Fear - Pt 2

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. (Luke 1:68-75 ESV). Our reading today is a prophetic word spoken by Zechariah at the birth of Jesus. You can see the emphasis placed on living without fear. There are many other Scriptures that emphasize the same truth. Eleanor Roosevelt said this about fear, "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face." Here are some insights: 1. Facing the roots to one's fear can be a scary thing in itself, for it often entails coming to grips with a painful past or deep insecurities within us. For example, a young child may have had an embarrassing moment during a school play, and during the course of his adult life he develops a fear of public speaking and an apprehension toward any act which places him in center stage. The source of this individuals fear is easily traceable, and sometimes it is something as simple as identifying the foundation of our fears that we can deal with them head on. As it is stated in God's word, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32) 2. Once we have insight as to the root of our fears, we then need to make a firm and conscious decision to not let them run our life. Fears that run our lives also RUIN our life, and it is not God's desire that we live in misery. "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." (3 John 1:2) 3. Then replace your fear with peace. You may do this the same way you fill a glass of dirty water with clean, clear water! The more clear and healthy water you pour into the glass, the less dirty water remains. In other words, the more we face the thing we fear; the less frightening it becomes! Just as a baby does not learn to walk overnight, so too, will fear not typically disappear in a moment, but, with the steady and constant feeding of that which is emotionally healthy and godly, the less dark our word becomes. Satan will try to rob us of this light and security, so we must also learn to lean on One who is more able than we are, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." (Psalm 118:8) So then, by recognizing our fears, addressing them, calling out to God for assistance, and also seeking spiritual support and fellowship, fear can be zapped from our life and we can be free to do what we are called to do; to let all men know the grace and salvation that only our heavenly Father can provide, and to live life joyously! "And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation." (Psalm 35:9)