'These fear feed me, they nourish my drive'...'I love my fear'.
This phrase particularly scares me.
More and more these days, through conversations, I'm beginning to see the role 'fear ' can play in people's lives. Subtle as it is, it still affects the way people look at and live their lives.
So often when people speak about fear, it is as if it is some invincible force that cannot be overcomed.
Well, how true is that? 'For nothing is impossible with God'---Luke 1:37
So, What is fear really?
The passage from the image above clearly portrays the fears of the majority of people,
especially now in the phase of university life for me and my peers,
it is only normal to fear and worry about what the future has in-stored for us.
Will we be good enough? Will we end up not achieving anything?
Will we ultimately be just a 'nobody'?
When we are looking to determine the true nature of something, the best place to looks is in God's word. After all, isn't he the creator of all things?
For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but [He has given us a spirit]
of power, and of love, and of a sound mind---2 Timothy 1:7
From this verse, it is expressed that:
1. Fear is a spirit
2. It is a spirit that God did not give to us
3. And power, love, and sound mind are our protection from fear
Though we often talk about controlling our emotions, fear is much more than just an emotion.
Fear is a SPIRIT. And that spirit has no origin from God. It is a spirit of torment sent out by our enemy, the Devil. The Bible says that Satan only comes to 'steal, and to kill, and to destroy'---John 10:10
What Fear can do---Steal your miracle!
Fear has the power to steal the miracles that God wants to do in you, and through you.
An excellent example of this is what happened to Peter in Matthew 14.
He was on the edge of greatness, but his fear stole his miracle.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink,
cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said,
“why did you doubt?”
Let us stop and ponder on this amazing miracle.
Peter is the only man other than Jesus known to have walked on water.
Jesus was doing a miracle with him-Peter was changing the history of mankind as we knew it.
And what happened?
Peter saw his circumstances-The waves were crashing-The wind was blowing.
And then, he saw himself-his weak self-
'Men can't really walk on water? It's impossible!'
Suddenly, he began to fear.
And, just like that, the way we remember history was changed forever.
People usually don't remember that day as a day when God defied the laws of nature and caused a mere man to walk on water. It is most often remembered as the day that Peter's fear got the best of him.
That theif, fear, stole Peter's miracle.
Christian Fear is Double Minded
God said he has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, and of a sound mind.
When we are afraid, our minds are not sound as God describes.
When we fear or doubt God, we are said to be double minded---James 1:8
God says when a person comes to Him..
It must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (hesitating/doubting)...
For truly, let not such a person imagine
[For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitant/dubious),
[he is] unstable and unreliable
and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]...
That is exactly what the spirit of fear wants to do to you. To make you
unstable, unreliable, and uncertain about everything-
Your thoughts, God's promises. Everything.
Anyone who has ever feared can attest to the truth of the scripture
Why is Christian fear double minded? Because part of your mind may believe God's promises of love and provision, but you still hold on to your doubts and fears.
You can't believe Jesus is your healer, and then fear you'll die of cancer.
You can't believe Jesus is your provider, and then fear you'll go bankrupt.
That is being double minded.
Imagine if your own children had that much doubt in you desire or ability to care for them. That is why God sats that a double minded person should not expect to receive anything from Him.
So, do you choose faith or fear?
On a daily basis, every child of God makes a very important choice-
Will I live in faith or fear today?
Fear is something that does not discriminates. Man, woman, child, or adult.
At some point in our lives, we all have to come face to face with it, and Christians are no exceptions.
Franklin D. Roosevelt once proclaimed,
'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!'
But why should we fear fear? Because as mentioned, Fear is a thief!
It starts out by stealing God's peace from our hearts. And if we let it paralyze us from action,
it can rob us of our true destines in Christ.
As a Christian, fear should be your enemy
How Jesus Responded to Fear in the Bible
One of the amazing things about Jesus coming to earth is that He reveals the exact will of the Father to us. We are able to look at how He responded to His disciples while He was here on earth, and understand how God probably reacts to us in similar situations.
One of the best examples of Jesus responding to the fear of the disciples is in Mark 4.
But soon a fierce storm came up.
High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion.
The disciples woke him up, shouting,
"Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?"
When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves,
"Silence! Be still!"
Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
Then He asked them,"Why are you afraid?
Do you still have no faith?"
High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion.
The disciples woke him up, shouting,
"Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?"
When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves,
"Silence! Be still!"
Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.
