In Sunday’s sermon I shared some counsel for what to do when you’re afraid. I told you all then that I’d put it on my blog if you wanted the references. Here you go!
1. Realize the source of your fear.
“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7
If God does not give us a spirit of fear, then we know it either comes from one of three sources: (1) our flesh, (2) the world, or (3) the devil. Our flesh is what we’re trying to kill, the world is what we’re told not to love, and the devil is trying to kill us.
Listen with ears of the Spirit to the radio program you listen to on the way home from work. Is it trying to get you to be afraid? Read the social media posts with eyes of the Spirit. Are they encouraging you to be afraid? Then you know those messages are not of God.
2. Meditate on God’s promises.
I’m sure there are other promises of God you can use when you’re afraid, but here are some I thought of.
- “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
- “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
- “For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
- “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Some of you need to write one of these down and put it on the dashboard of your car, or make it the background on your phone. Some of you need to memorize one of these and recite it to yourself every morning, noon, and evening.
Remember, the devil is not just a liar, he’s also a loser.
Pastor Jacob’s Blog 