by Brian Mark Weller

Fear is spiritual cancer; one of the most vicious enemies of our souls. It works with horrendous strength to invade our minds with uncertainty. Fortunately, fear is no match for the Holy Spirit’s power. David testifies: “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4 NKJV). Yes, fear doesn’t stand a chance when we seek God in worship and prayer, and meditate on His biblical promises. In this short article, we’ll explore how Satan uses fear, and how God’s promises can embolden us against its attacks.

Fear: Every Christian’s Enemy

Fear is every Christian’s enemy. Satan has promoted fear since the beginning of time. Satan taunted Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, tempting them to fear what they’d miss if they didn’t eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. This enemy attacks with its demonic sidekicks, doubt and unbelief. Together they loudly shout the “what ifs” of life. Fear’s favorite taunts are, “What if this happens?” and “What if that happens?” What if? What if?! What if?! Fear drones on like a broken record; repeating the same phrases and hoping we’ll join in on its seditious song. It aims to level the mountain of hope God has built in us.

Our thoughts face a constant onslaught from this egregious enemy. Fear does all it can to make our minds its playground. It steps on the scene with arguments that seem to make sense—then it fervently strives to push us down the slides of worry and doubt. It works tirelessly to silence the Holy Spirit’s voice within, knowing God can obliterate anxious thoughts with a word. But that spirit of fear also knows he can gain victory if he can get us thinking more than praying and listening to God’s leading.

Right now, fear is viciously attacking the hearts of God’s people. It’s doing all it can to nibble away at our confidence in God. People of God, we must stop, listen, and hear God calling us to turn the tide of fear that rolls in against the safe harbor of our faith. God is calling us to overcome it by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Victory Over Fear by God’s Promises

If we want victory over fear, we have to fight for it. We cannot cave into fear’s loud and demanding voice. We need to exercise decisive discipline, because fear speaks ludicrously loud, and will do all it can to rain devilish disillusionment on our souls. Fear presents its arguments with extreme detail and enthusiasm and we must fight it with stiff resistance. It presses in to sell its hellish hallucinations with the ability of a lifelong salesman. These demonic agents come in hard and fast to demolish our firmly held beliefs by questioning God’s promises and ability to accomplish them. The good news is that God has provided a solution to stop fear! I believe that, do you? “Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23 NKJV).

Yes, to overcome fear, we must remember God’s fear-shattering promises, like:

• “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV)

• “When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” (Isaiah 59:19 NKJV).

• “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 NKJV)

Yes, that is our heritage in Jesus Christ; power, love, and a sound mind, free of the spirit of fear. Amen!

See, God has provided the victory through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to walk in it, and we can! Say with me, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)

But to walk in that victory, we need to overcome fearful thoughts with faith thoughts. That’s why the Apostle Paul commanded:  “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9.NKJV)

If we discipline ourselves to think like that, we’ll soon eradicate the strongholds of fear. You might object, “but David said God ‘delivered [Him] from all [His] fears’ ” (Psalm 34:4 NKJV). Yes, and God did! But David also promised God’s blessing on those who “delight. . . in the law of the Lord, And in His law. . .[meditate] day and night.” (Psalm 1:2 NKJV). Are we willing to fulfill the condition and dwell on God’s words and promises?

Fighting the Forces of Hell, or Hiding in Foxholes of Fear?

I praise God that many Christians are trusting God now more than ever before. They’ve wrapped themselves in their heavenly armor, and are glowing bright against this present demonic darkness. They’re standing firm in the faith, and fear is turning on its heels and fleeing like a coward. They’ve experienced God’s promise: “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:& NKJV)

But regrettably, many of God’s soldiers have huddled into the fearful foxholes of doubt and disbelief. If that’s you, it’s time to arise and cut that spirit of fear to pieces with “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 6:17-18 NKJV). It’s time to blast fear from the battlefield of our minds by speaking the Word of God with bold and fearless faith.

Victory, or Defeat? You Choose

There are only two possible outcomes in our battle with fear. One is to walk away as a triumphant champion and conquerer in Jesus Christ. The other is to be laid waste on the battlefield as fear stands over us with its foot on our back and our face in the mud of defeat.

So what will it be for you and I? Will we “stand. . .having girded [our] waist with truth. . .taking the shield of faith with which [we] will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:14, 16 NKJV)? Or will we miss the triumph God promised by stepping on the spiritual landmines of fear?

Together let’s take our stand in prayer for one another! Let’s abandon the beaten-down fields of fear and run to the flowering fields of faith, where the promises of God produce rich, bountiful, spiritual fruit. Then we too will proclaim as David did, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4 NKJV) 

God bless you as you go forward in faith and victory in Jesus Christ!