I’m concerned about a “spirit of fear” that I see gripping our nation. Not that we all fear the same thing, but rather that a growing majority of people are filled, controlled, and/or identified by their fear. Some revert to the old-time universal fears of public speaking, rejection from others or death. Others fear catching a virus, that we are being subversively manipulated by our leaders, or that we might be living in the end times. There is no end to the things that we can come to fear.

Regardless of what the fear may be, each one is rooted in the same thing: the unknown. We don’t know whether we will catch the virus or what effect it might have if we do. We don’t know when death may come and take us. We don’t know if we are being manipulated and losing our liberties. These things that we don’t know are things for which we can not prepare. This means we certainly can’t control or even influence their outcome. So, they develop into fears. We fear those things that are beyond our control and seem to be left up to fate, chance, or karma (whichever philosophy we choose to believe at the time). However, God’s Word tells us that as children of God, we no longer need to yield to that spirit of fear. Why? Because we recognize that those unknowns in our lives from which fears arise are in God’s hands. He is in control. He is sovereign. He is still on His throne. And as His child, you no longer need to be under the influence or control of these fears. Sure, we may still have things that bring us fear from time to time, but they should no longer have sway over us. They should no longer paralyze our thinking. As quickly as they enter our minds, we are to bring them to the Lord and ask Him to remove them from us.

Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. That “careful” is referring to anxiety that is a result of fear. So this simply means that there should be nothing that brings you on-going anxiety and fear because you can bring it to God in prayer. The word “supplication” refers to prayer on the behalf of others. So, pray for your own fears and also pray for the anxiety and fears that others may have around you in supplication.

Isaiah 26:3 - Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. A spirit of fear will disrupt your peace. You won’t be able to keep your mind off of the potential consequences of your fear. You will begin to dwell on the unknown and become ravenous to consume the next little tidbit of information that can help you to fill in the cracks. The problem is, a mind consumed with “what ifs” can not truly be fixated on the Lord. Trust the Lord with your fears and unknowns, keep your mind fixed on Him, and the Bible says He will keep YOU “in perfect peace”!

There is no question that fear can consume us and control us. Identify your fears. Admit that your fear is based on what you don’t know. Take reasonable precautions to prepare for the potential consequences of the fear you possess. Then, turn it over to the Lord in prayer. Acknowledge that He has not given you a “spirit of fear”. He has complete control over those things which you have no power. Accept HIS PEACE in your life as you dwell upon the truth of His Word and trust His promises. Instead of being filled with a spirit of fear, you will find yourself being filled with God’s “power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”