larshaukeland

18 Victory over fear

Encouragement for difficult days (18):

VICTORY OVER FEAR

A lady once approached D .L .Moody and told him she had found a wonderful promise in the Bible that helped her overcome fear. The verse was Psalm 56:3 “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee”.

Mr. Moody replied “Why I have a better promise than that!” And he quoted Isaiah 12:2a “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid”.

These words from Isaiah 12:2 are worth knowing in these days when it’s so easy to get frightened. Jesus told us that in the end times men’s hearts will fail them for fear of the things about to happen, and it sure looks like we are seeing some of this take place today. Psychologists are now writing books and magazine articles about how to overcome fear.

Not all fear is bad, but some is good for us. We warn our children not to go near the busy streets, and we put within them a healthy fear of being struck by a car. Eventually that infantile fear will be replaced by mature common sense; but until that happens, we dare not take any chances. Also, the fear of punishment is one basis for discipline. It may not be the highest motive for doing good, but at least it helps us to get started.

In the Bible, we are told to fear God (i.e. Proverbs 1:7 where it states: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”) This fear, of course, is a proper respect and reverence for God. It is not the cringing fear of a slave before a brutal master, but the proper respect of a son before a loving Father. It is the kind of fear that opens the way to abundant life in Christ.

The pear mentioned in Isaiah 12:2 is the fear that paralyzes people – the fear that gets into the heart and mind and creates tension and worry, and keeps a person from enjoying life and doing his best. The world is full of people who are afraid of life, afraid of death, afraid of the past, afraid of the future – in fact, people who are being enslaved by fear.

Jesus Christ never meant for us to be the slaves of fear. It is exciting to read the Bible and discover how many times God says “Fear not!” to His people. In the Christmas story, the angels who appeared unto the shepherds said “Fear not!” When Peter fell at Jesus’ feet and asked Jesus to depart from him because he felt he was such a great sinner, Jesus said “Fear not!” to him. When Jairus had received the bad news that his daughter had died, Jesus told him “Fear not, only believe….” Jesus wants us to conquer fear, and He is able to help us win the battle.

1.       Sometimes fear is caused by a guilty conscience

Eks. When Adam and Eve sinned.

When this is the problem, the solution is to ask forgiveness for what we have done.

2.       Sometimes fear is caused by ignorance

Children are afraid in the night because the shadows look like giants, bears or ghosts.

In this situation the light of truth can scare away the frightening darkness.

3.       Sometimes fear is caused by our own feeling of weakness

We are so accustomed to managing things ourselves that when an unmanageable crisis comes along, we feel helpless and afraid. However, there’s strength in the Lord.

4.       Sometimes fear is caused by emotional letdown

Sometimes fear comes, not before the battle or even in the midst of the battle, but after we have won the victory. Here it’s important to stay focused on God in prayer and studying of the Word.

5.       Sometimes fear is caused by unbelief

This is often the true cause of fear. Did the disciples know that Jesus could still the storm, or did they simply not believe it? Jeus words were “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

6.       The solution

The secret of victory over fear is faith in God. There is no problem too great for God to solve, no burden too heavy for God to carry, no battle too overwhelming for God to fight and win.

Our verse says “I will TRUST, and not be afraid!”

Here are three steps in how to gain victory over fear:

a.        Step 1

Get your eyes off yourself and your feelings, and off the problems hat have upset you, and get your eyes on God.

b.        Step 2

Lay hold of God’s Word. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

When you read your Bible, you find that your faith is growing.

c.        Step 3

Pray and surrender to the Holy Spirit.

Tee God about your fears – tell Him that fear is really evidences of unbelief – and ask God to help your unbelief (just like in the sinner and the publican

1 Timothy 1:7

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Walk in power and love….