Women in the Word

Overcoming Fear {1 John 4:18-19}

12:00 AM

January 22, 2019

Here we are at week 3, and God has been doing a huge amount of cleaning in my life. Right after Christmas, I began a purge – of stuff that cluttered my household and my heart. Then this study began. For me, it began a bit earlier than 3 weeks ago, because I needed to read and research each topic and scripture.

What I’ve discovered during this clean up and purge is it all boils down to Lordship. Seriously, there are a lot of very good Christians around us and right here this morning with us. But if we are truly honest with ourselves and each other, Jesus is not LORD over ALL of our lives.

Last week I shared some of my anxieties (Read Here) which God then led me immediately to where I am today. My anxieties are just that - mine. I own them. I hold them. I carry them around with me. But the remedy is so simple.

It starts with believing. Oh you can say you’re a believer on Sunday, then go to dinner afterwards and discuss all your troubles and go home and worry about your bank account, your job, your future and your kids’ future. But you said you believed – Really?

There is no fear in love

But perfect love (that’s God) drives out fear

Because fear has to do with punishment

The one who fears (that’s us) is not made perfect in love.

Here’s the kicker – fear has to do with punishment. We are usually afraid of something we sin – a behavior or something we are doing (gossip, slander, porn, abuse {physical or mental or substance}, shopper, diet, exercise), whatever, and we have truly not confessed it. Maybe our fears are sins/behaviors we’ve passed on to our children and so we are afraid of their salvation.

Perfect love (that’s God) casts out our fear – you’re afraid of your past, and your sins are never going to be completely forgiven – God casts them out (Micah 7:18, Psalm 103:12, John 1:29, Isaiah 38:17). God casts them out and He doesn’t care where they land. Remember the story of the demon possessed man and the pigs? Your demons are gone! Well, that is if you believe what Jesus says, then they are.

I think we don’t quite associate our anxiety or fears with demons, but maybe we should. We allow these demons to stay inside of us instead of truly believing what we profess to believe.

Somehow as I was studying, praying and learning about this, led me to read about Joseph being thrown into the pit and sold into slavery. Some of us are sold into the slavery of our fears and anxieties.

Satan is so incredibly clever that as soon as he sees a weak link in our armor, he moves in and whispers and we believe him.

“I think that if I had understood as I do now that this great King really dwells within this little palace of my soul, I should not have left Him alone so often and never allowed His dwelling place to get so dirty.” St. Teresa of Avila

Instead of being held captive in your “what ifs”, you truly need to BELIEVE. And I’ll be the first to admit that this has been difficult, but it begins with scripture – if you don’t know it and own it, you will not have the fighting power you need to survive all your fears. We need to be more like Jesus right? When Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, He was taken for a reason – to be tempted. Hello!!! We will ALL be tempted. Life here on this side of heaven will not be all rainbows, flowers and sunny days! We have been told there will be difficulties. But we have got to stop with all the excuses (“Well, we are only human…”) Seriously, we are believing the wrong person!

Instead of cowering when Satan lies, we need to kick him in the teeth! I mean take the Word and kick him in the teeth! He wants to take you down. He wants to take your family down. Instead we need to be like Jesus. Three times Satan tempted Jesus and Jesus responded with “It is written” (Matthew 4).

Each time you feel defeated and you allow yourself to live there in that pit of anxiety or to be possessed by the demon of fear, Satan laughs all the way to the bank. Are you really worried about your bank account? Or are you going to turn your eyes upon Jesus?

We have every reason to live in victory. There is NO FEAR IN LOVE and we can start by believing God. It starts with true belief. Belief in perfect love.

God has a plan. He ordained my life as well as my kids’ before we were ever even thought of (Psalm 139).

I have never associated myself with boldness – but today, I see it as a lack of fear. Having the courage to face the trials or even the courage to face the day to day. It means trusting His sovereignty and not leaning on my own understanding.

It takes intentionality on my part, it takes making my trust bigger than my fear/worry/anxiety. It takes fixing my eyes on Jesus. It takes repetition. Trusting God is not a one-time thing. Over and over. Moment by moment. Learning to trust Him more. Oh for the grace to trust Him more!

brave

Overcoming Fear- A Visitor Not A Resident {Deuteronomy 31-1:13}

11:04 PM

Monday's Reading- Deuteronomy 31:1-13

“The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone. But make your fear a visitor and not a resident.”...Max Lucado

I love the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. One of my favorite quotes comes from his book “The Lord of the Rings” in which the hobbit Bilbo Baggins tells his young cousin, “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” That’s how it is living in a fallen world. Scary things can be found all around us. And if we aren’t careful, we can find ourselves getting swept away into living lives focused on all there is to be afraid of, overwhelmed by things out of our control, and unable to enjoy God’s very best. But by putting our faith and trust in the Lord and keeping our feet firmly planted on the path He provides, when fear comes to call we can make sure it stays a visitor and doesn’t become a resident.

Throughout the Bible we read of people who despite feeling afraid accomplished great things for God. Joshua is one such person. After following Moses for forty years and witnessing the awesome miracles he performed, it became Joshua’s turn to lead. Imagine the fear and panic that ran through his head knowing that now it was him in charge of over two million people. And not just any people, God’s people. Moses, who I’m sure could relate to what Joshua was feeling, gave him some sage advice. “Be strong and courageous.” “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deut. 31:6,8) By applying these words to our own lives, we can break the grip of fear and its hold over our minds and hearts.

Be Strong-“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13) Instead of standing alone when we stand in the spiritual strength that can only be found in the Lord, we experience the power we need to face down even the deepest and darkest fear.

Be Courageous- “Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.” (1 Cor. 16:13) Although God promises to provide the strength to face our fears, we must muster up the courage. In a poem titled “Equipment”, Edgar Guest writes, “Courage must come from the soul within, the man must furnish the will to win.”

The Lord Goes Ahead-“You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” (Ps. 139:5) No matter what we face great or small, God is there. We have nothing to fear knowing He's always one step ahead lighting and leading us down the path that He Himself has carefully and lovingly laid out for us.

God Is Faithful-“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thes. 3:3) When others can’t understand what it is we’re feeling or the fears running through our minds they may judge us, turn away or let us down. Not God. He will never forsake, fail, or forget us. His love never changes and we can always depend on Him.

Do Not Fear-“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." (Ps. 56:3) Notice David doesn’t say, “if I am afraid”, he says, “when I am afraid.” Fear is an emotion that none of us can escape. God knows our thoughts and feelings, and tells us to bring them all to Him and trust that He is bigger than any fear you may face.

Fear is a part of life and not all fear is bad. There is the healthy fear that helps keep us from harm, and the fear of the Lord which is the “beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7) But far too often the fear that fills us is the kind that keeps us stuck and under the thumb of the Enemy. If you are struggling, give it all to God. Open your heart to His love and your ears to His words as He says to you His precious child, “Fear not, for I am with you.” (Is. 41:10)