“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fear is not made perfect in love” – (I John 4:8)
Fear can be an overwhelming force that can cripple any of us to do anything meaningful in our lives. Psychologist would note that everyone has a certain degree of fear of something once in a well. Maybe it is a money issue, a health scare or relationship crisis. If one doesn’t have any fear that is quite abnormal.
Even the Lord Jesus had a certain fear before he was crucified. As the hour drew nearer, “he fell to the ground and prayed if possible that the hour might pass from him. Abba, Father, he said, “Everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will but what you will” (Mark 14-35-36).
But then fear must be overcome. For often so, fear can be brought by the enemy as a spirit of oppression. This is what happened when Moses sent out scouts to explore the Promised Land they were about to enter. The people they reporteeld to, “spread this bad report among the Israelites: “The land we travelled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there…” (Numbers 13:32-33). My friend, what else would you call that by “fear mongering”!
Fortunately Joshua and Caleb stood up to this spirit of fear. But how? Rather than focusing on the situation at hand they looked up to God. “Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us. Don’t be afraid of them!” (Numbers 14:9).
Are you going through a situation that wells up fear in you! Let fear not overwhelm you. Other than being like those Israelites who started “wailing and weeping all night” because of fear let us draw our eyes on the Lord. The Lord will vindicate this faith in Him, as he did with Joshua and Caleb.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, where there is any fear in my heart because of a particular situation or matter, I look up to you and overcome fear, because of faith in you, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
Related upcoming events
-
18/05/2024 - 19/05/2024 All day“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)
Perhaps one of the most inspiring passages in the Bible with enduring lessons is where Moses pleads to Pharaoh to let the Jews go. Instead Pharaoh dared Moses if he had the power as that of a king. Challenged to “perform a miracle” Moses turned to Aaron who threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs (Exodus 7: 9-12).
What we see here is the presence of occult powers in high places, as is true even today. A common mistake by some is to deny the existence of the occult behind certain thrones or power centers, especially in instances where we find those putting on a genteel manner of social respectability. There are also those who through their education and confined exposure to the spirit realm of things, doubt the existence of occult powers. The reality is that in the world we live in the enemy is much at work. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
In this passage we see that while Pharaoh did release his snakes the staff God had placed in the hands of his messenger, Moses, was far greater and swallowed all. Here is the point. As believers we do have a far greater and mighty power to protect us from any attacks of the enemy. It is the blood of the lamb. As it is written, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” (Revelation 12:11).
Today whatever snakes you may encounter from anywhere be assured that you have a far greater power than of the enemy. It is the blood of Jesus. As His word says, “call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:15).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray for protection from the attacks of the enemy by the blood of the lamb, this I pray in Jesus’name.
