Fear, like every emotion, can be used either negatively or positively. Healthy fear keeps you from being careless when you face danger. Unhealthy fear occurs when you allow your apprehensions and concerns to unduly take over your life—threatening your physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
What can you do about fear?
1. Face your fears squarely.
What three things do you fear most? Write them down and think about them. Fear often vanishes when you take a hard look at it. Then destroy the paper and banish those fears from your mind. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
What three things do you fear most? Write them down and think about them. Fear often vanishes when you take a hard look at it. Then destroy the paper and banish those fears from your mind. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
2. Substitute faith for fear.
Saturate your mind with the great Scripture verses that assure you of the love and care of your heavenly Father—verses like Deuteronomy 31:8: “The LORD…will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Saturate your mind with the great Scripture verses that assure you of the love and care of your heavenly Father—verses like Deuteronomy 31:8: “The LORD…will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
3. Learn to relax and trust God to guide you in all your decisions.
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
4. Give God your fears.
“I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
“I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
So look your fears in the face and say, “I will…not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself is my strength and my defense…” (Isaiah 12:2). Oh, yes!
