OVERCOMING FEAR
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Fear is one of the devil’s greatest strategies against you. Whether it’s fear for your health, your finances or fear of failure and defeat. Fear comes from the devil. He will drop thoughts of doubt and fear into your mind so that you will meditate and voice them in your life. It’s this perpetual meditation and giving voice to doubtful and fearful thoughts that enable them to grip hold in your soul.
Job 3:25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.
But you need to understand God does not want you to be a fearful person. He wants you to rise up with courage and with faith because whatever consumes your soul and mind, is what you will become.
Proverbs 23:7 For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:7 that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but one of power, of love and a sound mind.
Paul gives us three keys here to overcoming fear…
Do not forget the power of God. God is powerful. Psalm 78:41-42 says that Israel did not remember the power of God. They limited God through their persistent complaining and not believing in His power going to work for them. When problems come your way, don’t complain, but praise God for He is the One who has all power and will protect and carry you through every valley.
Do not forget the love of God. You need to know that you are loved by God. The more you know you are loved by God, fear will evaporate from your life! 1 John 4:18 says, There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect (matured) in love.
Do not have a forgetful mind. Paul tells us to put on the helmet of hope. 1 Thessalonians 5:8, But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. Hope is a helmet that protects our minds. But there is something you need to do here and that is to bring the word of God to your remembrance. Meditating on bite-sized sections of scripture each day is all it takes to eliminate fear and worry.
This year I am meditating upon Psalm 23. I take a verse each day, like verse 4 “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me”. I meditate this throughout the day. It will not take long for fear to be uprooted from your heart.
Why don’t you make that same commitment this year? Meditate Psalm 23. Break each verse down into small bites and repeat it over and over throughout the day. It will bless you and prosper you.