What’s your fear factor?
Mine is the fear of the unknown in regards to my children’s future. I have a friend who is very afraid of spiders, and another who is afraid of heights. I also know someone who is afraid of being alone.
Fear is an emotion. When it is in balance with our mind, body, and spirit, it is good and can be used in a healthy way to protect us from danger.
When it is out of balance, however, it can be paralyzing.
When the emotion of fear overwhelms us as individuals, it usually stems from not being able to control a certain aspect of our life, and/or fear of the unknown.
So, as Christians, how do we put fear in its’ place and balance this emotion so that we do not have to live in bondage to it? God’s Word gives us some great answers!
Recognize daily that God is large in comparison to our fears:
Ephesians 3:14-21 – for this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Trust God and walk in courage through fear:
Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and He will direct your path.
Read the Story of Esther in the Bible:
Esther was a common woman who was obedient to God and walked in courage through her fears. Because of this she saved her people.
Remember to claim the power of the Holy Spirit that resides in you:
2 Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Read Psalms 91 out loud to yourself daily (here is portion of it):
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
(verses 2-7)
Acknowledge daily that God is in control. Daily bring your needs to Him and lay your burdens down at His feet to find peace and rest:
Philippians 4:6-8 – Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Finally, practice, practice, practice!!!
Philippians 4:9 – Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
LINKUP PARTY at Soaring with Him!
Share your Blog with our audience below:
1. Add your Link.
2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.
3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us!
4. Grab our Recharge Wednesday LINKUP button and put it somewhere on your blog or blog post. The code is on our sidebar!
[bctt tweet=”I’m Recharging! #RechargeWednesday LINKUP with @stepheewilkins & @PatHolbrook. JOIN US?” username=”PatHolbrook”]
Add your blog post by clicking on the blue rectangle.
Fear can be really paralyzing. I have had to overcome a lot of fears in my life and one of my favorite Psalm I recite is Psalm 91. Just the other day, I recited it aloud as fear started to grip me (My recent worry is that I will loose my triplets in the crowd, since I m planning on flying with them for the very first time soon)
Keep me in prayers,I know the devil thinks he is going to scare me but the Mighty Lord resides in me.
Diana (http://dianasdiaries.com)
Diana,
I will definitely keep you in my prayers. Like you, Psalm 91 is one of my favorite scriptures. Years ago, this scripture helped me overcome a terrible fear of being alone. Jesus did an amazing work in my life, as a young wife in my twenties at that time. He knew I needed to break free of this bondage because his plan for me was to experience being alone on a much larger level in several foreign countries, as the wife of a traveling international business man! God is good, all the time and he knows exactly what we need! When He is in control, we are in our emotions are balanced. When we are in control, our emotions get the best of us! I am praying peace for you as you trust the savior with your children. There is no safer place they can be than in His arms. He will direct your words, and your actions with your children as you travel and you will have a wonderful trip with him as your guide!
Fear can be really paralyzing. I have had to overcome a lot of fears in my life and one of my favorite Psalm I recite is Psalm 91. Just the other day, I recited it aloud as fear started to grip me (My recent worry is that I will loose my triplets in the crowd, since I m planning on flying with them for the very first time soon)
Keep me in prayers,I know the devil thinks he is going to scare me but the Mighty Lord resides in me.
Diana (http://dianasdiaries.com)
Diana,
I will definitely keep you in my prayers. Like you, Psalm 91 is one of my favorite scriptures. Years ago, this scripture helped me overcome a terrible fear of being alone. Jesus did an amazing work in my life, as a young wife in my twenties at that time. He knew I needed to break free of this bondage because his plan for me was to experience being alone on a much larger level in several foreign countries, as the wife of a traveling international business man! God is good, all the time and he knows exactly what we need! When He is in control, we are in our emotions are balanced. When we are in control, our emotions get the best of us! I am praying peace for you as you trust the savior with your children. There is no safer place they can be than in His arms. He will direct your words, and your actions with your children as you travel and you will have a wonderful trip with him as your guide!
Stephanie, this is such good and intentional thinking. We do have choices as to where we let our mind and our hearts dwell. Thank you for encouraging us to dwell in Truth.
Michele,
You are so welcome. Our minds really do like to wander. Keeping in the Spirit is key, but easier said than done. I like the term you used, “dwell in Truth”. I like it because “dwell” means to “live in” and if we do “live in” Truth, we are covered by it. Have a great day!
Stephanie, this is such good and intentional thinking. We do have choices as to where we let our mind and our hearts dwell. Thank you for encouraging us to dwell in Truth.
Michele,
You are so welcome. Our minds really do like to wander. Keeping in the Spirit is key, but easier said than done. I like the term you used, “dwell in Truth”. I like it because “dwell” means to “live in” and if we do “live in” Truth, we are covered by it. Have a great day!
When I’m fearful – I quote scripture – in particular, Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. This reminds me that I don’t have to live in fear. Sometimes I just say it loudly and with force until the fear dissipates.
When I’m fearful – I quote scripture – in particular, Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. This reminds me that I don’t have to live in fear. Sometimes I just say it loudly and with force until the fear dissipates.
Esther’s story is one that shows obedience and how to keep the big picture in mind when walking through our fears. Her outcome was victory. Sometimes though, the outcome may end up differently than expected, but peace still comes knowing we were obedient, doesn’t it?
Esther’s story is one that shows obedience and how to keep the big picture in mind when walking through our fears. Her outcome was victory. Sometimes though, the outcome may end up differently than expected, but peace still comes knowing we were obedient, doesn’t it?
“God is large in comparison to our fears.” Amen. So thankful for a big God who gives big courage to those who trust in Him. Fear has been a constant in my life, but God’s been doing an inside work these last few years and the fear is giving way to the God who’s bigger. PTL. (But, the spiders…eek…) Nice to meet you, Patricia. You have a fan-girl over at #ChasingCommunity this week! 🙂 ((graces))
“God is large in comparison to our fears.” Amen. So thankful for a big God who gives big courage to those who trust in Him. Fear has been a constant in my life, but God’s been doing an inside work these last few years and the fear is giving way to the God who’s bigger. PTL. (But, the spiders…eek…) Nice to meet you, Patricia. You have a fan-girl over at #ChasingCommunity this week! 🙂 ((graces))