FEAR

Fear

 

Fear is the opposite of faith, and is displeasing to God:

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  Heb 10:38

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Heb 11:6

Fear:

* Clouds our judgment.

* Paralyzes our actions.

* Causes us to delay. Rationalize. Over-spiritualize.

* Promotes paranoia.

* Induces us to think irrationally; to loose objectivity.

* Destroys our trust in others.

* Diminishes our ability to believe. Risk. Act.

* May be a reason we impute wrong motives to others.

* Is often the product of our pride.

* Refuses to believe God is there; is in control, and can be trusted or taken seriously.

How do we break the bondage and cycle of fear? By choosing to believe God through acting upon His promises. So right now, if you are struggling with fear, choose to believe these promises:

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  2 Tim 1:7

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;  Psalms 46:1-2

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth  Psalms 46:10

I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.  Psalms 34:4

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.  Psalms 34:17

It was amidst the storm that Jesus told Peter to step out of the boat and walk on the water to Him. The moment he looked away from the Master to the circumstances Peter’s faith turned to fear, and he began to sink. And so it is with us.

Matt 14:22-34

You and I have a simple choice to make: Either we will allow the demons of fear, doubt, inadequacy etc., to paralyze and diminish us into spiritual midgets, or we will live above life’s crippling circumstances by choosing to believe and act upon His (God’s) promises.

QUESTION: Today, which do we choose? Faith or fear?