ODM Daily Inspirational Devotional Messages Bible Verse and Prayers ODM
Fear Is a Thief – Don’t Entertain It
Source: The Daily Declaration |
PART ONE: THE PERVASIVENESS OF FEAR
Fear is the currency of the media. Fear sells. Every day we are bombarded with news of disasters, catastrophes and dire predictions about the future. It is sad that our news is not filled with all the good things that are happening – and there are plenty of those too.
Now, with a war raging in the Middle East, suddenly higher oil prices are bound to impact everything. When our personal circumstances change, with higher living costs, job insecurity, hard-earned investments losing their value, health concerns and so forth, it is easy to lapse into fear.
Add to all this the evolution of Artificial Intelligence, and suddenly, we cannot trust what we see and what we read. Is the impending disaster real or fake news? It’s enough to make anybody fearful!
Such things challenge our sense of security and, particularly in our culture, which emphasises knowledge as a means of control. The more you know, and the more you have, the more you feel in control to manage the outcomes. It is particularly confusing when those you trusted to know and work in your best interests, betray that trust, and you realise they are following their own selfish pathways.
PART TWO: WHAT IS FEAR?
In English, we generally use fear as a negative emotion which arises from a perception, anticipation or experience of danger, a threat, or something frightening we cannot understand. It makes us afraid.
Similar to our usual use of the word fear, the Hebrew word Pachad (פחד) often refers to irrational, imagined, or gut-clenching dread. Fear of impending real or perceived danger or threat that will result in harm.
This dread is the kind that comes not only from imminent enemy attack but from exposure of sin. However, the same word is used for the reverent awe of the holiness of God, and the awe-filled wonder of forgiveness and redemption.
While worldly fear can cause anxiety and avoidance, godly fear leads to wisdom, obedience, and love.
There is a good kind of fear that alerts us to danger, but when it evolves into terror, it can paralyse us, causing us to make unwise decisions.
PART THREE: FEAR IS DAMAGING TO YOUR HEALTH
Continual exposure to extreme fear causes damage not only to mental health but also to physical health. Heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure and nervous breakdowns are often attributed to extreme stress, intensified by fear. Recognising the consequences of prolonged fear and counteracting them is always beneficial.
Given the opportunity, it is wise to run from danger and withdraw from situations that constantly make you fearful.
Scripture repeats the phrases “fear not”, “do not be afraid”, and “do not fear”. This is because we can be confident of the faithfulness, goodness and kindness of Jesus, who showed us the compassion, love, mercy and grace of His Father, and promised never to leave us. We don’t need to be afraid, because He has us in His care.
PART FOUR: FEAR IS CONTAGIOUS
When you meet someone who is fearful, their fear is easily transferred to you. When you scroll the news, podcasts, opinion pieces that bombard you with bad news, it is easy to be discouraged and lose perspective.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it is the wellspring of life.” — Proverbs 4:23
We all need to protect our inner life, our thoughts, emotions, and will. Whatever we watch, listen to, the conversations we engage in, all have an impact on us.
How do we do this? By intentionally feeding our souls with good things and deliberately choosing not to fear, but to trust in God, who is faithful and promises to never leave us or forsake us.
PART FIVE: THE EXAMPLE OF NEHEMIAH
Nehemiah was in exile in Babylon. He was a close confidant of the King, even testing the King’s drink to ensure it was not poisoned. One day, the King noticed Nehemiah was sad and asked why. Nehemiah told him his hometown was destroyed by fire, and he sought permission to go and rebuild it. Surprisingly, the King agreed and supported Nehemiah in his quest.
On arriving in Jerusalem, Nehemiah quickly assessed the situation. He encouraged those living there to dedicate themselves fully to the task of rebuilding. But there was fierce opposition, with plots and tricks to try to stop the work. The people were terrified of their enemies at the gate.
Nehemiah was not deterred and instructed the workers to strap on their swords and keep working. He posted sentries at strategic points with a trumpet to warn of impending danger.
This is a wonderful example of not caving in to fear. When danger is all around, we need to be alert, well prepared – with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, in one hand and all the skills, gifts and talents God has given in the other, so we can achieve all He has purposed for us to do.
PART SIX: POSITIVE SELF-TALK IS VITAL
One critical reason for memorising God’s Word is so we have it embedded in our psyche when we are afraid. When fear comes knocking, send Jesus to answer it. We render fear powerless when we confront it with trust in God.
One damaging habit that feeds fear is to play fear-inducing scenarios and “What if’s” in our head. It is one thing to be prepared for when things go wrong – and yes, have a first-aid kit, an evacuation plan, and a disciplined, pro-active approach to dealing with potential danger, but that is very different from panic and ruminating on terrible possibilities.
