Faith Over Fear!

Don’t you see it?  It’s all around us.  People seem to be confused, distracted, struggling and confined.   Many don’t know what to do or where to go.  It’s that uneasy feeling of dread, disappointment, and loss of control of our circumstances.  All of the above describes “FEAR”.  We are living in very fearful time.  Most of our negative feelings are rooted in fear.  Especially when we observe situations all around us that WE CAN’T CONTROL.

If all we do is watch the news, scroll thru Facebook and wring our hands we become very anxious and worried.  However, in spite of all this that surrounds us we are called to live FEARLESSLY.  So, you ask.  HOW CAN I LIVE FEARLESSLY?  Remember!  The only way is to spend time in God’s Word and claim His promises of strength, help and calmness.  God is still on the throne and there is NO ANXIETY in heaven.

Over 100 times in the Scriptures we are told to “FEAR NOT”.  The reason?  Because God promises to be bigger than our fears.  Deuteronomy 3:22 states, “you shall not fear them; for the Lord your God he shall fight for you”.  It all comes down to; do we have faith in our Lord God to help us overcome our fears of uncertainty and doubt.

How do we do that?  Here are a couple suggestions:

1. Acknowledge the fear.  What is our fear?  Government?  Circumstances?  Situations? Individuals?  Name your fear!  To deal with the fear we must name it.  What’s the storm?  What’s the problem?
2. Change your focus.  Once we have identified our fears, the true source of our fears, we can begin to address them in the right way.  God has not given us a spirit of timidity.  We, therefore, know that God is not the source of our fears.  BUT, we do know that we possess power to overcome out fears thru HIM.  The only way to reverse the negative process of fear is to shift our focus to the Lord our God AND the most powerful weapon to overcome our fears-the Word of God.
3. Trust the Lord our God.  Many are relying upon their own thinking, their own plans and their own solutions.  Overcoming fear in our world today is to TRUST the Lord our God.  Focus on Him and not the problem.  Isaiah 41:10 says, “so don’t worry, because I am with you.  Don’t be afraid, because I am the Lord your God.  I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you.”  See it.  God is in control.  He is the one that gives us strength to overcome our fears.  We can’t do it.  The Government can’t do it.  Only TRUST HIM.  The sovereign Ruler of the universe that keeps everything in order and even knows when a small sparrow falls to the ground has give YOU HIS PERSONAL PROMISE.  When we turn to Him He has promised to strengthen, help and uphold us.  “Think only about things in heaven, not the things on earth.”  Colossians 3:2
4. LAY DOWN.  Lay down our fears.  When we fully and truly TRUST and understand we know that the Lord is faithful, loving and omnipotent.  Even in the Old Testament scriptures, when Israel was in captivity God was still in control and all things were working out according to HIS PLAN.  The Lord is faithful.  So there is no reason for us to hold on to our anxieties and worries.  HE HAS PROMISED TO BRING US THROUGH FEARFUL TIMES. TRUST HIM.

Even if we can’t change our situations, or the conditions around us – we don’t have to fear them.  FAITH OVER COMES FEAR.  Because God promised never to leave us or forsake us, we can face anything in life with Him being our guide.

Joshua 1:8—9, “Always remember what is written in the Book of Teachings.  Study it day and night to obey everything that is written there.  If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything.  Remember, that I commanded you to be strong and brave.  Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go.”

FAITH OVER FEAR!  God has promised.

Leonard Navarre

Lubbock, Texas

Pictured at the very top is Pastor Leonard and his lovely bride Diana, an AWESOME team for JESUS!