Dont Be Held Back By Fear

Questions

  1. In what areas of your life are you allowing fear to hold you back?
  2. When God tells you to do something, do you look at your limitations

     first or the ability of God first? Why?

  1. Identify some situations that generate a feeling of fear in your life. Then
     identify some strategies to help you cope.
 
 

Feelings of fear if not put in its proper place can prevent us from trying out new things and cause us to underestimate the ability of God in our lives. Do you remember the children of Israel in the 13th Chapter of Numbers? Well, when we read this particular chapter, we discover that despite the power and the purpose that God had for this great nation they underestimated their ability in God. They forgot about the power of God, and allowed fear to keep them from going into the land that He promised them. Instead of adopting an attitude of “We can do all things,” they adopted a “We can’t” attitude, as was manifested in the words, “We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” Instead of focusing on the power of God the children of Israel focused on their limitations and turned back from what God had for them, delaying their progress for several years. What about you, are you focusing so much on your limitations that you are immobilized by fear?

Please understand that it is one thing to experience a natural emotion such as fear. But it is another thing to let fear keep you from living the life that God has for you. Uncontrolled feelings of fear can impede your mobility and cause you to be dependent and limited in your life, as opposed to being victorious in Jesus Christ. A spirit of fear will not only stop you from being all that God wants you to be, but it can trigger the development of untrue thoughts concerning you as a person and your abilities.

 

For example, how did the children of God in the book of Numbers know that the people in the Promised Land were stronger than they were? They really didn’t know. Instead, the children of Israel based their negative conclusions on their perceptions of themselves, and not on the ability of God. Think about it, How do you really know that things will not work out for you tomorrow? How do you know that you can’t do the thing that God is calling you to do? When God places an idea in your heart do you immediately focus on your limitations? Unfortunately, many of us react just like the children of Israel did in the 13th Chapter of Numbers. We make a prediction about what will happen to us in the now based on what has happened to us in the past, and on our finite view of ourselves. But please know that because of Jesus Christ we do not have to be limited by fear. As followers of Jesus Christ we can confidently move forward despite our fears, because God is with us.

God said to Jeremiah and He is saying to you “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11). So if your view of yourself or your situation is not based on the hope that is found in the Word of God, it must change. If you allow fear to stop you from doing the thing that God is calling you to do, then you are walking in the ideas of your own opinion of yourself and your situation. Understand that fear causes you to focus on your weaknesses, and all that could go wrong. But God is telling you to “Fear not,” because He is always with you. And if God is with you then all things will work together for good. So identify areas in your life where you have allowed fear to control you, and then through the Word of God develop a plan to overcome in that area.

Philippians 4: 13 reminds us that as believers of Jesus Christ, we can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth us. This is a good verse to remember, especially since following God will require us to get out of our comfort zone and sometimes take many God initiated risks. The word risk as we are using it here, does not refer to any reckless or harmful behaviors. Instead, it refers to those situations that God has ordered for our lives, to strengthen our faith and to get us to move closer to the destiny that He has for us. Feelings of fear if you give into them, will prevent you from taking a risk or moving outside of the box that you or other people in your life have developed for you. If allowed to control your life a spirit of fear will keep you from walking wholeheartedly in faith.

But remember, fear is a natural emotion and feeling a certain amount of fear and uncertainty is normal, especially when we are moving out of our comfort zone but we can’t let that feeling stop us.

 

Remember, God does not want us to be a slave to our flesh, or to thoughts and ideas that are contrary to His word. If God is saying that we can do something and fear is telling us that we can’t, then we have to ask ourselves whose report will we believe? Think about this, Abraham had to take a risk and leave his family, Esther had to take a risk in order to save a nation, and Gideon had to take a risk in order to lead his people into battle. What about you? Are you willing to take a risk for the Kingdom of God or will you allow fear to hold you back?

Now please understand that we all have areas or situations in our lives that generate fear. We all have areas in our lives in which we could use a little help, but God does not want us to run away from our fears. Instead, He wants to strengthen us and to make us into the person that we were really designed to be.

 

Meditation Scriptures

  • For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
  • The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.
  • Psalms 37:23
  • There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear has torment.
  • 1 John 4:18
  • I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11.
  •  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

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