Daily Devotionals

Fear Not

Posted in Courage/Perseverance

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  2 Timothy 1:7

 

What makes you afraid? A bad health report? Do you worry about the future or growing old? All fear is rooted in the fear of death. What if you knew that the moment you close your eyes for the last time on this earth you would be opening your eyes in Heaven?  How would that change your life? 

 

There is a good fear, the fear of God, which is a reverence for God, but there is a bad fear, a cringing, cowering fear. God wants us not to be ruled by it.  “Fear not,” is probably the most-often repeated exhortation in the Bible. Why does God say this so often? 

 

The worst decisions you will ever make in life will be decisions made from fear. Fear-based decisions open the door to other spirits of Anxiety, of Worry, of Dread and of Depression that will paralyze you, so you won’t do what God is telling you to do. Fear is expecting the devil to move.

 

Fear is a bully, a coward, and a liar. Fear paints a picture in our imagination of every awful thing that could happen to us in the future and wants us living in dread for it to come to pass. The enemy wants us feeling hopeless and helpless to change, but this is not who you are. The devil can distract and deceive you, but for all his powers, he cannot stop you from coming to God. God did not give us a spirit of fear, worry, or depression. God gave us the spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) 

 

Faith paints a different picture of your future. If your worst fear actually happened, God would not leave you to work it out alone. He would walk beside you all the way and give you courage and a peace the world does not comprehend. He would send people in your life to minister to you at just the right moment. You would overcome. Faith is expecting God to move. 

 

It’s your choice: faith or fear. What would you do if you did not fear? You could sing out,  “I’m no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God.” You could hear and follow the Spirit of God. If you are dealing with fear in your life, confess your feelings to the Lord. He wants to hear from you. He waits to heal you. Our God is with us; fear not. 

 

Prayer:  Lord, I’ve been afraid. Forgive me. You conquered sin and death, and you overcame the power of the evil one. You have given us power to also overcome evil. I bind this spirit of fear and cast it out of my life forever, in Jesus’ mighty name. Make me free indeed. Thank you, Lord. Show me how to be bold and strong and of good courage. I want Your will, not mine, be done on earth. Thank You for being with me always. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

 

Submitted by Claire Smith