Written by Jean Murphy

Breaking Up with Fear

Commit Your Life(way) to Christ.
As you have previously read, you overcome your fears through the faith that comes from personally knowing God’s love and character, and now committing your lives to Christ and His truths. To do this, you will need the ABC's of faith.

A Accept God’s love for me.
B Believe that Christ died for me.
C Commit my life to Christ.

You need to personally accept, believe and then commit your life to Christ, fully commit your life to Christ. Whatever you are committed to, whatever you hold as a priority in your life, outside of Christ, will be the source of your fears. Whatever you are committed to, whatever you hold as a priority in your life, unless it is to God, will hold you captive and in fear. If having money is your priority, then you will fear not having money and fear loosing what you have. If getting married is your priority, you will fear not finding and marrying a godly man. If being successful is your priority, then you will fear failure or under performing. If you are committed to being perfect or having a perfect family who dots their i’s and crosses their t’s correctly, you will fear the choices you or your family will make.

However, if you are committed to having a relationship with the Lord where you are receiving His love and responding to Him with love and obedience, if this is your first priority, then your fears will never become manifest. As you choose to prioritize God in your life, you will make Him and His Word your focus and the most important part of each day. As you commit to living within a relationship with Christ, where you are talking to Him (prayer) and trusting Him and His Word (Bible study) then your fears will dissolve. You will focus on Jesus rather than focus on your fears. As you live a life committed to Christ, with your focus on Him, you will see any event that once caused you fear, as an opportunity to trust Him and live expecting to see His love, goodness, and His outcome. You will find that you also receive His strength and He enables you to live your life. Your fears will be turned into joy in His presence. God's Word shows us that fears turn to joy and peace when Jesus enters (John 20:20).

Defeating Fear in Action:
Let me share a small example of all that we have talked about:

The Lord has revealed to me that most of my surface fears are centered on those I love, specifically my family, including our two dachshunds, Bella and Buster. (For those of you who are dog lovers, you will easily understand that our pets are part of our families.)

Last weekend, I was pruning some twiggy bushes as Bella and Buster slept a few feet from where I was working. I tried not to drop any twigs as Buster puts everything in his mouth. Even with this awareness and care, It wasn’t long before Buster was struggling and pawing his mouth frantically. I instantly knew something was very wrong I grabbed him and with my husband’s help, pried open his mouth and put my finger as far down his throat as possible and felt a twig firmly lodged across his throat. I knew Buster needed professional care quickly as the twig felt as if it was not going to be easily removed. Remembering what we talked about previously I prayed for the Lord’s provision and thanked Him for His presence and His care in this situation with Buster. I was not afraid as I opened the phonebook to call the nearest veterinarian. I was not upset or afraid when the receptionist told me they could not fit us into their schedule. I was surprised that this wasn’t the means the Lord would use to care for Buster, but not afraid. Buster was becoming more agitated. My family would all tell you that I am not naturally calm in emergencies. This was a test as to what would be my focus and priority. God’s Words from Deuteronomy 31:6 came to mind and I was reminded to be strong and courageous as the Lord was with me. Through the enabling of the Lord, I did not give up or panic and after two more attempts to remove the twig, it somehow dislodged and was no longer there. When my husband was able to contact a friend who was a veterinarian, he was told that there was nothing we could do except feed him bulky dog food to protect his digestive system as the twig passed through him, and watch for bleeding. In my trial, I had the opportunity to trust and praise God as I remembered His Word and past provisions of care. I remember the times the Lord protected Bella from the dangerous things that went into her mouth, ears and up her nose.

As I waited and watched Buster, I was at peace and I had joy as I knew Buster was in the Lord’s hands. I woke up with Psalm 90:14 on my heart and in my prayers. “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Buster survived the twig episode yet continues to chew on branches that fall off trees, feathers and roots in the ground. I cannot protect him from harm no matter how hard I try. I am not worrying because I trust both my beloved dachshunds to the Lord with a focus on what I know, and I know that God loves me, He is all powerful, purposeful, all controlling, good, and an ever present God whom I trust and praise. I know He will meet my greatest needs no matter what happens. As I choose by faith, to walk in this wonderful truth, I do not walk with fear but walk with gratitude, His joy and peace.

Buster and Bella

Since then the Lord has revealed to me that I also need His help with my subconscious fears, I realized I still have some fears of loosing control. This fear has been with me as long as I can remember. Afresh, I needed to bring it to Him, just as I have obediently done over the years when this fear blatantly rears its ugly head. The fear of loosing control is affecting areas of my life, specifically with loved ones. It is not surprising that my favorite verses in Scripture are the verses that confront this fear. They are found in Psalm 52, verses 8 and 9.

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.
I will praise you forever for what you have done;
In your name I will hope, for your name is good.
I will praise you in the presence of your saints.

In frightening circumstances in my life, these verses tell me what I need to know about God. They tell me about God’s unfailing love, that He is in control and has already done what needs to be done, and that His name is good. These verses also tell me what I need to be doing when I am afraid. I need to trust in God, praise Him forever, and hope in His name.

We must purposefully change our minds and hearts from focusing on situations that bring us fear and choose to put our focus on the Lord and trust that He will provide. Our focus needs to be altered from our fears to the Lord. This achieved as we bring our fears to the Lord and ask for His forgiveness for holding on to our fears and believe that He will meet all our fears through His love, His power, and His purposes which are always good. I suggest that you try memorizing verses and claim them as your own, also try keeping a journal of the Lord’s past provisions and developing a moment by moment attitude of praise. Thank Him all day long for His gifts of provision and joy, consciously choosing to unite yourself with the Lord allowing His truths to change your thinking and bring freedom from your fears.

Defeating Fear, Part 1; Fear, Meet Your Source
Defeating Fear, Part 3; Making It Last

Works Cited:
All Scripture quoted is NIV
Random House Webster’s College Dictionary 2nd edition Random House
Psalm 139:23-24
Rene Schlaepfer, Teaching Pastor, Twin Lakes Church, Aptos, California
Zechariah 2:8
Galatians 2:20