but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Mark 4:19

The Enemy is using fear and anxiety to attack members of the church today. I know more Christians who suffer from anxiety than I do people of the world. Brothers and sisters, who despite incredible faith in God, are having sleepless nights and fears and anxieties about things that only God can control. That same God who loves them, forgave them and says that He will never leave or forsake them (It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8) we are not fully trusting to protect and keep us. So what is happening?

While researching and preparing for this blog I took a quick look at phobias. One website had a “quick list of most common phobias” and it consisted of over 100 “most common phobias”. It contained all kinds of phobias, everything from the fear of flying and the dark to the fear of flowers and books (I have to confess that I was a little surprised that those last two made a “most common list ; ). There were two that were rather ironic/amusing – Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia ….the fear of long words and phobophobia – the fear of phobias : D.

When Christians fear or have anxiety however, it isn’t usually things like books or flowers or even spiders that are causing it. It is death, past sins that we are afraid will be brought out into the light (you know, those that Jesus already forgave us of), loneliness, abandonment, financial woes, people (typically in the work place), etc.

As odd, ironic and even amusing as some of the anxieties that I mentioned may seem, fear and anxiety are a weapon of the enemy. They are no joke. They rob God of glory and these are emotions that God never intended us to feel. In the Garden of Eden, there was no death, there was no fear, there was no pain, there was no anxiety, there was no shame…..until the enemy and sin entered in. In fact, God addresses our fears and instructs us with Scripture.

Fear of finances – And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Luke 12:22-26

Fear of loneliness – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10. He is right here with us and will NEVER leave us.

Fear of people – (So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6) please note that this verse says “So we can confidently say”! It doesn’t say that maybe God will intercede on our behalf. It says He IS my helper, I WILL NOT fear! (What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31) God is with us, He is protecting us, whom shall we fear (The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1), the answer is no one! He is in control and if we are His children, He will protect us. Sometimes it will seem as thought those people of the world will have gotten their way, but if God says (I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future Jeremiah 29:11).

Fear of death – (The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 2 Timothy 2:11-12). In fact God, tells us in the scriptures that fear is bondage (and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Hebrews 2:15). He freed us from our chains on that day that we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, please don’t pick them back up and put them back on.

When we begin to believe like the world or lack trust, like the world, we rob God of glory (Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2) and we are listening to the whispering lies of the enemy. Romans 12:2 says that we should not be conformed to this world and their thinking but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, what does renewing our mind look like? (Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8). Is there anything worthy of praise? (Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6).

Our Heavenly Father desires that we would not doubt Him and would give all of our anxiety and fears to Him. (Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7), (do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7).

I pray that today we would trust Him to hold our lives in His hand. I pray that we would trust and rest in Him and fear not, for He is with us. He did not create us to fear (For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV). I pray that we would focus our minds on Him, keeping them there and that we would breath Him in and be overcome by the peace that He gives (You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3).

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and have, therefore, not experienced His perfect peace, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) page and pray the prayer that is outlined there. Once you have I pray that you would reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know so that I can be in prayer for you and hopefully help you grow in your relationship with, and knowledge of, our Precious Savior – Jesus Christ.

Luv Ya!