fear |ˈfir| noun an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat: I will not fear.

When the Bible encourages us not to fear in verses like, Psalm 23:4 (“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”) or 2 Timothy 1:7 (“God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-control.”), it can be easier said than done.

Fear is one of those things we will likely have to battle every day of our lives, as it seems to creep in rather easily through our finances, relationships, careers and even our future. The good thing is, when we learn what to do with fear when it shows up, we no longer have to tolerate it or allow it to stay past its welcome.

Fear is only an indicator of an area in our lives lacking trust in God. If you are afraid or overcome with anxiety—begin to thank God and proclaim His Truth over that area of your life! God doesn’t get angry with us when we succumb to unbelief or distrust in Him based on our fears. He simply and gently reminds us that we have power over fear because of our relationship with Him.

“Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.” Luke 10:19

When I am afraid, I remind myself to fight for myself, my family and our business by proclaiming God’s truth over the situation I am experiencing. Just like Jesus fought against the enemy with the Word of God when He was being tempted in the desert in Matthew 4:1-11, we can say things like, “It is written. God has not given me a spirit of fear. He has given me power, love and a sound mind!” (2 Timothy 1:7) Our words have the power of life and death in them (Proverbs 18:21). They can certainly be used to fight against fear with our faith and bring us back into alignment with God’s Word.

Choosing to live by faith and not fear is a decision we all have to make for ourselves. Stress and anxiety are on the rise in our fast-paced culture. But Philippians 4:6-7 tells us not to worry about ANYTHING. It tells us to pray about EVERYTHING. When we tell God what we need and thank Him for everything He has already done for us, then we come into alignment with the Spirit of God and we experience His PEACE. This is a peace we can have through any storm in our lives because we are not focused on the wind or the waves—we are focused on HIM.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. THEN you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

I don’t know what you are facing today or how many times fear has tried to grip your heart. But I do know one thing—God is for you and He loves you more than you could ever know. So, choose to let go of fear today, and eagerly expect the promises God has in store for your future. Choose to keep your eyes focused on God, regardless of what is going on around you. As you read the scripture below, allow it to reconnect you with your faith to overcome any worry or mindset that may try to hold you back from the peaceful, confident and expectant life God has in store for you.  

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

Live fearlessly today!  

XO-
Sabrina