I mean, first off there are so many different kinds of fear, so you have to define which type of fear you're even referring to when you talk about fear! Sometimes fears are referred to as phobias. Today there is a phobia for everything. It's a little overwhelming, if you know what I mean.
No wonder God told us not to be afraid so often in Scripture. It's His number one command.
"Fear not. Don't be afraid. Fear not. Have I not told you..? I am with you. You need not be afraid"...and so on. But we still don't get it.
Have you ever been afraid? I have.
Maybe I've told you this story. If so, forgive me... but I was terrified during my first trip to the E.R 5 years ago. My arms and legs were paralyzed and I was having trouble breathing. The E.R staff didn't seem to get it and one of the nurses dropped me on the floor. She also ignored the fact that my feet wouldn't stay on the wheelchair foot plates, so as she pushed, they kept getting run over. I couldn't speak, so she just kept going. Meanwhile, I fought for every breath. I was sure I was going to die. I could pray, which I did.
No wonder God told us not to be afraid so often in Scripture. It's His number one command.
"Fear not. Don't be afraid. Fear not. Have I not told you..? I am with you. You need not be afraid"...and so on. But we still don't get it.
Have you ever been afraid? I have.
Maybe I've told you this story. If so, forgive me... but I was terrified during my first trip to the E.R 5 years ago. My arms and legs were paralyzed and I was having trouble breathing. The E.R staff didn't seem to get it and one of the nurses dropped me on the floor. She also ignored the fact that my feet wouldn't stay on the wheelchair foot plates, so as she pushed, they kept getting run over. I couldn't speak, so she just kept going. Meanwhile, I fought for every breath. I was sure I was going to die. I could pray, which I did.
God spared me, but that was the beginning of my battle with fear.
I only want to talk about a couple of the basic types of fear...the ones I've experienced. Otherwise, this article would become a book...and I don't think either of us bargained for that!
The fear of God is a good thing because it means we're in reverential awe of Him. That's important. We need to have the appropriate viewpoint.
If you say, "Well, Ann, I'm not afraid of God," that either means you don't get it, OR it means you
have a solid, loving relationship with Him and you don't need to be afraid, which is the best.
have a solid, loving relationship with Him and you don't need to be afraid, which is the best.
Fear of the Lord brings blessing and benefit! Scripture tells us it is the beginning of wisdom, for example, and it leads to good understanding. (I could use some of that!)
Additionally, fear of the Lord brings abundant life, rest, peace and contentment..all wonderful, healthy things!
Our grandparents used to refer to themselves as God-fearing people. Sounds like a pretty good thing to me! God desires us to have this type of fear.
Rational fear, like fear of playing in traffic, or fear of a hot stove are also good. It's the same fear that
keeps us from dark alleyways, out of lightning storms and away from alligator infested lakes! This
type of fear teaches us to stay safe. We, in turn, teach our kids to avoid dangers so they can also stay safe. It's healthy, so this can't be the thing God is warning against.
keeps us from dark alleyways, out of lightning storms and away from alligator infested lakes! This
type of fear teaches us to stay safe. We, in turn, teach our kids to avoid dangers so they can also stay safe. It's healthy, so this can't be the thing God is warning against.
There is another fear. You knew that, right? There had to be.
It's called the "spirit of fear." Maybe you're familiar with it. Maybe not. It's possible to be immersed in it and not even know it. It creeps in and takes hold.
The apostle Paul wrote a letter to his young protégé, Timothy, and part of the letter is a warning to Timothy about this fear. In it he said this, "Tim, God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control."
Did you catch it? The phrase, 'spirit of fear' is right there in the middle of Paul's statement. But why the warning? What is Paul saying to Timothy?
Sounds to me like this fear is the antithesis of things like power, love and self-control...or at least it is
the thing that will keep us from practicing those things. Yeah, you see, power, love and self-control
are given to us when we are yielded to the Holy Spirit, not given over to fear.
Sounds to me like this fear is the antithesis of things like power, love and self-control...or at least it is
the thing that will keep us from practicing those things. Yeah, you see, power, love and self-control
are given to us when we are yielded to the Holy Spirit, not given over to fear.
Now fear is part of life on planet earth. The "spirit of fear" Paul warned about is a bit different. This type of fear isn't healthy, but rather, unhealthy.
Did you ever know a person who was consumed by fear...someone who made poor decisions because fear ruled that person's heart?
Yeah, me too.
I mean, I get it.
Did you ever know a person who was consumed by fear...someone who made poor decisions because fear ruled that person's heart?
