Psalm 56:3 “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”
Hundreds of millions of dollars have been made based upon fear.
Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost because of fear.
Lives that could have been lived to fulfill a great destiny, or have had a great impact, have been halted or extinguished because of fear.
We are all presented with situations and circumstances that cause us to fear. Fear causes us to be indecisive, wishy-washy, and often freezes our power to make any decision at all.
It is in these times that our enemy uses two words to derail our faith.
“What if…”
‘What if’ opens the door to doubt and fear.
‘What if’ puts God on trial in areas we previously trusted.
‘What if’ questions the sovereignty of God
‘What if’ questions the love of God.
‘What if’ questions the power of God.
‘What if’ questions the promises of God.
Our enemy attacks in areas where I am weak. If my faith is not strong in the knowledge of God’s love for me, he will tell me how unworthy I am of such a love that God gives. If my faith is weak in the area of God’s faithfulness, I will doubt His promises to me, and cower in the face of something from which God promised He would protect me.
This spirit of fear needs to be addressed in our lives.
Know this – this spirit did not come from God.
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Access to the power, the love, and the ability to have a sound mind all come from God. We fear and we lack because we do not have a relationship with God that would allow us to know who we are and what we have in Christ.
Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:...”
It is not some secret, mystical key; hidden from most and only accessible to few. No, God has placed it in plain sight accessible to all.
Then there are the times when someone or something takes us by surprise. Sudden fear.
Proverbs 3:25-26 “Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”
The ‘What if’s of our life come as fiery arrows and lodge in us, causing the doubt and fear to grow.
We have been given special armour to guard us and keep us. We have the helmet of salvation; the breastplate of righteousness; our loins girt about with truth; our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, a sword and a shield. All are vital and important, but one stands above them all.
Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
In any battle, the larger the shield, the greater confidence in protection. Anything less than whole body protection would leave doubt.
If the size of our shield would depend on the amount of our faith, how large would our shield be?
Little faith, little shield.
Large faith, large shield.
There is a confidence we can have in any battle no matter what we face. When I realize I am a child of the King of Kings, the Creator of the Universe, and the Savior of the world; I can rest in His promise, provision, protection, and power.
God’s love toward me is eternal, everlasting, unwavering, unlimited in power and depth, and is my Rock on which I set all my love and affection. God’s love toward me does not diminish when I fail or grow when I please Him. It is constant. In the center of His will and covered by His love, I am in a safe place.
1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
But… when I fear, I walk out from underneath that protection. Believing the ‘What If’s will do that.
Even when the situation and circumstance look impossible to me, God says; “I’ve got it covered!”
Mark 10:27 “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
You may be in the bondage of some sin, looking at the consequences and see no way out. Fear rises because ‘what if’ has opened the door and let that spirit in. God’s love – His perfect love has the power to hold at bay and quite literally destroy all the fear you may have.
Don’t believe the lies. Hold fast to the truth of the Word of God. Meditate and memorize His word concerning fear. If you hear that you are unworthy – fight back with:
Luke 12:6-7 “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
God has promised to meet our every need.
Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Trust His promise to you.
Jeremiah 33:2-3 “Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Daily Manna 