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Week Four:
The Key to Overcoming Every Fear You Face:
Everyone experiences fear in their life. There are big fears we are very aware of and little ones we may not even realize we have; however, a little bit of fear is normal. In fact, fear helps you instinctively protect yourself from harm. Your fear might help you to recognize when you’re about to do something dangerous, and it could help you to make a safer choice. It’s very important to understand what fear is and how it works against us because if we don’t, it can keep us from becoming what God created us to be, which means we won’t fulfill our purpose in life.
But, you might find yourself fearful of things that aren’t actually dangerous, which can be introduced or brought into your life by the overwhelming cares of this life or the snares and traps of the devil. There may be times in your life when you might feel like your fear is stopping you from living your dream. If you find that your fear holds you back or creates bigger problems in your life, facing your fear may help you learn to better cope with the fear and ultimately overcome it. Common ways of facing your fears are evaluating the risks, creating an action plan, seeing a therapist, and being sure not to completely avoid your fears.
Because God is faithful, we can have peace of mind in any circumstance, even in the face of death. Although, we will change with time and the seasons of life will come and go, our faithful God is always the same. Since we belong to Him through Christ, He will never forget, neglect or abandon us. He has promised to preserve us: complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and He will do it.
5 Steps to Overcome Fear and Strengthen Your Faith in God:
There are several different ways we can grow in our faith.
1. Ask God to increase your faith. If you are struggling in your faith, ask Him for more of it. He will be glad to bestow it through the Holy Spirit.
2. Focus on obeying God. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes, but if you focus on following God’s word and commands, your faith will grow naturally.
3. Spend time reading and hearing God’s word. Spend time every day reading God’s word and soak it into your heart and mind. If your lifestyle is busy, listen to a sermon or a Christian podcast. Putting His word into your heart and soul will fortify your faith in the rough times.
4. Spend time with other believers. We are meant to worship together, pray together, and share our faith with each other. Hearing about others journeys in faith can be encouraging. Also study the Bible together, encouraging each other in godly disciplines.
5. Spend time in fervent prayer. Scheduling a specific time each day to spend with God in prayer makes a huge difference. This is your time alone with Him to discuss anything that is on your heart and mind. Be still and listen carefully and your faith will grow in abundance. God expects us to have faith and to grow in faith, so if we really believe God and live according to that faith, then God will be pleased. And we’re going to be blessed. But lacking faith and failing to live by faith displeases God. Do you have a enough faith on your current foundation? Do you have the right type of faith to grow your heart's desire? How can you know what faith is? and how do you show it and increase it? However, you may need to first decide whether it’s necessary to face your fear if it is not part of your daily life. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.“Eat and drink!” he says to you,But his heart is not with you” Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV).
So whatever Jesus is, we are too. He is strong, and in Him, we are strong. He is courageous; in Him, we are courageous. He is a conqueror, so we can be too. He has peace and joy, so we have peace and joy. He’s capable and bold. In Christ, we can do whatever we need to do with His boldness.As you study the Bible and meditate on what God says about you, you will be able to recognize the fears in your life that are holding you back and overcome them by seeing yourself in Christ. Then you will find you have whatever you need to do what you are created to do. There are a variety of things you can do to care for your own personal mindset, but one important element is finding a correct definition for what you’re feeling. Anxiety is a feeling worry, being uneasy and unnerved about a particular outcome, lost in the unknown and unsettled. Fear is a tool the devil uses against us to make us miserable and destroy our lives. It begins as a thought and then creates emotions that can rule us. It often becomes a strong, intense feeling that tries to move us to make a foolish action or tries to prevent us from doing something that would be good for us. Because it's such a common way that Satan attacks people’s lives. Nevertheless, depression is a dark place of despondency, often accompanied by sleeplessness, a severe lack of motivation, a feeling of hopelessness and no escape. If you’re experiencing severe and unrelenting anxiety, symptoms of depression, or regular panic attacks, we urge you to seek professional counsel asap. Mental health is critical during this tumultuous time. “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” Matthew 24:11-14 (NKJV).