Fear on the Run - Part 5

Hello everyone,

Probably one of the most effective and dangerous weapons our enemy, the devil, tries to launch against us is fear.  But it doesn’t have to have any power over us if we choose to respond to the devil’s threats the way God’s Word tells us to.  

Isaiah 54:17 says, “...no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord...; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.”

This is God’s promise to us! Any weapon the enemy hurls against us through circumstances or bad reports, intending to derail us, has absolutely no power to harm us.  Not when our hearts and minds are rooted in faith, and we have learnt to respond to his tactics the way the Word teaches us to.

Remember Jesus told us - while we are on this earth, living for Him, we are most certainly going to encounter challenges.  As long as we have an enemy, those challenges are not going to stop coming against us.  But Jesus said in the midst of them, we can rejoice!  Because He has overcome anything this world could ever throw our way, and He has deprived it of its power to harm us!

A good friend of mine, Pastor Rhonda Spencer reminded me that my response will always determine my outcome.  Isn’t that a powerful statement?  Our response to the bad news we receive, or the troubling circumstance we find ourselves facing has the power to determine our outcome.  

If our reaction is going to be full of negativity and panic, then we empower the spirit of fear to work against us.  However, if our response is going to be what God’s Word teaches us to say, we empower the faith in our hearts to go to work and cause God’s promises to become our reality!  Even the impossible becomes possible through faith!

So what does God’s Word tell us to do the moment we face trouble?  Well firstly, it tells us to not fear!  So if you know negativity or anxious words are going to come out of your mouth - keep it shut!  Rather say nothing than empower the enemy to work against you.

The second instruction the Word gives us is to cast that care right over to the Lord.  Give it to Him immediately, knowing He has your very best interests at heart, that He loves you completely, and is extremely attentive to your prayer.  

Once you’ve given Him that care, begin to find out what His Word says regarding it.  Follow the Holy Spirit’s lead here - He will help you find the appropriate scriptures for your situation.  Then once you have His Word on it - you pray and speak that promise right over the situation.  As you do this, you will literally feel the peace of God rise up inside you like a mighty, flowing river.  That peace is powered by your absolute trust in your God.    It’s so powerful that it causes joy to bubble up inside you too.  That joy is a supernatural force that is your strength.  

So now, when you open your mouth, the words that come out are, “Lord, thank You for Your Word and Your promises concerning me.  Thank you that You always work all things for good, to and for those who love you, and are called according to Your purpose.  And I love You Lord! I trust You completely to fulfil Your will concerning me.  No matter what things look like, I know they are subject to change, but You Lord, You will never change!  You will always be my joy, You will always be my peace, You will always be my delight, and You will always be faithful to me. I bless Your Name Lord, I worship You, I adore You!  You are wonderful, and glorious, and so worthy to be praised!”.

Let me tell you, at this point, fear has completely lost its bearings and sense of direction, including its power.  It has actually derailed itself!  And your spontaneous praise has put the enemy on the run!  Because you responded the way God’s Word has taught you to respond!

Now take a look at this scripture from Isaiah 41:10:

“Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.”

When we learn to trust the Lord and His Word concerning us, He hardens us to difficulties.  That means, we find we are stronger than we were the first time we cried out to Him and He rescued us.  We find we are not moved to worry and fear like we used to be.  That’s because we are reminded of how He came right into our midst and rescued and delivered us, and we know He will do it again.  We become tough in the Spirit, not weak and vulnerable in the flesh.  We are no longer easy game to the enemy.  We will not be shaken as we may have been before. 

I’ll end with this promise Jesus gives us in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

The moment you hear anything that contradicts God’s Word concerning you, respond by saying, “Heart, don’t be troubled, neither be afraid, God is with Me and yes He will help me, yes He will deliver me, and yes He will rescue me from all trouble. He will protect and provide for me and give me the wisdom I need to act on to see me through safely.”

If you let this be your response, fear will have no option but to leave and you can trust the Lord to show you exactly what you need to say or do to walk through to victory, every time.

All my love,

Jenny