Strongholds: Fear

As I begin to desire the Lord's working in my life, it is evident that there needs to be some serious self-examination. There are things that the Lord is drawing to my attention that I have not seen before. Word of warning: if you want to be changed and pray for it...get ready!

Fear...

For God did not give us a Spirit of fear
but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children. And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) – if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:14-17

By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love. We love because he loved us first.
1 John 4:17-19

 

Clearly the fears of this world are not of the Lord. I fear and worry about far too many things. This is not the spirit of God. His desire is that we would be free from the fears of the world. Do I trust the Lord? Do I really believe what He says? Who do I think is in control? In all honesty I believe I have been the one who I trusted. I believed I was in control. Wrong! What a slap in the face for my Savior! I have an arrogant heart masked by fear and worry. Reality check...

Let us carefully examine our ways,
and let us return to the Lord.
Let us lift up our hearts and our hands
to God in heaven:
Lamentations 3:40-41

Okay so I have admitted that fear is an issue. Now what?

I sought the Lord’s help and he answered me;

  he delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4

I have called on your name, O Lord,
from the deepest pit.You heard my plea:
“Do not close your ears to my cry for relief!”
You came near on the day I called to you;
you said, “Do not fear!”
Lamentations 3:56-57

Cry out to the Lord. Seek His help. Plea with the Lord for His relief. 

The Lord is good to those who trust in him,
to the one who seeks him. It is good to wait patiently
for deliverance from the Lord.
Lamentations 3:25-26

Even when I must walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff reassure me.
Psalms 24:3

The Lord’s angel camps around the Lord’s loyal followers and delivers them.
Psalms 34:7

The Lord answers...Do not be afraid. Seek shelter in me.

The Lord is good. He is a protector. He is powerful. He is GOD! He is with me always. He wants to deliver me! Why should fear have any place in my life? The only one I should be fearing is the Lord Himself!

The Lord is good –
indeed, he is a fortress in time of distress,
and he protects those who seek refuge in him.
Nahum 1:7
 

The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end.
They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant!
“My portion is the Lord,” I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him.
Lamentations 3:22-24

As for you, the one who lives in the shelter of the sovereign One,
and resides in the protective shadow of the mighty king –
I say this about the Lord, my shelter and my stronghold,
my God in whom I trust –
he will certainly rescue you from the snare of the hunter
and from the destructive plague.
He will shelter you with his wings;
you will find safety under his wings.
His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.
You need not fear the terrors of the night,
the arrow that flies by day,
the plague that comes in the darkness
or the disease that comes at noon.
Though a thousand may fall beside you,
and a multitude on your right side,
it will not reach you.
Certainly you will see it with your very own eyes –
you will see the wicked paid back.
For you have taken refuge in the Lord,
my shelter, the sovereign One.
No harm will overtake you;
no illness will come near your home.
For he will order his angels
to protect you in all you do.
They will lift you up in their hands,
so you will not slip and fall on a stone.
You will subdue a lion and a snake;
you will trample underfoot a young lion and a serpent.
The Lord says,
“Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him;
I will protect him because he is loyal to me.
When he calls out to me, I will answer him.
I will be with him when he is in trouble;
I will rescue him and bring him honor.
I will satisfy him with long life,
and will let him see my salvation.
Psalm 91