Fear vs. Fear

Have you ever felt fear?

I believe one of the greatest enemies against us, is fear. It has the ability to debilitate, frustrate and paralyze anyone in its way. Too often fear has won as many have given up, quit, walked away and caved in to its lies. Most of the time this attack is false evidence appearing real, leaving us believing that what we feel or think is true and that is torment.

What is your greatest fear?

For most, fear creeps up on us. We feel its pressure, images and words scream in our ears. We don’t know what causes it or why we are being attacked, but we all react in some way. This is where the enemy plays us. His objective is for us to make decisions out of fear so we are trapped and limited based on false ideas. It’s the ultimate thief to our promises in God. When we decide what we do or don’t do based on fear instead of faith, thus making our decisions in fear, we lose every time. But when we make decisions from faith, we win and put fear under our feet.

Fear plays on our experiences where we are most vulnerable. Faith stands on God’s Word and His eternal promises. The two come from opposite places – but one is temporary and the other eternal. One is suggestive and other is the truth. One is compulsive and the other is peaceful. When fear leads us we are tormented, faithless and terrified. When God leads us, there will be peace, faith and courage. Notice the drastic differences between how these operate. We need to see them so that we can tell the difference between fear and faith.

So how do we fight fear?

I believe the answer is fighting Fear with Fear.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life be added to you.”
Proverbs 9:10-11

Notice there is a good Fear! The Fear of the Lord refers to a reverence of/for God. It speaks to an awe and worship of who He is and His supremacy in our lives. When we receive the Fear of Lord, wisdom comes. Our knowledge of God grows, and our days will be long in the earth.

This is why I believe Fear must be fought with Fear.

When you feel fear grip you and try to paralyze you, use the Fear of the Lord. Declare “My God is bigger, my God is greater and my God is able to do miracles in me!” The Fear of Lord dwarfs fear and makes it look small and ridiculous. Its ability to dominate is stopped by our God. Christ in you is the Hope of Glory; therefore, what can fear do to you? Come on, I feel Jesus on this!!

We win and conquer our fears with Fear. We triumph over fear with the Fear of the Lord, declaring He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or think. The Fear of Lord declares, “He’s my protection, my healer, my friend, my peace, my redeemer, my hope, my salvation, my God, my lawyer, my judge and my King.” It proclaims that He is the undefeated Champion of heaven, earth and of your life. Therefore, no weapon formed against can prosper. Our God is great and greatly to be praised! Our Fear of Him will defeat the fear against us.

So, what is your greatest fear?

I encourage you to use the Fear of the Lord today. Revere Him, worship Him, allow yourself to be in awe of Him. Proclaim that His Supremacy is over your life because this is how you smash fear. This is how you win against the phobias against you.