Fear

Fear is an emotion that can cripple a person.  Fear can be displayed as worry, guilt, stress, depression, confusion, etc..  The main kinds of fear are the fear of death, sickness, failure, and rejection.  There are hundreds of other fears but I won’t go into all the “phobias” that exist. 

Should a Christian be fearful?  John 10:10 says that the devil loves to operate through fear.  Is fear really a lack of trust?

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

You can’t be fearful and trusting God at the same time.  "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You." (Isaiah 26:3).

Fear anticipates the worst and not the best.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Faith is the opposite of fear.  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for." (Hebrews 11:1)  So fear is what we don’t hope for.

Fear doesn’t come from God.  "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

Fear is a sin.  “Whatever is not of faith is sin." (Romans 14:23)   Jesus spoke of worry. He said six times, "Do not worry." (Matthew 6:25-34).

"Fear always springs from ignorance." (Emmerson) Get hold of the best advisers, get good counsel. Don't try and handle it yourself.  “The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong.” (Psalm 37:30)   “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harms.” (Proverbs 13:20)

Take control over your thoughts.  Don’t let them control you.  “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Recognize that you are in a spiritual battle and the devil would love to distract you and render you powerless by simply causing you to spend your time in fear rather than in prayer or praise.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

Fight the good fight by putting on the whole armor of God.  “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  (Ephesians 6:14–17)

Remember Philippians 4:6-8
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." (Philippians
4:6-8)
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