Freedom From Fear

 

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7).  Even though we have this promise in the Bible, fear still keeps Christians from God's blessings in their lives.  If Satan can implant fear within people, he soon can rule them through those fears.

When fear begins to enter our hearts and minds we begin to panic.  The only way to get rid of fear is to hold on to God's promises as given to us in the Bible.

           
The following is one of the most exciting testimonies I've ever heard concerning the power of holding on to God's promises.  This is a true story (names have been changed).  It was related to me by a very dear friend, Julie Carter, from Decorah, Iowa, who has since gone to be with the Lord.

 

Promise With Power

 

            One summer day years back, Julie's friend in California, Jan, attended a Bible study with another friend, Bonnie.  The Scripture shared that day was Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

            On the way home, they decided to spend a few minutes at a large shopping mall.  When they returned to Jan's late-model car, they saw four or five young men loitering around it.  The ladies quickly walked through the gang, jumped into the car, rolled up the windows and locked the doors.  Then the men began to terrorize them by beating on the car and pulling on the door handles.  Bonnie shared that fear gripped both of them and they began to imagine what the men would do if they broke in.  Jan tried to start the car, but to no avail!  She tried again, and it still wouldn't start.

            She turned to Bonnie and said, "We've never had any problems with this car-it's almost new.  I don't know why it won't start."

            Bonnie, alarmed, said "Jan, we don't have time to waste.  Let's test the verses we learned."  She began to repeat the words, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Then she prayed, "Okay, God, in Jesus' name, we're standing on your Word."
            Jan then turned the key and the car started up immediately!  She slowly forced her way through the angry young men.  Looking in the rearview mirror as she sped off, she saw the men staring at her car in disbelief.

            She drove home as quickly as she could, pulled into the driveway, jumped out and ran into the arms of her husband and began sobbing out her story.

            He consoled her and then exclaimed, "That's a new car!  You shouldn't have had any problems starting it."

            She cried, "Believe me, honey, it wouldn't start.  Then, after we repeated Psalm 46:1, about God being our refuge and strength in times of trouble, I breathed the name of Jesus, turned the key, and the car started right off."

            After calming her down, Jan's husband explained he was going to check the car.  In a few moments he returned, his face pale and bewildered.  "Jan, honey, no wonder the car wouldn't start-the battery's gone!  There's no battery in the car, Jan.  Those men took it."

            They both cried and praised God, for they knew God had performed a miracle before their very eyes.  Jan knew that miracle took place because she put the promises of God in action.  "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  You can draw upon the power of God's promises to help you overcome fear.

 

The Force of Fear

 

            There are two types of fear.  One is a natural fear that God puts within you to protect you.  Why do you fear a raging lion or a rattlesnake?  Because if you didn't have some sense of fear, you'd walk right up to the lion and he'd maul you to death.  Or maybe you'd go to pick up the rattlesnake to play with it and it would bite you and the poisonous venom would kill you!  These are healthy fears.  But then there are fears that the devil would throw upon you.  Bad experiences that happen to you or to others build up a wall of fear that grip and control you in many areas of your life.

            Every one of us has had experiences of one or more types of fear.  Some fears that you have come into contact with have left you numb, weak, breathless, shaking, crying or hysterical.  There are fears of sickness, disease, accidents, height, water, flying, swimming, doctors, needles, blood and many others.  These are some of the fears that we come in contact with almost every day.  You may need a healing for a number of these fears.

            The following verses (TLB translation) will help you in your battle against the power of fear.  Print them out and place them where you will see them every day.  Try to memorize them and use them as your shield of protection when Satan attacks you with fear.

 

Exodus 14:13-"Don't be afraid.  Just stand where you are and watch, and you will see the wonderful way the Lord will rescue you today."

 

Deuteronomy 31:8-"Don't be afraid, for the Lord will go before you and will be with you; he will not fail nor forsake you."

 

Psalm 27:1-"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?"

 

Psalm 46:1-2-"God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble.  And so we need not fear even if the world blows up, and the mountains crumble into the sea."

 

Psalm 91:5-"Now you don't need to be afraid of the dark any more, nor fear the dangers of the day."

 

Psalms 56:10-11-"I am trusting God-oh, praise His promises!  I am not afraid of anything mere man can do to me!  Yes, praise his promises."