You Don’t Deserve My Time!
Fear. I never thought fear would be a problem for me. All I remember is knowing that other people went through it. I never really thought about what it would be like if I of all people had it grip my heart with such force that I couldn’t even survive without thinking about it.
Thing is, fear is very hard to overcome by yourself. Isaiah 41:10 does say, “Have no fear for I am with you be not afraid for I am your God” and “God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of Power of Love and a sound mind.” I knew all this, yet it still didn’t hit home. Every day I endured this painstaking fear. It grasped me with ice-cold fingers and would not to let me go. I staying up all night long with fear clutching at me.
My experiences were not fun to go through, but I think it was a crucial part of my walk with God today. You see, the whole experience was preparing me, training me, to rely on God. When I put my mind to to thinking on things that were Holy, Just, and True the fear seemed to cease. But the funny thing about fear is that it doesn’t go away the first time. You have to conquer fear over and over and over again. My struggle went on for about two and a half years. Finally one night I went to God for the bazillionth time and for once . . . just surrendered. I gave it all up. With no more hope left, I knew it wouldn’t end unless I gave my fears to God.
That night I changed. God came into my life and did what he said He’d do in the scriptures: He gave me a sound mind. In that instant He also gave me authority over my fear, so when it tried to rear its ugly head again I could claim that which was given to me in the name of Jesus!
Maybe this sounds complicated, or like it’s something only a handful of people can do. But I’m here to tell you that there is hope and there is a God that wants to give you a fearless life. I thank God as much as I can for that victory and hope that God will give you victory as well.
Has God given you a fearless life? Do you want to reach the place where love and hope overwhelm your fears? Share your story in the comments.
I been through fears of my own, and the thing I needed to do was just trust Him. I just said, this is not going on any longer. When I gave up trying to fix things, and trying to work my way out of fear the situation God stepped in a provided a solution. God is so awesom.
Too many people think they have to live with fear. They give up and let fear control them, and then they try to use fear to control other people. It’s a vicious cycle.
Thankfully, we know that no one has to live with fear if they don’t want to. That’s not to imply that it’s easy to become free – sometimes fear is as hard to let go of as an addiction, or as persistent as a used car salesman. But fear can be conquered. Captivity has been led captive.
For the redeemed, even death loses its specter. “[F]ear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) For one who is contained in the love of Jesus, even the destroyer of souls is no cause for fear.
It’s all about location.
Just read this wonderful letter, its confirming to your thoughts. Letter is from the WNOP.
Continue praying for the Steve Willoughby family (Singapore):
Dear Friends:
I thought I would write you just a short note to explain what happened to me the other night. I did have one small instance of an anxiety attack but it only lasted for about 20 minutes. It was quickly remedied through prayer from a trusted friend. We talked it through and eventually I went back to sleep. In fact, I probably slept the longest I have slept since surgery. It is the one and only time I have felt fear throughout the entire ordeal.
I have received what I am certain is a guiding word throughout this present time from Bro Chester Wright, Bishop, Antioch, The Apostolic Church, Maryland. He said that the devil was trying to convince me with all these things happening that God did not love me. And the battle would be, “Don’t lose the confidence in His love”. As Barbara identified 10 years ago, the battle against cancer, is the battle against fear. Many times we try to conquer fear with faith, but it is not faith that conquers fear, it is love. The Bible says that perfect love casteth out all fear. So Bro Wright told me, “I give you one thing to do and one thing only, do not lose confidence in His love”. If we keep the confidence in his love then love will cast out all fear. So my single focus is to stay confident in His love.
In 1 Corinthians 13:13 it speaks of faith hope and charity. When we think of hope, it is associated with the English word “wish” but in the Greek it meant “trust”. The bottom rung of the ladder is faith, the next step up is trust (hope) but the greatest of these is LOVE. Our battleground is the mind. Bro Wright said there is no such thing as a spiritual stronghold, but strongholds are only in our mind. They are imaginations and thoughts, thoughts that are not obedient.
When you pray for me, pray that I will refuse any disobedient thoughts that would rob me of my confidence in His love. Pray that no circumstance, report, or diagnosis, will cause me to keep disobedient thoughts contrary to God’s promises. Bro Wright went on to say there was only one spiritual stronghold and Jesus destroyed it with His blood on the cross. Now all we have to do is to stay confident in His love for us, and the victory He purchased.
Thank you for all the words of encouragement, words of faith and the prayer support. It has meant a lot to my family and me.
Blessings,
Bro Steve Willoughby
(www.tabjoy.org)