The Truth About {Fear}

 

      We all have been afraid at one time or another. From a five year old afraid of the dark to an adult afraid of losing their job, every human being has encountered fear at one point. I  struggled with fear most of my life, until the time when I was around 12 years old. It had come to the point where I could barely look out the window at night without being afraid someone was looking right back at me. I would run up the stairs at our bi-level house, barely breathing as I ran past the window. I was certain someone was outside waiting for me.
      At this point, as a girl who grew up in the church, I knew all the right things. I knew that I was not called to a spirit of fear, that no weapons formed against me shall prosper, and that I was covered by the blood of Jesus. Back then, they were more words on a page then passages to live by. My mom started making me say a verse every time I even thought I could possibly be scared. That verse is 2 Timothy 1:7
" For God has not called us to a Spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind." That scripture changed my life. Slowly but surely, I began to believe it. It is truly amazing how much saying something makes you believe it {That is for another post...}
     I AM FREE! The devil no longer holds me captive with fear. I have been redeemed! Though the devil still tries to make me worry and fret, I just remind the devil that I am NOT called to a spirit of fear, and he can't scare me!
    During this past year, I have thought often about God's word, He has been revealing to me some of the truths not often seen at first glance. Let's dissect this scripture,

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

     God didn't call us as Christian to live fearfully and in constant terror of what could happen to us. If we are living in fear, there is no way that we can also be living in power, love, and a sound mind. The reciprocate is also true; If we are living in the power, love, and sound minds that God called us to, there is no way we will be scared.
    If you have ever met someone who is constantly afraid, most of the time, they are not a very powerful person. Likewise, scared people are almost always imagining things that aren't there: Monster in the closet, murderer behind the bush, giant alligator in the bathtub... In other words, their mind is not sound.
    In 1 John 4:18{AMP}, John writes,
"There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection]."  Again, the truth is confirmed, if we walk in fear, we will not walk in love. If we walk in love we will not walk in fear.
     As Christians, we want to live the life that God has so intricately and perfectly planned for us, we want to fulfill the calling on our lives. If we are constantly afraid of things on earth, we will NEVER reach the fullness of our calling. Fear will always hold us back. Let us push forward toward the prize, never letting fear take hold of our hearts. Then, we will be able to run after our calling with power, love, and a {very} sound mind.

Romans 8:15

"For {the Spirit which} you have now received {is} not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption {the Spirit producing sonship} in {the bliss of} which we cry, Abba (Daddy)! Father!"