04/19/2024 – The giant of fear
Fear is such a strong and powerful emotion it can cripple us, fear can make us physically sick, fear can make us not see things correctly or in its proper perspective. The normal tendency of fear is to escape it and run for your life. Scientist call this “Fight or Flight”
“The fight or flight response is an automatic physiological reaction to an event that is perceived as stressful or frightening. The perception of threat activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers an acute stress response that prepares the body to fight or flee.”
Sometimes we attempt to fight the giant of fear with our own strength, just to get beaten down into submission and thus re-enforcing those feelings of being crippled by fear, sick and seeing things distorted by fear. Does this sound familiar?
1 Samuel 17:45, 47
“Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied…. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.’”
So many times, we fight and lose against the giant of fear, simply because we have no business fighting God’s battles, just let God be God.
“…For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15
So, what can I do as the Lord fights for me?
- Surrender the battle against the giant of fear to the Lord. “…Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ saith the Lordof hosts.” Zechariah 4:6
- Remember the past victories. “…The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:37
- Relying on a Powerful God – “Trust in the Lordwith all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Today meditate on this promise, “For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness, but of power and love and discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7