Deception Series: Fear

In this part of the series on deception we will look at one that reaches us all in one way or another; FEAR!  Whether it is fear of falling to fear of spiders to fear of being alone or what ever you add to fear of __________, this one tries to get us all.  I am not one that necessarily believes you can "overcome" fear (I could be wrong) but rather you need to master fear management.  If you can over come them GREAT, but if you can't fear must be managed.  I personally know a family member (who will remain nameless) who has a fear of living?  Their first response to anything is doom and gloom that anything you want to do is met with negative opposition - hence a fear of living.  One day I said I had a headache and they said; I hope it's not a tumor.  After that I would always do a Schwarzenegger impersonation: It's not a tumor!

All joking aside, several years ago I read two studies on fear which listed people's top ten fears.  In both studies the number one (1) fear was?  You guessed it right if you said "public speaking" and the number three (3) was "dying".  If these two studies are correct, that means people would rather be dead than speak in public!

I have a fear of heights, however, a "challenge course" put on by the Sheriff's Office back in the late 1990's really made me realize the need to manage this fear.  First I must say that the two trainers that put on the course, Brian Ronk and David Bures where instrumental in making this a success for me.  I had been training with them for about ten years and trusted them even more than I thought.  It was this trust that gave me the courage I didn't have, to step out and do what they asked.

The REAL issue with most of these fears is that they are "perceived", in other words they don't really exist, but in our minds.  Think about my fear of heights for a minute; I won't go on a Ferris Wheel throughout my life but a small child will and laugh the entire time!?  If you are a child of the King (Jesus the Christ), then satan can only influence you with thoughts.  It is what we do with these thoughts that hinders us.  God does not want us to be afraid;
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT  For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Now the term "spirit of fear" can refer to a demon spirit but in this context is believed to be your own words of fear and timidness.  In other words YOUR own SPEECH can be your worst enemy! (Proverbs 18:21).  Satan does a very good job of making us think and most believe he is greater than what he really is (1 John 4:4).

The bottom line is to fear God.  This is a respectful fear that is born out of love (Matthew 10:28).
Joshua 1:9 KJV-BRG  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Be Blessed and not afraid my friends - Live in Christ the Lord

ernie