The Fear Factor

One of the challenges that affects many of our human relationships and interactions is the spirit of fear. God has clearly stated in His Word that He has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2Timothy 1). However, even though many Christians can quote this scripture, it doesn't prevent us from continuing to operate in what I'd like to call the fear factor. 

A lot of times, when people think about fear, they think about being scared or frightened, like in some scary movie or something of that nature. They think of some sort of anxiety build-up, caused primarily by a physical threat of some kind. These are, indeed, examples of fear, but not the kind of fear that needs to be addressed in regards to the fear factor. When you're operating in the fear that is not of God, you're operating primarily in Insecurity. There are many people that are insecure and aren't even fully conscious of it, and as a result, they operate in fear.

Why is this not of God? Because as a child of God, your faith should be of such that your security is derived from God. There's no need to be scared or insecure or filled with anxiety because you know in your heart and spirit that your security is rooted in Christ. This sounds good, but why don't we practice this?

To really understand the nature of insecurity and fear, you have to understand the root of what sponsors it. Insecurity grows out of an overwhelming sense of non-being. You only experience fear and anxiety when you encounter a situation that you feel you cannot handle or is beyond your personal resources. Of course this is natural, but it's not supernatural; that's why it's not of God. 

When your faith is appropriately set in God and in Christ, there is no situation and no circumstance that is overwhelming to you. Yes, it might be insurmountable for you personally, but not for your God! That's why the spirit of fear is not of God, because if your confidence is in Him, then you're not overwhelmed. Unless of course you feel like your circumstance is too much even for God. We don't want to go there do we?

Saints, the season for which we are about to enter requires that we relinquish and release the fear factor. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith, so that our reliance will be strictly on God and not on ourselves.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before Your Throne of Grace, asking Father that You have mercy on our souls. We confess today that too many times, we have operated in fear. Too many times, we've put too much confidence in ourselves. Too many times, we have not put all of our trust in You. We ask Father that You forgive us and that You deliver us from the fear factor. Let us decrease so that no matter what we're going through and no matter what You call us to, we can declare by faith, "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me." In Your Son Jesus Christ's Name we do pray, Amen.