Fear Part 1: March 14, 2011

TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY MARCH 14, 2011

FEAR
PART ONE

DEFINITION:

A distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil or pain, whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid; concern or anxiety.

SCRIPTURE:

“Do not be afraid, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Genesis 15:1

“Do not fear, for I am with you, so do not be dismayed, for I am your God.” Isaiah 41:10

“I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

We have decided to do a series of five devotionals this week on the word FEAR. We are doing this because it seems that most of the e-mails we receive from wonderful friends that are reading our daily devotionals are discussing or asking about fear.

We remember that when we were children we had fears. Many times we were scared of the dark. Sometimes noise would scare us. Children have fears of things that many parents feel are not important enough to deal with. But a fear that affects a child, if not dealt with by parents at the time of the fear can affect a child for a lifetime. A parent should deal with these fears through showing love, giving assurance that all is OK, and comforting a child through each situation.

Our children would come running to us for protection when something frightened them. As adults we often feel we have no one to run to when we are afraid. Unfortunately many people turn to pills, drugs or alcohol to calm their fears. In Psalm 34:4 (above) David tells us that there is someone to turn to when we are all alone in our fear.

At the time he wrote this verse he was on the run from King Saul who wanted to kill him. He fled to King Achish of Goth but found no safety there so he had to flee from Goth. In his time of fear and despair, David tells us, “I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.” God is our safe refuge today and He wants us to seek Him as David did when he was fearful.

Fear is one of the most relevant subjects found in God’s Word. Some fears are so powerful that one can become momentarily paralyzed by them. One can become physically ill because of fear. Therefore we must, as believers, give ourselves to the Lord and study the Word of God as it has all of the tools necessary to combat the fears that come upon us.

Many adults have fears. Some begin in childhood and others are the result of situations in life. By definition fear is a distressing emotion and whether the cause is real or imagined it brings on anxiety. God does not want us to live in fear. God wants to be our God, so that we do not have to be dismayed in our times of fear because He is with us. (Isaiah 41:10)

We should not allow fear to keep us from the right relationship with God. Our friend Dr. Porter Barrington gives us three fears that can keep us from knowing the Lord and doing His will:

• The fear that you will fail.
• The fear that you cannot live up to God’s standards.
• The fear that you cannot obey God’s Word.

Fear must have been a great concern to God because over 80 times in God’s Word we read the words “DO NOT FEAR” or “FEAR NOT.” We are living in a world filled with fear. Parents are fearful for their children. Children are fearful of facing what is unknown to them. Adults are fearful about their work, their homes, their families, their finances and their futures.

The scriptures are clear when they tell us that when we seek the Lord, He will hear us. He is our shield and defender and will deliver us from all of our fears. Remember God says “ALL FEARS.” Faith in the Lord overcomes fear.

If you are fearful about “THINGS” in your life or about life in general it is time for you to take time now and evaluate your relationship with Jesus. Seek the Lord; He will hear you and He will deliver you from ALL your fears!

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 33:8.

Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

PRAYER:

Help me today to understand that You are an Almighty God and the One I should turn to in my times of fear. Give me the desire to seek Your name and lay each fear at Your feet so that You can deliver me from these fears. Help me to reach out to others that are facing fears in their lives and allow me to lead them to You so that they can enjoy the same peace in their hearts that You have given me.