Overcoming Fear Using God's Word

Living in times such as these when many people are struggling economically as well as emotionally for their safety, it's easy to see how fearful thoughts can take over the mind. Besides the fear of running out of money, people are fearful for themselves and their families. There's the fear of having children kidnapped or hurt right in a parent's own community, in addition to the threat of world-wide terrorist attacks. However, the key to overcoming fear is found in many scriptural verses offering peace and security in living in an unsafe and troubled world.

Sources of Fear

Ignorance of God's Word - Most often people live in fear because they lack knowledge of God's Word. In fact, the Lord says in Hosea 4:6 that "My people are destroyed because of a lack of knowledge." This means that people fail to search the Bible to gain confidence that God loves them and gives them the guidelines for godly living.

The mind - Fear begins in the mind. Satan slyly plants a fearful thought into someone's head. It's not in an audible voice, but comes as a thought such as..."You're going to fail." An excellent book explaining how to battle fearful thoughts starting in the mind is Joyce Meyer's "Battlefield of the Mind."

How to Defeat Fearful Thoughts

Arrest negative thoughts - It's in the mind that fear first starts. Although you can't stop Satan from dropping a fearful negative thought into your brain, you do have the power to not receive it or dwell on it. As soon as a negative thought pierces your mind, make a decision to kick it out.

Speak the Word of God - Rather than just reading God's Word silently, speak it aloud as there's power in speaking out the scriptures. The perfect model is Jesus of Nazareth Himself. While on the Mount of Temptation He spoke to Satan from the Word of God. God's power goes to work when we speak His Words back to Him.

Use worship and praise music - Besides bringing peace to your fearful mind, songs of praise will make Satan flee from your thoughts. There's nothing Satan hates more than when people praise God in the midst of fear.

How to Pray the Scriptures

Praying the scriptures is simply praying back to God what He said in His Word. For example, take a familiar scripture dealing with fear such as "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind." (1 Timothy 1:7).

Pray, "I thank you, God, that you have not given me a spirit of fear, but instead you've given me a spirit love, power and a sound mind." If you still feel fearful, continue to pray back the Scriptures to God until it becomes a reality in your heart. In other words, "fake it until you make."

Meditate on Scriptures

To meditate simply means to think and ponder. Often people rush through the scriptures, not taking the time to meditate on each word and what it means. Take a simple scripture that deal with fighting fear, emphasizing each word. For example, "Perfect love overcomes fear" as found in 1 John 4:18.First put the emphasis on "perfect" and how God's love is perfect. Next zero in on how much God loves you, followed by how his love overcomes fear.

Finally, remember that your worst fears aren't what you fear, but fear itself. As Winston Churchill once said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."