Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ~ John 14:27
I've been struggling with fear. Not fear like you have when there's a gun pointed in your face, but that chronic, nagging, anxiety-producing fear that hangs over you like a fog. You can't really see where it begins or where it ends but it obscures your vision and you feel it to your bones. For me, I fear for the future. There isn't enough money to keep the house maintained...we need "extras" like clothes or shoes, gas for the emergency generator...Then there's the fear of my changing health and how that will impact us. What will life be like when I can't move my hands or feet? Will I mentally implode? The vision in my head is of being buried alive....confined to a small space where I can't move and can barely breathe, yet fully alert and aware. Yep. Fear. I feel it.
Jesus said that He leaves us peace. Sometimes I feel it....sometimes I let the fear get a grip and the peace leaves. I just opened an email devotional. I hope that some of the excerpt below inspires you (like it did me) to keep fighting your fear by clinging to God's promises:
"Your confidence in the God of peace declares that you are not falling for the lies of the devil. You see the first step toward having spiritual authority over the adversary is having peace in spite of our circumstances. When Jesus confronted the devil, he did not confront satan with His emotions or in fear. Knowing that the devil was a liar, He simply refused to be influenced by any voice other than God's. His peace overwhelmed satan; His authority then shattered the lie, which sent demons fleeing.
There is a place of walking with God where you simply fear no evil. David faced a lion, a bear, and a giant. In this Psalm he stood in the "shadow of death" itself, yet he "feared no evil." David's trust was in the Lord. He said, "...for Thou art with me." Because God is with you, every adversity you face will unfold in victory as you maintain your faith in God! David continued, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" (Ps. 23:5a). The battle you are in will soon become a meal for you, an experience that will nourish and build you up spiritually. Only God's peace will quell your fleshly reactions in battle. The source of God's peace is God Himself. If fear has been knocking at your door, begin to face that fear with God's peace. It is God's secret weapon to destroy fear." (excerpt from Peace-A Weapon Against Satan, TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman)
There is a place of walking with God where you simply fear no evil. David faced a lion, a bear, and a giant. In this Psalm he stood in the "shadow of death" itself, yet he "feared no evil." David's trust was in the Lord. He said, "...for Thou art with me." Because God is with you, every adversity you face will unfold in victory as you maintain your faith in God! David continued, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" (Ps. 23:5a). The battle you are in will soon become a meal for you, an experience that will nourish and build you up spiritually. Only God's peace will quell your fleshly reactions in battle. The source of God's peace is God Himself. If fear has been knocking at your door, begin to face that fear with God's peace. It is God's secret weapon to destroy fear." (excerpt from Peace-A Weapon Against Satan, TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman)
Blessings,
Claudia