Then He asked them,
Do you still have no faith?"
This is such an interesting passage of scripture. When you read through it, you can really see it all unfolding in your mind's eye. But, let's look at it as a metaphor for a second.
Meet Suzie:
Suzie loves the Lord, and she believes that the Lord loves her.
She is going along, living her life as normal, when, suddenly, a huge storm hits.
Just as the disciples watched as their boat began to fill with water,
Suzie watches as her life seems to begin falling apart.
Her finances are getting shaky and causing huge blow-ups between her and her husband.
She waits on God to come to the rescue, trusting that the storm will be over quickly,
but things continue to get worse.
Finally, Suzie goes to God.
"God, don't you see what's Going on? Don't you even care?"
Does He see? Does He care?
Many times Satan brings these same questions to our minds as believers.
But, we know that, when a person serves God,
our Heavenly Father "busies Himself with his every step."
Psalm 37:23
God says "the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid..."
Matthew 10:30-31
But, has Suzie gone to God with
a prayer of faith or fear?
She has gone to God in fear. And, to God, "whatsoever is not of faith is sin"
She has gone to God in fear. And, to God, "whatsoever is not of faith is sin"
(Romans 14:23).
What Exactly is Faith?
We often hear the word discussed and tossed around, but what is faith?
Hebrews says that it is "the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]" Hebrews 11:1
Just like fear, faith is our conviction, or belief, in a reality that we can't yet see.
The only difference is that faith assumes God will come through for you, and fear assumes that He wont.
Is there any wonder why fear is so displeasing in the eyes of your Heavenly Father.
Without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that He is,
and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
-Hebrews 11:6
for he that cometh to God must believe that He is,
and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
-Hebrews 11:6
Many Christians have mastered the first half of that verse - We believe that God is.
But, it is the second half where we fall short - We must believe that He rewards those that seek Him with their whole heart. That is a part of faith and, without it, we are not fully pleasing our Lord.
Choosing Faith or Fear Means Choosing Who You Will Believe
As Christians, when we realize we are afraid, we must stop and ask ourselves an important question. At that very moment, are we believing God, or are we believing Satan?
God says He will reward you for your desire to seek and obey Him. He says He's counted the very hairs on your head, and that He alone is your Provider and Protector.
But, Satan says, you are unworthy of God's rewards.
He says that God must be using His wrath to teach and train you.
These little whispers are what I call "Lies of Destruction."
They are little whispers from the enemy that seem harmless.
The big danger of these lies - They feel true.
When the devil whispers to you that the details of your life are too trivial for God to be bothered with, and that you must ultimately fend for yourself, it feelstrue.
That's when you have to make a conscious choice
to believe God's Word over your own feelings and emotions.
If you don't, these little lies of destruction will slowly erode your faith and fill your mind with fear.
When you choose faith or fear, in all reality, you are ultimately choosing who you will believe.
Of course, the choice between faith or fear is an easy one to make, but can be a hard one to keep!
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. ~ 1 John 4:18a
As you master controlling emotions, one of the most difficult emotions to control is fear. It can sneak up on you when you least expect it, and once it has you,
it can be hard to get free.
Many Christians don't realize it, but faith and fear are very similar in nature.
Both faith and fear are an unshakable belief in an unseen future. Neither is merely emotional, but both are spiritual forces. The only difference between the two is that one believes God will come through for you - The other believes He won't.
God says that He has not given you the spirit of fear, but, He has given you love, power, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). They are your most powerful weapons in your battle for freedom as you master controlling emotions of fear, doubt, and worry.
God's Power + Your Self-Discipline = A Powerful Force
As I've said before, fear is a spirit. It is a sign of a spiritual attack from your enemy, the devil.
But, knowing this should not bring even more fear.
God's power is living inside of you, and He has given you the power to stand against the enemy's attacks.
Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to
stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,
but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against mighty powers in this dark world,
and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor
so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.
- Ephesians 6:10-13 (NLT)
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to
stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,
but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,
against mighty powers in this dark world,
and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor
so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.
- Ephesians 6:10-13 (NLT)
For many Christians, Ephesians 6 is a passage that seems powerful in theory, but they have no clue how to apply it to their own lives. That is one of the reasons why many of us experience so much fear - We feel like Satan is beating up on us, but we have no idea how to fight back.
God has given you the weapons that you need to fight back, but if you don't know what they are, or how to use them, it is easy to become battle weary, and feel like giving up.
