When Faith Replaces Fear

October 30, 2000

Fear keeps us from receiving God's best and hinders new opportunities.  Fear blocks faith and makes problems seem hopeless. The Israelites thought they were doomed when they saw they were trapped against the sea. They allowed fear to dim the memory of how God had saved them from all the plagues visited on Pharoah and the Egyptians. They immediately became fearful with despair. Fear had robbed the Israelites of their trust in God. (Exodus 14:10-12)

Fear comes from leaving God out of our lives and circumstances. Without God, life is frightening, but with God, life is exciting! In the first chapter of Joshua, Moses has died and Joshua is now the new leader. Think of Joshua's task. His new job was to lead about two million people into a strange land. I love Joshua 1:5. The Lord is saying to Joshua: "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." (NIV) Just as God was with Joshua, so He is with us today!

Does fear hold you back? Does fear control your life? When we allow fear to rule, we make fear more powerful than God, yet God is greater than all our fears!

It is a certainty that fear does not come from God: "God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self control" (2 Timothy 1:7 NCV). Focusing on God negates fear and embraces faith.

When in the midst of trouble, trusting in God is vital. God is on our side and "no weapon formed against us shall prosper" (Isaiah 54:17).

God is not only in our midst but He raises up intercessors to pray in our behalf. Acts 12:5 tells of Peter being in prison, but the prayer of the saints prayed diligently for him. The Lord sent an angel to rescue him I had a unique experience in my prayer life. For several years a lady's name would come before me in my daily prayers. I knew the lady, but had not seen or talked to her in a very long time. I didn't even know of her need, but I prayed for her anyway. Last week I accidentally learned that she had been battling cancer for several years but was now free from that "prison." The doctors had pronounced her "cancer free." I breathed a prayer of thanksgiving for all of the other intercessors God had praying for her too.

One of my favorite Scriptures in canceling out fear and replacing it with faith is Philippians 4:6: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

I will replace fear with faith and I will celebrate faith. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. On October 31st, I will not be celebrating fear. I know where it comes from!