Live Without Fear
Anxiety seems to be wrapping its tentacles around almost everyone I know and has begun pulling us all down. The topic in most conversations centers around stress, worry, fear, and doubt. This is not shocking – look at the world around us. We do not have to look far to see darkness and evil clouding our view.
The enemy's tactics foster fear and anxiety until we accept it as merely part of this world. We become a bit desensitized to the point where we believe fear is meant to be a constant companion. As if fear is just another friend we have to make room for on the trip, but this is a lie.
God did not make us to be of this world or to succumb to its ways. Instead, we are called to live as if fear is not welcome. We see this clearly stated in 2 Timothy 1:7:
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (ESV).
Not only do we hear how fear is wholly unwelcome in God’s design for us, but we are given examples of what should fill our spirit. Power, love, self-control. I repeat these words often to myself when faced with fear as a reminder of the spirits God intends to fill me with, so there is no longer room for the spirit of fear.
First, the power to overcome those consuming anxious thoughts. God blesses us with the mighty power to cast out the fear. Then, He follows with His greatest gift, love. Love from Him in order to love ourselves. There is a gentleness in lovingly acknowledging the effects fear may have left behind, but also in choosing to move forward. This leads to self-control. An exercise in training our minds and hearts to be guarded against fear should it ever come back again.
This tool box God provides us is all we need to take down fear when it comes knocking. We cannot afford to accept that fear is a part of life. Remember fear is an unwelcome guest that was never sent by God. Instead, He blessed us with tools to combat fear. In doing so, we can change the dark conversations the enemy instigates to those filled with the truth of who God created us to be.
