“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.” II Timothy 1:7
Last week, I posted, ‘How to crush the spirit of fear’ and I felt it was incomplete. At the end of the post I listed four strategies to empower you to crush the spirit of fear, but I did not expound on them. This post will provide detailed insights on those four strategies. Implement them and watch your life rise above your frustrations.
Four strategies to empower you to crush the spirit of fear
1. Identify your fears and why
The everyday things of life provide many opportunities to fear: “Will I lose my job? Will I have enough money to pay my bills? Will I or one of my loved-ones get sick and die? Will my spouse leave me?”
These thoughts originate from the enemy of our souls and cause us great anguish. While all of these questions are possibilities, there is no reason to anticipate loss and failure. Bad things as well as good things happen to all of us.
The enemy’s trick is to convince you to believe that his lies are the truth. If you believe his lies you will forfeit your opportunity to succeed.
I suggest, you sit down with pen and paper and list your fears in one column and then list next to it why it is a fear. On a separate page list what you are going to do to combat the fears you listed. The last step you must take is to implement a plan to overcome your fears.
2. Feed your mind faith thoughts
If you want to really crush the spirit of fear, you need to feed you mind faith thoughts. A steady daily dosage of meditating on God’s Word, spending quality time with encouraging people and reading inspiring books and blogs will empower your faith to grow.
It will not happen overnight. There will be some bumps on the road and obstacles on your path. But, if continue to press forward, you can make it.
Some days you will feel like you can conquer the world and then there will be days when it is difficult to get up. But, if you make it a point to feed your mind daily faith thoughts even when defeat and discouragement attack, you will have a ready arsenal to attack back.
If fear thoughts are holding you captive, I want you to stop right now and refocus your mind. It will take some work because our minds tend to focus on our fears and what’s causing them. But, if you determine to focus your mind on faith thoughts, you can win the battle.
3. Trust God to keep His Word
Trusting in God is our ultimate remedy for fear. Yet, that sometimes seems easier said than done. In fact, the more consumed with fear we become, the more distant God seems to be. That’s why, when anxiety grips your heart, you should make a concerted effort to stand on the promises of God’s Word and claim them over your life.
If you desire to overcome the spirit of fear, you need to trust God to keep His word. Rely on His ability to take care of the source of your fears. You need to rest in God and His word and allow Him to take over the solving of your challenges.
Multitudes of people never fulfill the call of God on their lives simply because every time they try to go forward, the enemy uses fear to stop them. Is he using fear to stop you?
4. Walk your vision by faith.
John Maxwell says in his book The Success Journey, “Your vision is one of the most effective antidotes for fear. It can fuel the flames of the desire within you until you’re willing to confront and overcome your fear. Your vision can help you go where you’re afraid to go and do what you’re afraid to do. It will enable you to channel your fear positively.”
You can say that when God leads you to step out in an area to do something new or leads you to make a bigger commitment, you probably will feel fear. However, if you are sure God told you to do it, put your trust in Him and walk by faith.
These four strategies are not a magical formula that will make all your frustrations automatically disappear forever, but they will equip and empower you for victory when frustrations show up.
Question: What strategy can you implement to crush the spirit of fear in your life? Leave a comment below.
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tylerbedgood/8025881099/
Bernard Haynes says
DS, thanks for commenting. It wasn’t until I stop suppressing my fears and acknowledging them up front that I began to overcome some of my fears.
floyd says
This is a huge subject. I’d even go so far as to say even our fear is what motivates us. We can be afraid of being classified, or ending up in a place socio economically speaking or spiritually speaking, that uses fear for what looks like a positive outcome, but fear is not from God as you well said. I know I mentioned it last time, but the absence of fear is peace and joy and when we revere this world and the things in it more than we do the One who allows the life itself, we’re out of step and the will of our Father. When the fear inevitably creeps in, I stop and pray for God to guide me in truth and wisdom and ask Him to take the worry, doubt, fear, anxiety, and pride from me and ‘May I revere you Father, not the things that are in your sovereign control and will.”
Your hitting on something that needs more attention, glad you’re doing it.
Bernard Haynes says
Great point, Floyd. Fear can motivate us. I am looking at writing something on that aspect.
Barb Raveling says
I really like all these ideas, Bernard, especially your first one. It seems really important to ask yourself, “Why are you afraid?” Much is revealed by the answer to that question! Plus I love your comment that we often expect the worst to happen – I do that even with my goals. You’re right. It would be much better to expect good things! Lots of good wisdom and positive encouragement in this post, thanks.
