One of the most, if not the most, debilitating, paralyzing phenomena that we struggle with, as both believers and non-believers, is the problem of fear. Truth be told, many of the reasons why we do not have what we want, live how and where we want, do what we want, or even be what we want is because many of us suffer from an extreme case of fear. Even more significant, the reason that we may not do, have, speak, or live the way God would have us to is founded in fear. Many of the gifts, visions, ideas, and innovations that God has placed inside all of us often go stagnated, stifled, and, ultimately suffocated by the grip our anxieties hold over us. And if we are to move ourselves into the spaces that we envision for ourselves, we must be willing to move our collective consciousness from fear to faith.
Though in a humanistic, carnal sense it is very natural to be afraid, we must adopt an enhanced concept of what fear is. We must begin to comprehend that though fear is natural to our flesh, it is unnatural to our souls and contrary to the image of God that we are created in. We must lose focus on the fear of the flesh and begin to wrestle with the spirit of fear. The spirit of fear, if left to have its way, takes the place of God’s reign in our lives; controlling our actions, paralyzing our movements, and leading us to question the faithfulness of God to us.
If we take a critical look at the spirit of fear, we find that it often rears its head in one of three arenas in our lives: that which we deem uncertain, that which we deem uncontrollable, and that which we deem unfamiliar. If we are honest, the reasons why many of us choose not to move on, move forward, or move ahead in life with the plans that God has specified for us can be classified in one of these three categories. It is in these groupings where the spirit of fear lives and is able to attack our dreams viciously.
Despite the effects of fear in our everyday lives, through God we are able to defeat this spiritual attack. When we are faced with situations that make it hard for us to see what’s ahead, we must remind ourselves of the grace, favor, mercy, and power of God working on our behalf. We must train ourselves to be continually reminded that greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world. No matter what the situation may be, there is nothing insurmountable for God.
Ask yourself what innovation, invention, or improvement have you been sitting on? What business idea have you been dragging your feet on? What knock of opportunity has gone unanswered because of the spirit of fear you are operating in? The 46th Psalm tells us that “God is our refuge and help, an ever-present help in trouble.” We, as a people, have to make the transition from fear of the unknown to faith in all-knowing God. Faith in a God that is faithful to supply that which we need and a God that never gives anyone a vision without provision to make it happen. When we decide to confidently walk in the direction God would have us to, doors open, resources avail themselves, and needs are met. When we choose to walk in His Spirit and not one of fear, the world around us bends to His divine will.
We must consider that our present condition may not be what God desires for us. It is essential that we rid ourselves of the thinking that suggests that we wait on God before moving as He has commanded. God operates outside of time itself. If The Creator has given an idea or a revelation, we must conceive that He has given it to us under the premise that it is already done. All that we must do is walk into it. God has given us all that we need in each other & He is waiting for us to claim it. We do so by changing the spirit we live our lives in; by moving our lives from fear to faith.