Trade fear for faith

Bad news seems to be all over the place. I heard of a man being so upset by the bombardment of bad news that he decided he would go on “a news fast.” It sounds funny, yet it’s not a bad idea. Fear is the most destructive force I know. It is paralyzing and tormenting. Fear literally drains life away by robbing sleep and joy in daily living.

Be assured fear is not of God.

“God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control,” (2 Timothy 1:7 NCV).

Fear destroys peace of mind. Fear of failure, illness, old age, death and accidents, financial loss …the list is endless.

Fear is a chief weapon of the enemy of our soul.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full,” (John 10:10, NIV).

So let’s overcome fear. Remember God has a plan for our lives. We are wanted and loved by him. He wants the highest good for you and me. God has an investment in us. He loved us so much he sent Jesus to die to save us. Knowing this we can confidently say with the psalmist, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee,” (Psalm 56:3, KJV).

Living one day at a time and living it to the fullest takes away many things to worry about. Yesterday is gone, along with its mistakes. Look to today. With Jesus tomorrow will take care of itself.

Knowing we belong to Jesus frees us from the bondage of fear, and that settles our destiny. His Word is full of hope and promises that destroy fears. Hiding the Word in your heart becomes a “lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” (Psalm 119:105).

Trusting the Lord cancels out fear.

“Being afraid of people can get you into trouble, but if you trust the LORD, you will be safe,” (Proverbs 29:25, NCV).

Conquering fear is not easy. It requires persistence and a stubborn faith in the midst of hard circumstances.

A great fear conqueror is in John 14:1-3: “Jesus said, ‘Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.’” (NCV)

What a promise to have peace. Let’s read the promises and cling to them.

I have faith in so many earthly things: Faith the sun will come up, faith the sky won’t fall, faith the chair I’m sitting on will hold me up. Yet when I hear bad news it’s a real “downer.”

I have not arrived. I still stumble and fall, but I get back up and try again.

I go back to God’s Word and read the “Good News.”

I’ve read the last page of the Book.

We win.