By Toni Ford
Fear is a natural response to the many challenges we face. It is also undoubtedly one of the greatest strategies or weapons the enemy uses against us. Although fear can be an emotion that serves a valuable purpose such as in a fight-or flight-response, it can quickly become unhealthy. It can paralyze us and propel us into frantic behavior, thus causing us to make unwise choices for ourselves and others.
So often we are controlled by fear of the unknown, the fear of what is coming next and fear of the “what ifs.” Over the past two to three years, fear was one of the main enemies when COVID-19 started. We are now we beginning to see fear creep back in as people talk about the economy and/or the possibility of a major war breaking out among certain nations. It is no wonder that “fear not” is one of Scripture’s most common commandments to us. In fact, there are over 300 variations of the command to “fear not” throughout Scripture. God is omniscient, which means He knew in advance the strategy Satan would most often use against us, thus the reason that God gave us so many ways in Scripture to counter this attack.
King David experienced fear numerous times. One of his lowest times occurred while he was hiding in a cave from his enemies. It was at that point that David wrote Psalm 142:7-8, which says, “Listen to my cry, for I am brought very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring my soul out of prison, so I may praise Your name.” Just as David allowed fear to dominate him and deplete his faith in God, fear gets in the way of our faith and trust in God, thus blocking our breakthrough. David was focusing only on his situation, but his breakthrough started when he finally took his focus off his situation and called out to God.
Psalm 34 is one of the psalms David wrote as a result of shifting his focus from fear to faith. Psalm 34:5 says, “I sought Adonai, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” It has been said that when we maximize fear, we minimize God, but when we maximize God, we minimize fear.
The good news is that we as Christians are not powerless against fear. Instead, we are called to take our fear and sift it through God’s promises in Scripture and remember that He is greater than any fears we face. He has ALL authority and power, and nothing can threaten or come against that truth. Listed are just a few of the Scriptures God has given us in His Word to battle those fearful thoughts when they come. Read these Scriptures aloud today over your own life and make a choice to choose faith in God over the fears you might be facing.
Isaiah 41:10. “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Psalm 56:4. “In a day when I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”
Genesis 15:1. “Sometime later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, ‘Do not be afraid Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.’”
Joshua 10:8. “‘Do not be afraid of them,’ the Lord said to Joshua, “for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.’”
Hebrews 13:5b-6. “For he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”
I Timothy 1:7. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
John 14:27. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Thank You, Lord, for being greater than anything we face here on earth. I ask You to help me place my trust in You and take my eyes off of my fears. I believe and stand on Your promises today!
If you would like me to join you in prayer, please e-mail me at tonif77@gmail.com. I would love to pray for you!