Bernard Haynes says
Barb, thanks for commenting. Most of the things I listed on my fear sheet that I as afraid of never happened. I wasted time and energy fearful of something that never happened. I could have been enjoying life.
Barb Raveling says
That is so interesting. I used to waste time and energy on the “if onlys.” If only I had done that … If only he were more … If only I hadn’t …. Etc. Etc. When I realized I was wasting all kind of negative energy on options that didn’t exist, it helped me focus on options that DO exist.
This is a similar thing in an opposite direction – wasting time and energy thinking about what MIGHT happen. Ridiculous!
It just occurred to me that praying with thanksgiving was what helped me get over worry about my kids – I bet that would also work for worry about what people think as far as blogging goes. I’ll have to give that a try. Thanks, Bernard.
Bernard Haynes says
You are welcome. Keep blogging the thoughts God give you. Don’t focus on what others might think. People will think what they want and you can’t change. I have learned some people are going to agree or disagree with you. So I decided to do what God has given me and it will bless the people He wants to read and hear it. He always confirms with me by sending a person who has heard me speak or read my FB posts or blog. I bump into a lady at Walgreen and she commented how she enjoyed the church service I facilitated and a friend of my mother said she loves the posts I put on FB. Those let me know to keep moving forward and not let fear dictate my walk.
Barb Raveling says
Good words. It will bless the people He wants to hear.
Ngina Otiende says
Bernard, this is such a great post and so timely for me. Just today God was reminding me to stand up and fight in an area that I’ve been feeling beaten-up on. The principles you’ve shared here apply so well to my situation and actually am seeing how fear can masquerade as “tiredness”, numbness. It comes down to why am feeling/thinking a certain way and what am going to do to get on with god’s program. Thanks for this word today, am blessed.
Bernard Haynes says
Thanks for commenting, Ngina. What you said is key about God reminding you to stand up and fight. He has given each of us tools to win our battle against fear, but it is up to us to use those tools. He is not going to use them for us. Keep standing up against fear. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Keep fighting. I am so enthralled with this subject on fear, I am preparing two more posts dealing with it.
Ngina Otiende says
Am looking forward to reading more in it!
Caleb says
One of the best ways for me to conquer fear is to study theology. The more I learn and understand about who God is the easier it is to trust him and know that he is with me and I really have nothing to fear.
Bernard Haynes says
Caleb, thanks for commenting. The best way to conquer fear is to read, study and meditate on God’s Word. His Word gives us the assurance that He will never leave nor forsake us and He is with us until the end of the ages. I am getting ready to read His Word after I type this.
Mike Holmes says
That’s so true! The more we learn about God the less we have to fear from life. Love it Caleb:)
Mike Holmes says
A strategy I use is to meditate on God’s Word. By meditate I mean mutter His Word throughout the day. So if the whisperer tells me a lie I would say, “For God has not given me…” “For God has not given me…” “For God has not given me…” and etc.
I’ve never found a time where muttering the Word did not work.
Bernard Haynes says
Mike, I do the same thing. God’s Word works if you obey.
David says
I appreciate your thoughts, Bernard. As I mentioned at your last post about fear, it has a stronghold in my life, that stronghold must be broken. My challenge will be to let God do the doing instead of me trying to figure out the best angle of attack in my own strength. Sometimes I think I idolize fear because then it becomes an excuse to not move and that’s not a good place to be.
Bernard Haynes says
David thanks for commenting. You must believe that the stronghold of fear must be destroyed and take actions. You can start by implementing the strategies I listed above. It is going to come down to can you trust God at His Word. What He says from His Word will go against your flesh, fear and you trying to figure it out. It is not going to be easy because the fear will increase its intensity. It will tell you what you can and cannot do. There is no special formula, it is going to take committed and consistent effort. Surround yourself with people who you can trust to encourage you with your battle of fear. David, you can win against fear, if you are willing to put forth maximum effort and energy.
Dan Black says
These are some essential points. I have learned the power of our thoughts and self talk. I try and feed myself good and positive words and inner thoughts. It’s amazing how our inner thoughts will drive our outward actions. Great post Bernard.
Bernard Haynes says
Dan, thanks for commenting. Our thoughts do drive our outward actions. Proverbs says ‘whatsoever a man thinks in his heart so is he.’
Loren Pinilis says
It’s all about surrounding ourselves with God’s promises. God has promised us many great things – not everything we could ever want, but everything that is good for us. Reciting those to ourselves does much to help us deal with the fear.
Bernard Haynes says
Loren, you are correct. Feeding your mind and speaking God’s Word over your life is key to overcoming fear and walking by faith.