CONQUERING WORRY AND FEAR -– KEY #3
“Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5
I went for a walk one morning filled with dread. As I mulled over what might happen the tears slipped down my cheeks. Worried and filled with fear, I kept telling myself, and God, that I couldn’t cope if this frightening possibility became reality.
Through my fears and tears I prayed, crying out to God to help me be able to accept this situation if it was part of His purposes for my life.
Have you been there? Are you there now?
TO MY SURPRISE AND RELIEF, MY MIND SUDDENLY SWITCHED FROM REHEARSING MY FEARS TO REMEMBERING GOD’S WORD.
IT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE!
The Holy Spirit reminded me of three Scriptures that I needed to apply to conquer my fears. Maybe you or a friend need them also.
“Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5. In other words, grab hold of what you’re telling yourself, identify exactly what you’re worried and scared about. Then interrogate those thoughts and ask, Is this true? Do I know this is going to happen? Where are these fears coming from?
Our emotions and imaginations are NOT reliable, they are NOT facts. Imagining something that had not happened (and might never happen) is to let ourselves be overwhelmed with worry and fear. It blocks thoughts of faith, trust, and hope. If you know something IS true, ask God to show you how to handle your situation. Take steps to keep yourself safe or do what is best in the situation. Let worry and fear trigger prayer and asking for God-directed action.
“Whatever is true… think on these things” Philippians 4:8-9. It takes discipline to refuse to mull over what your imagination is projecting on the screen of your mind. This way of handling your fears won’t happen automatically. It’s part of training your mind to become a truth-thinker rather than a lie-believer.
What is the truth you and I are to wash through our minds, over and over? That God knows, cares, is Almighty, gives wisdom and direction, and is our source of strength. Think on these things and your mind and emotions will be calmed and comforted.[Tweet "Our emotions and imaginations are NOT reliable, they are NOT facts."]
“Set your mind on things above” Colossians 3:2. When you’re worried and afraid, God is calling you to trust. This doesn’t come by listening to the Enemy’s whispers of “How will you cope? If only this hadn’t happened. What if this does happen? I’m so scared I can’t bear it.”
Trust comes when you dwell on Who God is, building your knowledge of Him by spending time in Scripture and looking at His work in your life and the lives of others. Then, pivoting from fear to affirming your faith.
By God’s grace, instead of staying in the grip of worry and fear, I made a deliberate choice:
I will not worry about this. I will trust God to sort it out.
It might never happen, and if it does, He will give me the faith and courage I need.
I need to go through it WHEN IT HAPPENS, not before in my easily frightened imagination.
This fear/faith battle showed me the importance of not just reading Scripture, but of applying it and experiencing its power to transform how we go through life.
Let’s talk: What helps you when you’re battling a spirit of fear or dealing with worry? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Blessings,
Poppy
Photos: DollarPhoto Club