Fear

Preserve my life from fear of the enemy… Psalm 64:1

I remember a conversation we once had with our son, who is a fighter pilot, about his attitude when faced with the “enemy” in air combat. Fortunately he has not yet had to face a real enemy but to be in a state of readiness for such an event his squadron has to have practice exercises often to keep their skills high. He told us that it was vital when he went out to fight that his attitude be one of confidence that he was going to win. He said that for him to fear the enemy was to open the door to defeat, because fear is a ‘disabler’ and it weakens us.

You see, fear believes that something bad will probably happen. Often our words of fear can actually open the door for our failure. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21). What we say is very important, but especially where fear is concerned. We need to be careful that we don’t give fear an opportunity for fear to enter by speaking fear-filled words. We all have to deal with fears to some extent or another. Not one of us is free from the temptation to fear. Satan uses fear to draw our hearts away from trusting God by causing our eyes to dwell on our circumstances. As Christians we need to renew our minds with God’s faith-filled word.

We can read of many difficult or even hopeless circumstances in the Bible – (check out these stories – Exodus 14, Joshua 10:1-15, 1 Samuel 17:14-51, Daniel 3, Mark 5:35-43), but we can see in every case, when they brought God into their situation and conquered their fears, deliverance came.

Things happen, the threat of losing your job hangs over your head, a rebellious teenager causes you to fear for their safety, angry parents threaten to exclude you from the family because of your decision to follow Jesus, bills pile up and you don’t know how you are going to pay them, sickness comes and threatens your life…. Fear is real, it is powerful, but love is stronger. God has a way through for you….. a path of escape. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

First John 4:18 says “perfect love drives out fear”. God loves us with a perfect love – he has only good purposes in His plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). His word is full of hope-giving, life-giving words which we need to read and meditate on. To immerse ourselves in the truth of God’s love for us will cause us to trust His love and fear will be driven far away from us. This doesn’t mean we will not have troubles but it does mean that God can deliver us from them all (Psalm 34:19).

A little child totally trusts his father to care for him; to catch him when he trips, to lift him when he falls, to protect him from harm, to feed him when he is hungry. God wants our trust to be like that.
Jesus told us in Matthew 6:31-33, “So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
What fear do you need to bring to your heavenly Father today?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you know the fearful thoughts of my heart. Please help me to trust your love for me. Amen