Fighting FearIsampula

FEAR HAS AN AUTHOR

A spirit of fear is better understood in the reality that this fear has an author. This concept is crucial if we are going to know how to fight against fear successfully. The online publication "Psychology Today," wrote an article called "The Five Deceptions of Fear" and had this to say: “For fear to successfully convince us to see the reality it wants us to see and not the reality that is, it must first distort the truth about how it distorts the truth. We must not know that fear is a distortion, or we would no longer believe in it. So, fear draws a veil of obscurity over the way things are and then keeps us in darkness about what it has done.” I found this article fascinating in the way that fear was personified.

The biblical root starting point of fear is based on the fear of dying. Hebrews 2:14-15 "Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying."

Remember, death was NOT God's plan for us. This is why even the idea of death causes so much fear in us as human beings. Death resulted from not obeying God's clear instructions, which was not eating from the knowledge of good and evil. In Genesis 3:4, who was the author of the lie "you won't die"?

Fear has an author. The fruit of agreeing with the lies of this author is fear.

I used to love flying until I became a parent, then fear crept in through the thought of what would happen to my children if I had to die in a plane crash. (Note: I had no fear if my kids were with me on the same flight.) The fear thought's goal was to get me to doubt the goodness of God towards my kids and get me to live a small life by never flying again or crippling me with anxiety that I had no energy for ministry. Fear has an author and agenda.

The good news, however, is based on the truth that through the death of Jesus, the power of the author of fear - the devil has been broken according to Hebrews 2:14-15.This is an incredible hope handle to align our minds to the freedom found in Christ. "Oh, death, where is your sting?"

Reflections:

• Consider the fears you struggle with.
• Think back on the thoughts that entered your mind when you first felt fear.
• Consider the lies spoken into your mind that triggered the rippling effects of fear.

Pray:

Lord, I pray you reveal the root lies behind my fears. I pray for your wisdom to discern the lies that seek to prevent me from trusting in your goodness, power and strength. Thank you, Lord, that your perfect love casts out fear. I pray for a fresh experience of your love today. Amen.