Fear Exposed

I am reading a book “Unafraid” by Susie Davis.  I picked it up for R20 at the Bargain Books Pop up shop 2 weeks before lockdown began in South Africa.  It was one of those books that, when you see it, you know you need it, but …why?

I have been going through the book for the past week during my morning quiet times – one chapter at a time – and boy has the Lord been speaking to me deeply.

For those of you who know my journey, you will understand why this is such a deep message for me, and for those who don’t, well, let’s say, that Susie’s story (although the events entrenching fear in our lives differ) is not much different to mine. 

The walk to overcoming fear is a very difficult, and often, uphill battle – especially when you walk it out on your own.

FEAR IS AN ADDICTION….

…just like any addiction, you need to recognise it for what it is AND you need to realise that you will have to take a stand against it for the rest of your life, to really walk free.

God didn’t go “cold turkey” with me, because fear ran so deep and it was so complex – a network of underground roots, so entangled and messed up.  Instead, He has gently, in His amazing graceful way, weaned me over the years, gently untangling the mess inside of me, restoring my trust not only in Him but in others.  Always, replacing the lies with His truth, one at a time.

When I pray the Lord’s prayer, I now understand what that the words “lead us not into temptation” really mean for me.

Matthew 6:13 – the Lord’s prayer in the original King James Version is rather misleading as it always seemed to me that God would lead us into temptation.  I have had a look at the original Greek words from the Strong’s Concordance as this is what I found:

LEAD (G1533) – to carry inward

TEMPTATION (G3986) – a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation, discipline or provocation) by implication adversity

This word come from (G3985) – to test (objectively), i.e. endeavour, scrutinize, entice, discipline.

DELIVER (G4506) – to rush or draw (for oneself) i.e. rescue

FROM (G575) – “off” i.e. away (from something near)

EVIL (G4190) – hurtful, i.e. evil (properly, in effect or influence, and thus differing from G2556, which refers rather to essential character….

In other words, evil that is not an innate part of your character, but rather an effect or an influence on your life.

To paraphrase for this verse to apply to my life:  “Carry me inward and test me, scrutinize my soul Lord and teach me discipline to live a life that reflects the rescuing of my soul from the hurtful influence that fear has had on my life.”

Matthew 6:13

 (The Message) “keep us safe from ourselves and from others”

(The Passion Translation) “rescue us every time we face tribulation and set us free from evil.”

“Fear is a wild weed with deep roots … He (God) doesn’t just want to cut off the top parts of the wild weed we see in our lives;  He wants the deep, entangled roots out too.  The places where fear runs out of control, strangling trust.” Unafraid – Susie Davis

Fear, when we allow it to control our lives, chokes the trust we have in God.  Where does your “faith” lie?  Faith = trusting God.  Fear = trusting satan.

It is a challenge to trust God, to live unafraid in the face of trials and trouble and heartache … there are times in life that GOD STOPS EVERYTHING WE ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LISTENING…

In this time of lockdown as the spirit of fear is not only launching a personal attack on individuals, but on the nations of this world, let us go into that secret, safe place where God is and let us lay at His feet every fear that grips us, binds us and paralyzes us, so that we may come forth as BOLD AS LIONS (Proverbs 28:1) and be that mighty army He has called us to be.