Fear is not an emotion I want to live with. We can all think of times we have been fearful. It is an emotion I want to run away from. I remember in my younger days watching a suspenseful movie and putting my hand over my face and peeping out between my fingers occasionally to see what was happening. In fact I saw far too many scary movies from a young age and it affected me so much that I would always look under my bed before I went to sleep at night. I would hear every little noise in the dark. Because of what I had seen on the screen my imagination would take me down that scary path.
As a believer in God, I am thankful that I don’t have to live in fear any more. We are called to live a life of faith, it’s the only way to please God – a life of faith in Him and His promises. Our lives are not based on what we see but on what God says in His word. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Living a life of faith is living a life of obedience to God (Romans 1:5) therefore living with fear is disobedience. We are all able to have fears but it is our choice not to succumb to them. I think of it like allowing a virus into a computer. Why would I torment myself allowing fears to come into my mind when God has provided a way of escape with the ability to live a life of faith, which leads to peace. Why would I allow my ‘enemy’ to torment me? There’s a truth in the acronym that FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real.
As a true believer we don’t intentionally want to disobey God but if we are allowing life’s circumstances to bring fears into our lives then it is time to act. It’s time for a check up. Do you believe the news more than God’s word? Turn TV off! Do you talk more about the bad news than God’s plans for our nation and world? Do you see yourself as a grasshopper instead of an overcomer who carries the power and authority of God? If you need to repent, repent and see yourself reigning with Christ in heavenly places. Refocus on God’s awesome plan for you at this time in history. My empowering statement when I hear about the gloom and doom is to declare “Not on my watch!”
We as a church are called to govern and to declare God’s destiny for our lives and for our nation. You and I privileged to be on earth at this time to be part of the great reawakening, the greatest move of God the world has ever seen. “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you.” Isaiah 60:1,2