We all have them… fears.
Fear of the unknown… Fear of loss… Fear of rejection… Fear of failure… Fear of being hurt… Fear of dying… Fear of a purpose we’re not ready for… Fear of not being good enough… Fear of being judged… Fear of making the wrong choice… Fear of standing up for what is right because of what others might think…
FEAR
It’s real…it’s strong…and it’s something we all deal with in our lives. Maybe not all the time, but at some point we all face a fear that keeps us up at night. The kind of things that make our bodies pulse and tremble…our thoughts buzz quickly from one notion to the next at jet plane speeds wondering what might happen tomorrow. It’s a frustrating reality as well as one that can catch us off guard; before we know it we can let our fears take control of our thoughts and actions and we act not as ourselves. Our fear can drive us to a place of panic, and once that transition takes place…we risk birthing insecurity and bleeding it all over the people around us.
It’s important…heck, it’s vital that we put FEAR in its proper place; because the truth is FEAR can be used to motivate, or it can be used to cause destruction in our lives.
Will you let FEAR cause you to fight for your relationship or end it? Will you let FEAR drive you to pursue your dream or keep you at a standstill? Will you let FEAR push you to speak out for Christ or will you stay silent? Will you let FEAR motivate you to get out and discover the world or sit quietly and simply exist?
The awesome thing is that God gives us the tools to fight FEAR head on…but these tools are only effective if we choose to move forward in life…turning our backs risks exposure. I’ll explain what I mean by that in just a minute; first let’s look at our tools to fight our FEAR.
"And this is why you need to be head-to-toe in the full armor of God: so you can resist during these evil days and be fully prepared to hold your ground. Yes, stand—truth banded around your waist, righteousness as your chest plate, and feet protected in preparation to proclaim the good news of peace. Don’t forget to raise the shield of faith above all else, so you will be able to extinguish flaming spears hurled at you from the wicked one. Take also the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” –Ephesians 6:13-17 (Voice)
1. TRUTH is our first tool and it’s important because it allows us to see truth from lies. So much of our FEARS our fueled by deception. It’s true, on our own we can’t face and conquer our FEARS, but that’s where our faith comes into action and we rely on God to show us the truth…and that TRUTH is…we are not alone…and with Jesus we are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:31-39)
2. RIGHTEOUSNESS is our next tool and understand this is not our own works of righteousness. This righteousness is that of Christ’s, ascribed by God and received by faith. The righteousness of God guards our hearts against accusations, judgments, and charges of the world. Our hearts will always be a part of the battle and we must be humble enough to let God guard them.
3. PREPARATION is our third tool and it helps us to understand that life is anything but predictable. We’re going to face challenges and we’re going to have doubts about ourselves and each other; brothers and sisters these things are going to happen…but we have to press on and move forward. If we’re prepared, then when we feel the pressure of life…we’ll push back.
4. FAITH is our fourth tool and it inspires us to believe in the impossible. Listen, we’re going to face times in life when we FEAR the situation we’re in is far too big for us to handle; but that’s when God will come next to us and reveal that with Him all things are possible (Matthew 19:26) and our FEARS will crumble. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a quick process, but it is one that matters and will not only increase our faith in Jesus, but increase our faith and confidence in the person He has called us to be.
5. SALVATION is our fifth tool and it’s the most important tool we have. Salvation protects all that we are and gives us purpose…it gives us the strength to stand tall against the lies and attacks we face…and that includes the attacks from within. Without salvation we’ll struggle to believe that we have purpose and are worth everything to God.
6. GODS WORD is our final tool and it is our ultimate weapon. While all our other tools are defensive in nature, Gods Word is offensive and we can use it to overpower negativity and hopelessness in our lives and in the lives of other. Gods Word is truth and it inspires all those who choose to listen (Matthew 11:15)…even ourselves.
So these are our tools and with them we can face FEAR head on with God and live our lives free of worry, insecurity, and doubt. We can live our lives purposed and confident in the person He has created us to be. This knowledge will allow us to trust in others and inspire them to stand tall for Christ as well.
It’s important that you take notice though that all these tools are meant to be used for a life moving forward and pushing against FEAR. If we turn our backs and are exposed even slightly, we risk letting FEAR back into our lives. This shouldn’t scare you…it should instead motivate you to keep pushing forward.
