A few Sundays ago, Chris talked about being completely surrendered to Christ in such a way that you allow Him to live through you rather than trying to make it on your own. I've experienced this in many ways, but one area I must surrender often is fear.
I remember as a young girl praying in my bed at night asking Jesus to take away my dreams and keep me from being afraid. Back then, it was simple! With faith like a child, I had no doubt in my mind that God could do it and that He would! I am amazed how God's Words spoken to us are spoken because He know us so well. He encourages us to have faith like a child because He knows the complexities and distractions this world offers. He knows that the more harm corruption and sin bring to our lives, the more difficult it is to hold onto the simple hope and faith we once had.
Why should I not fear when I know the darkness of the world? Why should I not cut myself off and protect all I love from that darkness? The reason is clear, God DID NOT create me to fear...and when I live in fear I limit the possibilities and desires of God in my life.
Phil 4:6-7 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus." I know, we've heard this verse countless times, but the reality is, it's TRUE! God doesn't want us to fear because He has amazing things in store, so he provides a peace that is greater than our circumstances. It is the kind of peace that means we don't have to explain it all, we don't have to have the answers, we don't even have to have control of the situation. It is peace that allows us to acknowledge the facts and move on trusting that the God who created us has our best in mind. And the reality is, we do such a terrible job of guarding our hearts and minds, it is wonderful to know someone else is fighting for their protection! What an awesome gift - that the Creator of the universe cares so much about us that He protects our hearts and minds.
So fear is my fight, a natural action of my flesh that is opposed to the plans and purposes God has for me. Fear is what I must deny, even daily, in order to pick up my cross and follow Jesus. But how?
Talking about it is the simple, easy part! Applying the concepts, and joining the Lord in the fight for the protection of my heart and mind is difficult! But the answer is in the verse...prayer, not just flippant words, but deep meditation and memorization, which leads to belief and lifestyle. When I pray asking God to remove my fears and give me victory over them, do I actually believe I can just let go? Or do I start playing the "what if" game over in my head until I've reached the pit of despair (yes, I love the Princess Bride!). What is my response when fears arise, and are those fears legit? Like I said earlier, it is a daily process, a choice to evaluate the things in my life I fear and trust the Lord to give me victory over them when they arise. It is a conscious effort to meditate on the verses I have memorized and believe they are, not only TRUE, but they are God's BEST for my life. I have found that rejecting fear is freeing, and allows me to pursue the adventures God has for my life with deeper faith than ever before. So I will do it, I will fight fear daily and rely on Scripture as my weapon, and trust God as my foundation on which to stand.
