FEAR IS A WEAPON USED BY SATAN TO DISCOURAGE AND DISRUPT OUR LIVES

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
and delivered me from all my fears.”
(Psalm 34:4)

MEDITATION:
“Fear” is an emotion that can help us avoid the things that
are harmful. However, we can also find ourselves gripped
with unnecessary fears, which can affect our lives, emotions,
interactions with others, and even our faith. It can be driven
by anticipations, unknowns, uneasiness, or any number of
other factors, including our concerns about death and eternity.

When we are consumed with fears, we can feel helpless and
possibly develop panic disorders. Regardless of whether our
fears are legitimate or imagined, they are real to us, even if
others consider them to be silly.

The question is, “How can we overcome these real or imagined fears?”
God’s Word tells us that He gives us what we need for dealing with fear.
    For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift
    of God, which is in you through the laying on of my
    hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us
    timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
    (2 Timothy 1:6-7)

There is a powerful gift from God, and it is the Holy Spirit. Paul tells
us that we should never think of His gift as being dormant, but rather
think of it as one that should be activated (“fanned”) in our lives. How
can we ‘fan into flame’ this gift from God?

The scriptures connect ‘power’, to ‘love’ and ‘self-discipline’. We need
to embrace, embellish, and focus on becoming more loving and
developing self-control. Most of us could probably agree that many
of our fears are a by-product of our lack of self-control. We exceed
the boundaries God has established for those who love Him, and
suddenly we feel the pain of separation from our closeness with Him.

God hasn’t moved away from us, but we have moved away from Him.
When God feels far away from us, we can develop an uneasiness that
can cause fears to arise in our minds, which affects our lives. If you
have ever experienced this, then you know it is true. We know we have
‘messed up’ and we wonder about God’s view of us now.

When we read the scriptures, we can see that developing self-control
is an area we should focus on. Self-control improves our relationship
with God, and reduces our chances of yielding to the things that displease
Him and cause us to feel separated from Him. Feelings of separation from
God can develop and increase our fears.

We also need to learn how to become more loving. Look at how
Paul describes love as the most important attribute we can have.
    If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but
    do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or
    a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy
    and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
    and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but
    do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess
    to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I
    may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
    (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Paul tells us that if love is not the motivation for the good things
we do, then we are lacking the sincerity that gives them value.
That means we can miss out on the blessings associated with our
actions.

So how do we improve our capacity to love (ourselves, others, and God)?
Good question, and Paul answers it in the next few verses.
    Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy,
    it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not
    dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not
    easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
    Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with
    the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always
    hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But
    where there are prophecies, they will cease; where
    there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there
    is knowledge, it will pass away. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

In order to love, we need to become more patient and kind,
eliminate envy, pride, selfishness and anger, stop bragging,
stop looking for faults in others, become more forgiving,
learn to shun evil and embrace God’s truths (and believe them),
have a greater concern for others (‘protect and provide hope’),
and become more tenacious (‘persevere’) in doing good.

Paul says that some things may come and go, but these things
will always (‘never fails’) help us to become more loving. Love
is the nucleus in our life for everything that is good, and when
love grows, fear diminishes.

ACTION:
Never forget that fear is another tool used by Satan to damage our
relationship and fellowship with the Lord (and Satan has correctly
been identified as the Father of Lies). Whatever is hounding and
threatening us right now can be overcome if we believe God’s
promises of deliverance and hope, power and strength, and wisdom
and guidance.

Our attention to God may waver on a daily basis, but His love for us
and our well-being, never changes and never fails. It may be difficult
at times, but we need to look beyond the physical evidence, to the
spiritual promises of God. Problems are opportunities for God’s power
to be demonstrated in our life.

Developing self-control:
Rather than looking at the big picture, take it one day at a time
(researchers say that it takes approximately 21 days to establish a habit).
Each night, make a commitment for the next day to avoid the things
in your life which are wrong, displeasing to God, and create a gap in
your relationship with Him. During the next day, expect to be reminded
of your commitment from the day before. The increase of daily victories
will significantly change your life.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, You and I know the fears that have crept
into my mind and are affecting my life in a negative manner.
Thank You for Your promises to deliver me from my fears.
Help me to develop self-control and to become more loving
of You, of others, and of myself. Remind me daily of Your
love for me and Your power which can help me in my efforts
to overcome my weaknesses, my selfishness, and any attacks
from the evil one, including fear. Thank You for wanting what
is best for me, and for giving me the Holy Spirit to help me on
a daily basis.”

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