Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Faith Shatters Fear

Verse for Today: Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Psalms 56:11 - In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Trust and fear are contradictory to each other. A person who trusts in God cannot be afraid at the same time. Where there is fear, there cannot be any trust either. But we find that fear creeps into the lives of God's people in spite of their trust in His power. Fear is a negative emotion that has crept into human lives as a result of the entry of sin into their lives. Before sin entered, man had perfect fellowship with God and he had no cares, burdens, fears or heartaches. But the moment sin entered, fear also emerged, and so man had to run away and hide from God. Man was afraid of God's wrath for his disobedience. Ever since this occurrence, man has lived in fear. He fears God and the consequences of sin in his life. Man has also become susceptible to fear about other human beings, wild animals, environmental changes and natural calamities, accidents, malfunction of equipment and the possibilities of some things going wrong in and around his life. Fear of failure is another kind of fear most people have. Man is also afraid of death, sickness, human enemies and Satan. The cunning Satan has used all his shrewd tactics to make man more fearful by stuffing his mind with negative thoughts and pessimism. Sadly, a large number of children of God are lured into fear as they are on their sojourn. Satan has created a world of fear, where almost everything in life has a fear element in it. Satan has thus made man a slave to fear and this fear is made to rule the world. The media which is largely under the control of Satan helps him perpetuate fear by broadcasting bad news every minute of the day or night. No one has any good news to propagate except the Bible which is the book of the good news of God that all who trust in Him can live without becoming a slave to fear. Jesus has promised victory over fear for all the children of God. His Spirit is the Spirit of confidence and courage who comes to indwell in the children of God the moment they confess their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. When the Spirit comes to fill us with Himself and take full control over us, we will have victory over fear. David had this confidence in God so that he could declare to the world that he will not be afraid and that he was sure that no one could do any thing to make him afraid.

Dear friend, are you gripped with the fear of the known or unknown things in and around you? Do you face threats from the people or circumstances around you which has taken away your confidence in life? The Bible keeps confirming to us that there is no need for us to be fearful about our future and our circumstances. Even though we do not have any control over these, we have a Lord who has absolute control over all the fearful elements or people around us. So when we face uncertainties, darkness, cruel people or unknown circumstances and future, there is no need for us to be fearful, but pass our fears over to the Lord. He will take it away from you and give you confidence to face any eventualities of life. He will be your shield against all fear and uncertainties. His Spirit will release you from all fears if you are willing to yield yourself to Him completely. God has promised that He will be with us and so there is no need for any fear about our future. He has planned our future according to His wisdom and desire and He has the power to fulfill it for His glory. When God has a plan for your tomorrows, which force in this universe can shatter it? That is why David is challenging the world around him that no one could do any thing to him. This is the confidence that the Lord gives to us and He expects us to put all our trust, confidence and faith in Him and His Word. So, my dear friend, no matter what uncertainties and fearful things threaten to take away your peace and confidence, you need not be afraid, but put your trust in the Lord to help you face it and come out victorious. He will give you sleep as in the case of Peter and David. He will reveal His glory in greater measure as you read His promises in the Bible, and His glory will take away your fear, apprehensions, anxieties, cares and discouragement and give you victory every step of the way.

Isaiah 43:1b- Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name; you are Mine.
Thought for Today
Trust is the panacea for all the variations of fear that confront us.

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