Fear is Not Your Portion.

Fear crept into my life at a very, very young age. I don’t remember my childhood without fear, quite frankly. Fear of the dark. Fear of dogs. Fear of drowning. My mother was killed when I was a toddler, and frequent sexual and physical abuse became part of my story. Those childhood traumas left fear, a familiar face that often came knocking at my door. Divorce. Death. Disappointment. Attacks from the enemy. They all lead to a war against fear. Fear is often silently strangling us. Yet, our Father in Heaven paid for us to have an abundant life free from fear, worry, and anxiety. There are three things that I learned to do to lay down fear and walk into the freedom Christ paid for me to have.

1. Acknowledge what fear is. If fear didn't come from the Lord, then who gave it to us? As Christians, we must understand that Satan gave us fear as a mere tactic to distract us from the plans the Lord has for us. His attempt is to destroy our lives, making us completely unfruitful for the Kingdom of God. He wants to steal every quality of life, kill our confidence, and destroy our hope. His plan is to render us useless and beaten up. His plan is to push us into giving up. He exacerbates the fear of our futures, the fears about our children, and the fears of permanent loneliness or rejection. We must see with our spiritual eyes, then realize we have the authority to dispel every fear with the power of Christ's blood. Whom shall we fear? What can mere man do? What can the enemy do? He is defeated.
2. Seek God until he takes away our fears. Look at what Psalms 34:4-5 says. “I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” Keep pursuing freedom from fear, even when everything around you seems scary, hopeless, and endless. Keep asking God to deliver you from the fear that is being forced upon you. He is faithful to deliver. Seek the Lord. Remember the woman with the issue of blood? How desperate was she for her freedom and healing?
3. Speak the truth. Speak truth over your fear, even when you don't feel like it, even when it seems impossible, and even when it's the hardest thing you've ever done. Do you find yourself in an unexpected situation today? Are you fearful of your future? Your kid's choices? Your finances? Your marriage? Your singleness? God's word promises you victory, authority, and strength.

Remember, mommas, the Lord has given you a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Rise up and accept your portion from the Lord! As the song says – a sound mind for the spirit of fear! Start proclaiming that your mind will be in alignment with God’s word.

Points to Ponder:

• What do you fear most? Why? What answers does God have in His word about fear?