Overcoming Worry by Pete BriscoeSample

The Fear Foe

It’s wonderful to climb the liquid mountains of the sky. Behind me and before me is God and I have no fears. — Helen Keller

I remember listening to Neal Anderson speak. He gave a fabulous example of what fear is all about—the kind of fear that robs us of faith:

“In order for fear to happen, there needs to be something that we’re afraid of that is both present and potent.”

Present. It has to be here, now.

Potent. It has to be a strong threat to something important.

Fear causes faith to shrink in timidity. It’s the primary reason we choose to not trust God:

• We’re afraid God’s presence might not be with us.
• We’re afraid we don’t have the resources to thrive.
• We’re afraid of how we’ll be treated for believing God’s Word.
• We’re afraid of letting things go and allowing His Spirit to lead us. 

Hear this: The Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient… Omni-Everything God says, “What are you afraid of? I’m more potent than anything that’s come in front of you, and I am always present in you and around you. Besides, I know about everything and I love you more than you can imagine or understand. TRUST IN ME!”

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Lord, my heart’s desire as an individual, as a saint, as a child of God is to walk in moment-by-moment dependence as You live Your life through me. Jesus, enable me to do just that—enable me to trust You. Even faith is a gift from You, Jesus. Please give me that gift, too!  So, I offer myself to You that I might experience life in who I really am in union with Christ, the Son of God, and the King of Kings. I pray these things in Jesus’ precious name. Amen!