Fear

Here is something I read on Facebook.

Fear

by Zach Whitsel

I’m a man of faith. Or so I thought. Turns out I’ve had a lot of confidence in my own circumstances and abilities. God has used this economical upset that’s happening in our world right now to show me that my dependency hasn’t always been in Him. I’ve caught myself sifting through news and studying over the financial markets way too much lately. I took a selfie a couple of days ago and then decided not to post it. I could see all the stress in my own eyes. Stress. Just a friendly, modern word for fear.

Alli and I sat down last night and prayed together. We prayed for many of the people we are connected with, and we prayed for peace. “Fear is a spirit, and perfect love is the only thing that casts it out,” I reminded both of us. Then I posed a question. “What have we been doing to invite this evil spirit of fear into our lives?” We started listing things out.

* Focusing on things we can’t control
* Obsessing over negative information
* Imagining what hasn’t happened yet
* Believing our security comes from us

God started reminding us of some truths. This is long, but you need to read it if you are struggling. And do me a favor and share some scriptures that have comforted you during this time!

Philippians 4:6-8 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Matthew 6:20-21,24-34 “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also…. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? …for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”