All of us have experienced difficult times. It seems like different media sources are always talking about things that can stir up fear in us. We hear about things like national debt/credit rating, pandemics, wars, earthquakes, unemployment, recession, layoffs, suicides, shootings, domestic violence, etc, etc… Globally people are going through hard circumstances. Unfortunately, when we are stressed we can tend to take it out on our closest loved ones.
We, as Christians, have heard scriptures like the ones quoted below all of our lives:
Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears…
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles…
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him…
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
1Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1Chronicles 16:34 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Then when tough times come we find ourselves constantly battling fear! What’s with that? Sometimes we need to be reminded that there is a real devil who works through our flesh (sin nature). If he can keep us in fear, he knows we won’t be operating in faith and love. It is a very real battle that must be fought. I am here to tell you that it is a rigged fight. You have the full advantage. God has given you all of the weapons, all of the power, authority and even faith that you need to win every time. 2 Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ…” Many times we have heard mostly “Just do it” sermons, or primarily evangelistic messages. We also need some simple, practical, step-by-step, “HOW TO” teaching so we understand how to apply God’s word in our daily lives. Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Heb 5:12 “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”
Would you like to know HOW TO actually live in peace and be an example of faith, hope and love to others around you? I am going to start with basic foundational truths that I am sure you already know and are practicing. Then I’ll move into some really awesome keys to seeing it all work in practical application. Are you ready to change your life?
- You are already well on your way by seeking the Lord in this matter.
Proverbs 1:7 ¶ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 3:13 ¶ Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared unto her.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retains her
Proverbs 1:20 ¶ Wisdom cries without; she utters her voice in the streets:…
22 How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
24 Because I have called, and you refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 But you have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes;
27 When your fear comes as desolation, and your destruction comes as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish comes upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 But whoso hearkens unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Thank God we live in the age of grace where we can simply repent and God will wipe away our sins, so we can start afresh and receive wisdom if we have not listened in the past! We can humbly come to God and pray like King David did:
Psalm 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
We are so blessed to be living in an age where we have the indwelling Holy Spirit.
John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” This scripture leads us to my second point. How can the Holy Spirit bring God’s word to our remembrance if we haven’t put it in us in the first place?
- We need to know God’s word for ourselves, instead of relying on others.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
We are a three part being. We are made up of body, soul and spirit. We invest all kinds of time and money on things like exercise equipment, food, career training, etc. But how much time have we spent making sure that our soul (mind, will, and emotions) is spiritually healthy? I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Garbage in…garbage out!” Like our kids’ IPOD, if all we have downloaded into our souls is junk from our environment and this society’s negative input, guess what our life becomes… If we have never taken the time to reprogram ourselves with God’s truth, how can we recognize the deception so prevalent in our world? We need to experience the washing of the water of God’s word that heals, feeds and strengthens the soul. God’s truth will transform you.
John 8:31 ¶ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
I learned to ask God to give me an insatiable hunger for His word and He did. I went through a season in my life where I read the Bible cover-to-cover over and over and over again. I would read a Bible through, marking it with all of the scriptures on salvation, prayer, the power of the Holy Spirit, blessings, prosperity, etc, and then I would witness to someone and give away that Bible. I would go buy another Bible and start studying and marking all over again. I was reading the New Testament through in a week, of course the entire Bible took longer.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
- We also need to ask the Lord to make it our lifestyle to daily spend that intimate time with Him allowing Him to give us wisdom and direction to live by. The sooner we realize that when we do our own thing we make a mess of things, the sooner we will make it our first priority to seek God so we can walk in blessing, protection and peace.!
Mt 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 ¶ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
- We need to ask the Lord to give us a revelation of His love.
Ephesians 3:14 ¶ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
1 John 4:15-19 15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.
16And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.
17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.
19We love him, because he first loved us.
Unfortunately, many of us have a false perception of the nature of God based on a negative experience with a dysfunctional, possibly even abusive earthly father. There have also been religious traditions of man passed down through the ages that portray God as an angry God waiting to beat us when we break one of His rules. When we get a true revelation of the fact that God is the most incredible loving being in existence and we are precious to Him. It dispels these misconceptions and any fear they may have fostered.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
1 Chronicles 16:34 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
- We need to ask the Lord to give us the revelation that, as our loving Father, He has a good plan for our entire life.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Psalm 139:13 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb.
14 I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation!
15 You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
16 Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.
17 ¶ Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful! God, I’ll never comprehend them!
18 I couldn’t even begin to count them—any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you! (Message)
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Hopefully you have all of these basics established in your life. Now let’s get on to those awesome keys to making it all operate in your daily life.
- HOW TO cut off the voice of our flesh (sin nature) and the enemy, in order to live the Spirit-filled life and produce the fruit of the Spirit.
- We need to understand what actually happened when we were born-again. Our spirit became a new creature. The Holy Spirit came to live in our spirit making it alive in Christ. We had been completely blind to the things of God, but now the eyes of our spirit are open to perceive His truth.
2 Corintians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
- Unfortunately, our soul is not instantly transformed. We still have a sin nature that must be dealt with. Paul refers to it as the carnal mind, flesh, old man, etc. We need to get revelation on being crucified with Christ and putting off the old man. I would encourage you to study this subject for yourself in depth. Romans 6-8 is a good place to start.
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin…
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 8:1 ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
In the midst of the hardest times, when King David was dealing with fear, he literally spoke to his soul.
Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
6 ¶ O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 103:1 ¶ A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 ¶ The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed…
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy…
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
When we understand that it is our flesh that is susceptible to negative thoughts and emotions. Then we can acknowledge the source and it is not difficult to stop things like fear and anger. In Luke 4:1-13 Jesus responded to temptation with, “It is Written” and kept his mind fixed on the truth given in God’s word to beat the enemy of His soul. If you will note in this passage, you have to know the word intimately and thoroughly, because it can also be twisted in an attempt to manipulate you.
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
- Prayer to cut off the voice of the flesh and be filled afresh with the Holy Spirit: This is the key to overcoming fear, anger, lack of faith and other fleshly patterns that plague us. This needs to be done often throughout the day until our mind is renewed and our emotions are healed by His word and presence.
Lord, I cut off the voice of the flesh and the voice of the enemy in Jesus’ name. I say I am dead to sin and alive to God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I put off the old man and put on the new man created in Christ in righteousness and true holiness. I have the mind of Christ. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit. I submit to You, Holy Spirit, to produce the fruit of Your spirit through me. I thank You for Your peace, love, joy faith and a sound mind. Amen
We really can trust the Lord with all of our concerns. Try it and see what God will do! You will soon discover the most precious things we have as Christians are not only faith, hope and love, but also righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 17″For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” When we have been plagued by fear, condemnation, and depression and we enter into the supernatural peace that only Jesus can give, that righteousness, peace and joy is cherished and something worth seeking.
John 14:27 27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Matthew 6:24-34 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
You have been given the key to freedom from fear. Now, all you need to do is use it! It won’t change anything if you just look at this as a nice little inspirational message. Get these principles and scriptures into your soul. Do a search about the promises of God. Begin to develop the intimate relationship with your loving Heavenly Father that He so desires. Study His love letter that is full of His promises to you (The Bible). Write down the prayer given above, carry it with you and pray the prayer to cut off the fleshly thoughts and emotions as they arise. It’s time to take authority over your thought life, stop being a victim and be the victorious Christian God destined you to be! As your thoughts, attitudes, emotions and words change from fear to trust, peace, love and faith… watch everything around you change too!