is always in control, of everything? When some daily occurrence seems to threaten your peace, joy, and even your life – remember, God is NOT wringing His hands, wondering what to do next. He really is in control, He really does love you, and you really do have nothing to fear in this world!
