ARE YOU AFRAID? BY MILTON DYKES
The events at Virginia Tech University with the tragic deaths of 32 innocent lives released a new wave of fearfulness across our nation. Terrorism is sweeping around the world and producing a whirlwind of alarm that reaches from small children to the highest levels of leadership of government.
Then there are other forms of fear that grip people. Fear of rejection, failure, loss of jobs, or fear of change that impact us. Fear and anxiety are crippling and debilitating emotions that rob and drain the very life from us. Fear paralyzes and keeps us from God’s best and highest will for our lives. God wants us to live in faith rather than fear—He has not given us a spirit of fear… (II Timothy 1:7). Look at the contrasts between faith and fear:
FEAR
Then there are other forms of fear that grip people. Fear of rejection, failure, loss of jobs, or fear of change that impact us. Fear and anxiety are crippling and debilitating emotions that rob and drain the very life from us. Fear paralyzes and keeps us from God’s best and highest will for our lives. God wants us to live in faith rather than fear—He has not given us a spirit of fear… (II Timothy 1:7). Look at the contrasts between faith and fear:
FEAR
Weakens
Imprisons
Paralyzes
Paralyzes
Disheartens
Sickens
FAITH
Strengthens
Liberates
Empowers
Encourages
Heals
Strengthens
Liberates
Empowers
Encourages
Heals
Fear breeds more fear. It weakens. It causes inaction. Fear wastes energy and keeps us from reaching our potential. So what can we do to deal with our fears?
1. Admit your fears to God. He can turn your fear into faith.
2. Realize your fears can limit you (studies show that 95 percent of our fears are baseless).
3. Put your fears into perspective. What were you afraid of 10 years ago? Can’t remember? Maybe today’s fear won’t mean so much 10 years from now.
4. Focus on what you can control. If you can’t control it or change it, then why fret over it?
5. Give attention to today—not yesterday or tomorrow. Jesus taught this in Matthew
6. Feed faith—starve fear. The emotion we give attention to will grow.
Mark Twain said, “I’ve been through some terrible things in my life, a few of which actually happened.” There is a lesson for us in his statement. Most of the fears the enemy of our souls puts into our hearts never happen.
Finally and most of all: God will take care of you. Don’t be afraid.
Mark Twain said, “I’ve been through some terrible things in my life, a few of which actually happened.” There is a lesson for us in his statement. Most of the fears the enemy of our souls puts into our hearts never happen.
Finally and most of all: God will take care of you. Don’t be afraid.
posted by Kristy Dykes @ 6:27 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Helpful post. I struggle with fear vs. my faith all the time. I talk myself into, out of, and through things in order to not allow my fears to take over. Mostly I pray and declare the Word of the Lord. It would be great, rather than for the fears to change, to no longer fear, at least not those things which do not place me in physical danger.
Thanks for your comments, Patricia. Yes, we need to pray and declare the Word of the Lord. Amen and amen.
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