Sunday Devotional: Fear

Good Morning and Happy Sunday!  Today's devotional is a bit different.  I am going to share with you something that I have had a hard time with a long time, and that I am finally trying to overcome with the help of only my Saviour, Jesus Christ.  I have been so full of fear for such a long time.  It's not a fear of not being saved or a fear of not going to Heaven.  I am scared of the dark, scared of getting attacked, scared of being by myself, scared of my house getting broken into when I'm home alone, scared of being raped, scared of being kidnapped, scared of the thought of people hiding in my house ready to attack me, and I have even been scared of taking my dog out at night in case someone is ready to attack me.  These have all consumed my mind and penetrated my heart.  This is the exact way Satan tries to get to me.  It is my weakness.  It can be so bad that I lock myself in my room until someone gets home.  I have even called my grandpa to come out to my house to wait with me until my parents get home.  It has become so bad, and I no longer want these fears to paralyze me, stop me from living a normal life, or from living with a peace knowing God is protecting me.  

Is this something that you can just say, "I'm not scared anymore!"? I don't think so.   It is a process and certainly has been a process.  When that fear comes to mind I started singing 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman to myself.  Here are a few lines from it. 

Bless the Lord oh my soul

Oh my soul

Worship His Holy name

Sing like never before

Oh my soul

I'll worship Your Holy name

The sun comes up

It's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass

And whatever lies before me

Let me be singing 

When the evening comes...

And on that day

When my strength is failing

The end draws near

And my time has come

Still my soul will

Sing Your praise unending

Ten thousand years

And then forevermore

Forevermore

Bless the Lord oh my soul

Oh my soul

Worship His Holy name

Sing like never before

Oh my soul

I'll worship Your Holy name...

This has certainly helped.  It makes me focus on Jesus, His love for

me, and everything I have to be thankful for no matter what is going on.  I also (and still do) pray and ask for protection.  Talking to God is just so intimate knowing He hears EVERYTHING.  Every thought, every whisper, every shout, every word spoken to others, and every word spoken to Him.  He can take your fear away, but He wants you to trust Him and go to Him first.  I will admit that this is difficult.  Difficult to not think of every possible thing I should do and can do if something happens, but faith in God is my biggest and most powerful weapon.  I just forget to use it sometimes.  

Like I said it has continued to get worse over the past few months.  Well my mom shared a few stories with me here recently, and has told me pray pray pray.  It has certainly been helping, but I think what has helped me the most is scripture.  These past few weeks I read scripture about fear everytime I get scared along with prayer and worship music.  I want to share with you scripture that has truly helped me and penetrated my heart to fight the fear that got trapped in there.  

John 14:27 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Isaiah 43:4

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

Psalm 34:4

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 56: 3-4

3. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

  4. In God, whose word I praise—

in God I trust and am not afraid.

    What can mere mortals do to me?

That last one is my favorite... "What can mere mortals do to me?"  Practically all of the fears I listed has do to do with something that a mere mortal could do me, but they can't do a thing to me.  I am a child of God living in a temporary place.  My home is in an eternal Heaven with my Saviour, Jesus Christ.  

Dear God, 

I thank you for the protection you give me.  I thank you for the love you give me.  I thank you for the scripture you have opened my eyes to so that I can overcome my fears with you leading the way.  I ask that you will continue to overcome our hearts with your love so that we can live fearlessly for you, and do what you have set out for us to do.  I ask today that you will continue to help me overcome my fears daily, and constantly remind me that you are with me.  It is in Jesus' name I pray, Amen. 

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