Yeah, me too.
I mean, I get it.
Our current culture goes to extremes to make sure we get afraid and stay afraid. It's part of the plan, I'm afraid. (Sorry)
Fear is very controlling. If we stay afraid, we abdicate our rights and responsibilities to someone else,like a spouse, parent or the government for example. Make sense?
Let me put it this way.
Irrational fear puts us in a position of weakness and prevents us from being responsible, accountable people who are capable of making wise decisions. Yes, this fear is irrational.
See the difference?
See the difference?
So, what's making you afraid? There are as many reasons to be fearful as there are named phobias these days. No one argues that we live in perilous times. But, we can live with joy and hope in spite of that fact. I do it everyday.
I am not a fearful person. Never have been. I see the glass way more than half-full and I have made
exactly zero decisions in my life from the position of a fearful woman, that is until, yes, you guessed it, five years ago when I had that first paralytic attack. It changed me. When the second one hit, I was as lost as anyone has ever been.
The fear flags were raised and I couldn't see past them.
False. Evidence. Appearing. Real.
Yeah, that's an acronym for the word fear. Maybe you're familiar with it. Some Christian circles use it to try and purge their people of the fears that plague them.
I am not a fearful person. Never have been. I see the glass way more than half-full and I have made
exactly zero decisions in my life from the position of a fearful woman, that is until, yes, you guessed it, five years ago when I had that first paralytic attack. It changed me. When the second one hit, I was as lost as anyone has ever been.
The fear flags were raised and I couldn't see past them.
False. Evidence. Appearing. Real.
Yeah, that's an acronym for the word fear. Maybe you're familiar with it. Some Christian circles use it to try and purge their people of the fears that plague them.
I never got it.
If we're dealing with the spirit of fear, then we need to read Scripture and talk to God, not memorize some acronym...not to be disrespectful here, but this is important. I'm sure someone thought that would be helpful. It just never resonated with me. As hard as the disease tried to push me under, I fought back the only way I knew how...with my Bible and prayer time. Call me simplistic.
My first acronym.
Stay. In. God's. Word. What does that spell? S-I-G-W.
Oh, shoot, it's not a word. Read what God has written to you. It's all there...all written down. Ask Him to lead you as you read. You have so much good material to choose from...Genesis to Revelation and that will soothe your fears, dear friends. He'll be speaking directly to you from those pages. With more Bible verses about fear than any other topic, you won't have to read far to find something helpful! Plus, just knowing it's the very God Who hung the stars that wrote to you...well, that's something!!
Ok, how about this acronym.
Stay. Close. To. God. Let's see S-C-T-G. Nope, that's not a word either...but you get the idea. God wants to hear from you! Talk to Him. He's always available to listen. Ask Him to speak to your heart. He'll do it. He'll calm your fears. Prayer, meditation on His Word, or singing can be great ways to bring yourself into God's Presence. I frequently use all 3.
If we're dealing with the spirit of fear, then we need to read Scripture and talk to God, not memorize some acronym...not to be disrespectful here, but this is important. I'm sure someone thought that would be helpful. It just never resonated with me. As hard as the disease tried to push me under, I fought back the only way I knew how...with my Bible and prayer time. Call me simplistic.
My first acronym.
Stay. In. God's. Word. What does that spell? S-I-G-W.
Oh, shoot, it's not a word. Read what God has written to you. It's all there...all written down. Ask Him to lead you as you read. You have so much good material to choose from...Genesis to Revelation and that will soothe your fears, dear friends. He'll be speaking directly to you from those pages. With more Bible verses about fear than any other topic, you won't have to read far to find something helpful! Plus, just knowing it's the very God Who hung the stars that wrote to you...well, that's something!!
Ok, how about this acronym.
Stay. Close. To. God. Let's see S-C-T-G. Nope, that's not a word either...but you get the idea. God wants to hear from you! Talk to Him. He's always available to listen. Ask Him to speak to your heart. He'll do it. He'll calm your fears. Prayer, meditation on His Word, or singing can be great ways to bring yourself into God's Presence. I frequently use all 3.
I've learned, in recent years, that it is my friendship with the Lord Himself that takes away my fear, and empowers me to stand with courage. Yes, I still feel afraid at times. But feelings, including fearful ones, come and go. They can be fickle. They can be manipulated, thank You Lord!
The truth of God's Word stands forever, "Perfect love casts out fear." There is no perfect love except the love of the One Who created me and loves me forever. Now that makes me smile...
How can I be afraid?
Peace, love and joy my friends xx
