Fear is a damaging spirit. It comes in so many different forms. This last week it has been coming to me in an overwhelming way. However; I am choosing to fight back with the Word of God. Fear is a peace snatcher. You can’t live in peace and fear at the same time. I can’t imagine how Joshua felt when Moses died. Apart of him was deeply saddened but the other side was deeply excited for the next phase of his and the children of Israel’s lives. Moses led the people of Israel for 40 years and Joshua was his successor. When Joshua took the role he knew that the promise was to take the land of Canaan. Joshua saw the promise years before and believed that they could defeat the giants in the land of Canaan but the children of Israel didn’t believe; they feared.
Instead of taking a people full of fear into the land the Lord waited until that generation died off. Their fear caused them to miss the promise that God had given them. As I was being attacked by fear this week I began to think of all the verses that related to fear. Instead of living in fear I was and am determined to face fear head on. I recently launched a GoFundMe for mission trips and immediately I began to fear that they would not be funded. I saw God do it in Feburary however; I feared he wouldn’t do it again. Fear is a false reality of appearing real. (i.e. a liar)
Joshua must have had a crazy battle with fear because the Lord told him several times not to be fearful.
“Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:6-9
The Lord’s instructions to Joshua were to be courageous and strong. He was set up for propserity if he kept the law and didn’t become dismayed (fearful). We are all set up for success as well but we have the same instructions. In order to live a life of peace when fear comes we must stay in the Word of the Lord. The Word is our weapon. The Psalmist encourages us to not allow our hearts to fear even when an army is surrounding us (Psalm 27:3). Paul reminds us by way of Timothy “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). When I woke up this morning I was reminded that God didn’t give me the spirit of fear and anything that God didn’t give I dont have to receive.
We receive negative spirits when we accept them as real. If God is moving upon your heart to trust Him don’t allow fear to snatch God’s heart away from you. Jesus isn’t looking for perfect vessels He is looking for vessels that are willing to be molded. Look fear in its face and scream at it. Fear only has the authority you give it in your life. I am choosing to trust the Lord instead of the fear that is speaking to me. The Holy Spirit was left for us not to be troubled. Daily I am learning more and more that God has truly provided everything we need to live fruitful and victorious lives in His Kingdom if we would simply yield to the process.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.(John 14:26–27)