Another reason that many people struggle with fear is because they do not know God's promises for their life's challenges. That is where our self-discipline comes in.
God says that He hasn't given you fear, but self discipline (2 Timothy 1:7 AMP) -
Another reason that many people struggle with fear is because they do not know God's promises for their life's challenges. That is where our self-discipline comes in.
God says that He hasn't given you fear, but self discipline (2 Timothy 1:7 AMP) -
The ability to control your emotions and thoughts,
and not allow them to be manipulated by the enemy.
How do you begin controlling emotions and thoughts?
You fill your mind with the promises of God. One of the best ways to safeguard your mind against the emotional attacks of the enemy is by meditating on God's Word on a regular basis. And, doing that takes self-discipline!
Whether we realize it or not, everyone meditates. The true meaning of meditation is to roll a thought over in your mind, over and over again.
The issue that most Christians have is not that they do not know how to meditate. It is that they are meditating on their problems, and not their promises. They do not discipline their minds as God has instructed us to.
How do you begin controlling emotions and thoughts?
You fill your mind with the promises of God. One of the best ways to safeguard your mind against the emotional attacks of the enemy is by meditating on God's Word on a regular basis. And, doing that takes self-discipline!
Whether we realize it or not, everyone meditates. The true meaning of meditation is to roll a thought over in your mind, over and over again.
The issue that most Christians have is not that they do not know how to meditate. It is that they are meditating on their problems, and not their promises. They do not discipline their minds as God has instructed us to.
The more that you discipline yourself to meditate on God's Word, the easier it will become to reject thoughts that don't line up with it. And, that's what fears are - Thoughts that do not line up with God's promises to you.
Fear says God will not help you this time.
Fear says your children won't come back to the Lord.
Fear says that your finance will never improve.
Fear says that your marriage is ruined.
Your Key to Freedom From Fear!
There is no fear in love;
but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. - 1 John 4:18a
but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. - 1 John 4:18a
Perfect love drives out fear. But where do we find perfect love? Our parents? A spouse?
If you look for perfect love in these place, you will only be disappointed.
The only place where you can experience perfect love is in an intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father.
As you develop that intimate relationship with Him, His perfect love will become more and more real to you, and your fears will become more unrealistic than your faith.
God says that if we are tormented by fear, "this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. " (1 John 4:18b NLT).
That is something that should really make us all stop and think. When a fear creeps up inside of you, it should be a red flag that you need to continue deepening your relationship with God.
So, how do you begin controlling emotions of fear, doubt and worry? Your faith in the unyielding love of your Heavenly Father is what removes fear from your mind, regardless of your circumstances.
God has promised:
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.
They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope."
-Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope."
-Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
God has made out plans for your life, just like any good parent, because He loves you.
But, unlike any earthly parent, He has the power to bring those plans to pass.
Knowing that small piece of truth can help you overcome fear in a big way.
That does not mean that the spirit of fear will never try to to attack you.
But, it does means that your shield of faith can become strong enough to resist it.
Next time you feel yourself starting to worry, follow these simple steps for controlling emotions of fear.
5 Steps To Controlling Fear
- Recognize the fearful thought as a threat.
- Think of God's promise for that situation (if you don't know what it is, find out!)
- Pray and tell God your concern.
- Praise God for His promise to provide your needs.
- Refuse to worry about it any more. If it comes to your mind again, confess that you have given it over to your Heavenly Father in prayer. Then begin praising God that He heard your prayers and that the prayers of the righteous avails much (James 5:16).
**No matter how many times fear tries to return, continue repeating step 5.
Eventually, the devil will get the hint!**
朋友，这事特地笔下来，真心的希望你可以应用在你生活中。
我知道，你说的，要放弃一切，你的掌权，你的惧怕，你的梦想，
真的很不容易。
但是，谁说你是自己拼啊？
所以说在耶稣里，你的每一步都是有他陪伴。
朋友，你说过，假如我发现什么在你生命中需要改革的，你给我优利来告诉你。
今天朋友，在这文章里头，包含了我希望你能够在你生命中克服的事情。
跟‘惧怕’说再见吧！
有一天你会有这个见证－－－
耶稣提我那掉一切一切地惧怕，
在他里面只友爱，平安，喜乐！
我最爱的敬拜歌。。。
不妨每个早晨唱个诗歌给主吧！
credits: the hem of his garment online
credits: the hem of his garment online
