Afraid?

Are you always afraid or fearful for one reason or another? Do you know that the Word of God says that a person is a slave to whatever he gives into? Yes it does in 2 Peter 2:19, check it out for yourself. When you are a self-professed worrier, as some like to profess to be; anxious for everything, a literal worryguts, endlessly fixated on your challenges and difficulties – some warranted, others contrived – and afraid of the outcome, then you are enslaved by your fears. 

All over the Old and New Testaments are instances where individuals and groups of people are told to not be afraid. 

Moses told the people, "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today…” – Exodus 13:14 NLT

"Do not be afraid of them," the LORD said to Joshua – Joshua 10:8 NLT

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27 NIV

In his letter to Timothy, Paul wrote,

“The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 ERV

God never meant for us to be a people afraid but people who would trust the intent of His heart and believe that He desires nothing but our benefit. God has promised you and me that the plan He Himself has designed for each and every one of our lives is great (Jeremiah 29:11-14) but we have to cooperate with God by believing what He says. Instead we believe that it’s natural to be afraid, even of our own shadows, not realizing that to constantly think this way only keeps us rooted in fear.

Isaiah 26:3 assures us that if we keep our minds fixed on God, He will keep us in perfect peace. However, this cannot be properly done by means of our own power, we have to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power. God gave to us a powerful, loving, and disciplined Spirit, upon whose power we must draw if we are to truly overcome the fear to which we have given dominion over our lives.

Being continuously afraid gives fear a stranglehold on your mind and in turn your heart, and this chokes the life out of what you believe concerning God’s promises toward you. This fearfulness wreaks havoc in every area of your life; your general sense of perception is wrought askew, causing you to fall into a state of unbelief and making you unable to accept God’s testimony about you as a new creation in Christ Jesus. Consequently, you are not able to exercise even your mustard seed sized faith. 

Beloved, the sincere faith you had when you first believed in the Saviour, is that same faith you must keep ablaze even in the worst of circumstances. You must come to the realization that it is the same God who lovingly sent His only Son to die for you who is working all things together for your well-being. So, there is no reason to be afraid, is there? He knows what’s coming and it’s never for your harm but always for your ultimate good. If you continue to fear for your life and of what’s to come, you haven’t yet recognized your loving Father and the abundant blessings He has in store for you. 

We tend to give too much significance to our fears. Please, don’t let fear steal your reward (see Matthew 25:24-29). Surrender, as you once did yourself, whatever you are afraid of to God and allow Him to redeem it for something that is worthy. Let the transforming power of His Spirit transform your life. Be anxious for nothing (see Philippians 4:6).

Amen†

Afraid?

Shelley Johnson August 15, 2017