The phrase ‘Do not be afraid’ is written in the Bible 365 times. That’s a daily reminder from God to be fearless every day. 1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love cast out all fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love." We have not received a spirit of bondage to fear like we had before we were born again (Rom. 8:15). Fear opens the door and leads us into spiritual bondage because it produces a spirit of depression, control and enslavement. It is sad to say that many of us have become a potential prey of the enemy, Satan, and his lying snares. Fear usually begins in the mind during our childhood when we experienced traumatic events. Some we may remember and some we may not for they were so traumatic that we never want to remember them. They are hidden in our subconscious.
When God created Adam and Eve, there was no evidence of fear in man or beast but perfect harmony in His creation and man. When sin separates us from God we hide ourselves from God like Adam and Eve did. When we are fearful and full of anxiety we will hide ourselves from God. Jesus Christ took care of our fears on the cross for sin was conquered by Him. Fears and anxiety cause a lot of problems. Jesus says to " ... stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater (in quality) than food, and the body (far above and more excellent) than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. ARE YOU NOT WORTH MORE THAN THEY? ARE YOU NOT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO THE HEAVENLY FATHER THAN THESE? And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life? And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these." (Matt. 6:25-27 AMP) If God takes care of all of these then for sure He is taking care of you! So stop worrying and start trusting God! When we worry we are saying that our circumstances are bigger than God. There isn't anything bigger than God! “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” (6:34 MSG)
Worry is the fruit of fear, and fear is rooted in a lie that you believe is the truth! I have recently been told that 98% of what people worry about never comes to pass. I think it's time for us to stop worrying and take God's Word and declare what He says concerning our lives. Our lives are very important to God, for we were fearfully and wonderfully made by Him and He still thinks precious thoughts about us (Ps. 139:17).
If we had some of these same wonderful thoughts like Him and believed them, the ungodly mindsets and worries would not be able to control us. Mindsets like "no one really cares about me and besides it's up to me to protect and look after myself." These thoughts may seem logical and rational and so we embrace and accept them as truth. They become implanted in our subconscious mind. They become our way of thinking. We need Holy Spirit to help us see and realize that this is not the way God wants us to think.
Fear has torment and causes us to be anxious and to become physically sick. We must be willing to face our fears and forgive those who have wounded or abused us. Don't let fear control you any longer. Don't be a victim by listening to its lies saying that your life is hopeless and that you're not important. Many of our fears are in our imagination and in what might happen. God's love will cast out all fear when we believe. Change your way of thinking and start "... filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." (Phil. 4:8 MSG)
- Pastor Carol McLean