Fear Not

What is one way the enemy uses to attack us? I’d say it’s through FEAR. In the natural, we live in a fearful world. Earthquakes, riots, rebellion, wars, destructive floods and destructive fires are just a few of the things that take place in our world, and many times closer to ‘home’. The words/phrase “fear not” is used at least 80 times in the Bible. God doesn’t want us to fear or be fearful in life. That isn’t the abundant life He gives us through Jesus.

So, how do we handle ourselves when fear knocks on our door and comes right in? I’ve learned over the years that whenever I step into fear (yes, you read that correctly), I have a lot more anxiety, and I become more fearful. When we give into fear, we allow our hope to decrease. We give fear more power, and blindly follow it down the road leading to anxiety and stress. It’s an understatement to say fear is deadly, but it is. The enemy is also all too accommodating to use this weapon in attempting to defeat/destroy us.

What I learned over the years is not to let fear and fearful thoughts stay in my head. That means when I recognize them, I don’t let them keep rolling over and over in my thinking because fear increases fear and what follows is a state of unrest and anxiety.

What is the remedy? Settle and ground yourself in God’s love for you above anything else. The more your eyes are on His love for you, on His Word, the less fear will bother you. 1 John 4:18 NIV puts it this way: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
He is continually telling you how much He loves you. Believe it. Rest in His unfailing love. It may take some practice to overcome the fearful thinking, but you can do it because greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4, NLT).

Your stronghold is God’s love. Your shelter is God’s love. Your refuge is His Word of His perfect love for you, driving out fear. It’s time to be set free from fear.