PART SEVEN: WE ARE SAFE IN JESUS
Ultimately, our lives are in God’s hands. How precious is God’s Word that enables us to know God’s character and encourages us not to worry or be afraid.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” — Romans 8:35
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38-39
What blessed assurance that is! Don’t let fear steal your joy, your confidence and your God-given purpose. No matter what the future holds, we can be confident that our God has it all under His control.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” — Romans 8:28
PART EIGHT: COMMENTARY – FEAR, FAITH, AND THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
Introduction: The Thief That Steals Everything
Fear is a thief. It steals peace, joy, confidence, and purpose. It steals sleep, health, and hope. It steals the present by filling it with imagined futures, and it steals the future by paralyzing us in the present.
The article rightly identifies fear as the currency of the media. We are bombarded with bad news because bad news sells. Good news does not provoke the same urgent response. But we must be discerning. Not every disaster is imminent. Not every prediction is certain. Not every fear is rational.
The Two Kinds of Fear
The Hebrew word Pachad captures the duality of fear. On one hand, it refers to irrational, gut-clenching dread – the kind that paralyzes. On the other hand, it refers to the reverent awe of God – the kind that leads to wisdom, obedience, and love.
The first kind of fear we must resist. The second kind we must cultivate. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It is not terror; it is reverence. It is not paralysis; it is alignment.
The Contagion of Fear
Fear spreads. One fearful person can infect a whole community. One anxious voice can unsettle a crowd. This is why we must guard our hearts. What we watch, listen to, and speak shapes our inner world.
The article’s advice is practical: guard your heart above all else. Feed your soul with good things. Memorise Scripture. Speak truth to yourself. Do not entertain fear; dismiss it at the door.
The Nehemiah Model
Nehemiah is a powerful example of faith in the face of fear. He did not ignore the danger; he assessed it. He did not pretend the enemy was not there; he posted sentries. He did not stop working; he strapped on a sword and kept building.
This is the balance. Faith is not fatalism. Trusting God does not mean ignoring danger. It means facing danger with confidence that God is with us. It means preparing, planning, and persisting.
The “What If” Trap
One of the most damaging habits is the endless rehearsal of “what if” scenarios. What if I lose my job? What if I get sick? What if the economy collapses? What if my children are harmed?
These questions are not inherently bad – preparation is wise. But when they become a loop, when they dominate our thoughts and steal our peace, they become a trap.
The antidote is to replace “what if” with “even if.” Even if the worst happens, God is with me. Even if I lose everything, I have Christ. Even if I face death, I have eternal life.
The Assurance of Romans 8
The article ends with the most powerful antidote to fear: the assurance of Romans 8. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Not tribulation, not distress, not persecution, not famine, not nakedness, not peril, not sword. Not death, not life, not angels, not principalities, not powers, not things present, not things to come.
This is not a promise that bad things will not happen. It is a promise that when they do, we are not alone. We are not abandoned. We are not separated from the One who loves us.
A Call to Courage
The Christian life is not a life without fear; it is a life of courage in the face of fear. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the determination to move forward despite it. It is trusting God when the path is dark, when the future is uncertain, when the enemy is at the gate.
Fear is a thief, but we do not have to let it steal from us. We can lock the door. We can post a sentry. We can arm ourselves with the Word of God. We can keep building, keep working, keep hoping.
DECLARATIONS BASED ON THE ARTICLE
I DECLARE that fear is a thief, and I will not entertain it!
I DECLARE that I will guard my heart above all else, for it is the wellspring of life!
I DECLARE that I will feed my soul with good things, not with the currency of fear!
I DECLARE that I will not play “what if” scenarios in my head; I will trust in God!
I DECLARE that nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus!
I DECLARE that I will be like Nehemiah – alert, prepared, and persistent!
I DECLARE that I will strap on the Sword of the Spirit and keep building!
I DECLARE that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and I embrace it!
I DECLARE that I will not be paralyzed by terror; I will move forward in faith!
I DECLARE that my life is in God’s hands, and I am safe in Jesus!
PRAYER
Father, You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. Forgive me for the times I have entertained fear, rehearsed “what ifs,” and allowed anxiety to steal my peace.
Help me to guard my heart. Protect me from the contagion of fear. Let me not be swayed by the bad news that bombards me daily. Help me to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
Give me the courage of Nehemiah – to assess danger without panicking, to prepare without despairing, to build without stopping. Let me strap on the Sword of the Spirit and keep working.
I rest in the assurance of Romans 8: nothing can separate me from Your love. Not tribulation, not distress, not persecution, not famine, not nakedness, not peril, not sword. Not death, not life, not angels, not principalities, not powers, not things present, not things to come.
I am safe in Jesus. I will not fear.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
#DailyDeclaration #FearIsAThief #DoNotFear #Romans8 #Nehemiah #FaithOverFear
