Overcoming a spirit of fear – Part I

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

Prov 20:23
“The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”

Prov 29:25
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”

What keeps you awake at night?
Fear is a suprising thing, it comes on you in the night with often no warnng.

As a child, I would sometimes lay in bed at night afraid of “something scary out there.” I felt safe as long as I kept all of myself under the sheet (which was a big deal on hot Georgia nights as a child.) Something about being covered and safe.

As a woman, when I was pregnant with my children, I would sometimes lay in bed at night afraid of something terrible that might be wrong with my unborn child. I would lay awake at night praying over every scenario, searching for peace and finally drifting off to sleep as God’s peace would calm me for the night.

As a mother, as my children sleep peacefully in their beds or go off to camp, I sometimes lay in bed at night afraid that something will happen to them or that I have done something “wrong.” I lay awake praying for them (and for me), again seeking that peace that only God can give.

But two nights a go, I lay awake for an entirely different kind of fear. I believe that evil is real and that demons are too. The major reason I used to lay awake at night as a child was a horror movie I saw at a spend the night party when I was twelve. Since that time, I realized I have to be careful about the movies I watch and I have always steered away from such movies. The visuals take seed in my mind and literally come “back to haunt me” as my mind takes over and replays the disturbing images.

I don’t have to see such images in the theater any more, unfortunately. As I was drifting in and out of sleep on Saturday night, an advertisement for a horror movie came on the channel. I opened my eyes just enough to see the most terrifying, fearful, movie commercial that I have ever seen. I was wide awake then.

I went to bed, but I was afraid. The images in this movie combined with a conversation with a friend about “ghosts in south Georgia” (she swears they are real) to concoct some very scary scenarios in my mind.

I lay there for at least 5 minutes with accelerating fear and then I recognized it for what it was. The devil would like us to think he is more powerful and more strong than our God. After all the Bible does call him, “the prince of this world.” It is certainly within his realm of control to make unseen things happen and strange occurences. It is certainly his desire to make Christians think He is in control and can harm us at a whim. That is completely wrong.

I battled the “night fears” in the way that God has always taught me to.

1. I pray (there is power in the name of Jesus)
2. I quote scripture (there is power in the Word of God)
3. I praise God for his goodness. (It is music to God’s ears.)

In every such “night fear” (I haven’t had one in years) this has always worked for me.

So, Sunday morning during my Bible study, I got up and studied “fear” so that I may be better equipped should such a thing happen again. I will be sharing these with you over the next several days.

Lord, guide and help us as we deal with our fears. Let our fears not paralyze us and draw our eyes off of you. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. You are our protector, guide, and friend. Thank you for loving us and providing ways that we can live our lives unafraid and fearing You but fearing no man. You are the King of my life and I love you. In Jesus name. Amen.