Why is the truth important? Being well-postured in the truth gives a person freedom to move about in this world without fear. The headlines from the world will scream at all of us with fear. Fear of economic collapse, environmental catastrophe, and every other kind of fear imaginable. But God's Word has a different message for us to contemplate and remember. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love". 1 John 4:18 (NIV).
1. Overcome fear by remembering God loves you!
The truth is God loves us. Yes, it is true that there will be bad things happening in this world. But the truth of God's Word says that we need to be looking at the love not at the fear. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life," John 3:16 NIV. The enemy despises us when we remember that this is not all there is to life. The enemy hates it when we remember that we have a heavenly home, a heavenly future, and a heavenly Father who loves us. This is the power of the truth and it can keep a person from focusing on the fear that the enemy wants to imbed in our minds.
2. Overcome fear by remembering the power of truth!
This truth can keep people from falling into despair. Truth is powerful and it often stands in the face of what is happening right before our very eyes. One example of this is the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus was put to death upon a cross. But the truth remained. The truth of his resurrection. The enemy wanted everyone to fear the loss of the Savior, and it seemed that everything went his way. However, in the end the truth became evident. Jesus lives and he does not want us to live by fear, rather we should remember the truth of God's Word and stand firm with the belt of truth buckled about our waists.
3. Overcome fear by making positive choices!
Choose truth, choose trust, and choose love. Don't choose to allow you mind to entertain all the fearful thoughts and ideas. They are likely the first things that come to your mind. In a strange way, because they are so familiar, they are comforting. Resist the old and work at choosing truth, trust, and love to conquer the fear.
4. Overcome fear by recognizing the opposition!
Remember the opposition that we are all up against; the enemy. God is light and the truth. The enemy is darkness and the father of lies. Make a choice. Take a stand. Don't entertain the enemy and his fears; instead call attention to the lies, exposing them.
5. Overcome fear by choosing a direction; choose the letter for your life.
There are two letters written for our lives. This one is from God; For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11, (NIV). This is what God has planned for your life. God's promises stand firm. Follow His way and His will for your life and you can claim His promises. You can assume that the enemy wants to stop this plan; as a matter of fact it might be helpful to just rephrase this verse as if the enemy were to send you a letter of what he desires for your life; For I know the plans I have for you, plans to destroy you, plans to crush your hope. My plans will destroy your future and I will fight to keep you from God's kingdom. Make a choice.
I want to follow God's plan for my life. I want to embrace the letter God has written to me. The first part of that is recognizing that God has a plan and then asking him through prayer to reveal that plan to me; then trusting him on a daily basis to complete that in me. There will be obstacles and joys along this journey, but we are not alone. So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6 (NIV).
Together on the journey,
Christine
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Some scripture taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [http://www.seedzofhope.com/Home.html]
From her youth, God planted the love of words within Christine's heart. She has been writing for years, producing articles and clown scripts for a clown ministry at her church. Later she began producing Reader's Theater, youth and puppet scripts. Christine has been published in several drama magazines with her scripts earning her an opportunity to teach script writing at a drama conference in Atlanta, GA. She has also written numerous smaller booklets that are still being published through Christian publishers. Mother of two grown children and married for 30 years, she and her husband make their home in Stanwood Washington. Seedzofhope.com [http://www.seedzofhope.com/Home.html]. Plant & Grow.
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