6 Encouraging Verses to Overcome FEAR

Hi friends,

I'm writing about overcoming fear today. Here's a bit of it, then click the link to read the rest of it on my "Living Single" blog...

Increasingly, there are reports of shootings or bombs going off—in airports, cafés, schools, even churches. And it happens on the other side of the globe or right in your own hometown.

Understandably, that kind of news can leave some people feeling fearful or anxious.

Maybe your worries are of a different sort. You’re afraid that the money will run out before the month is over. Or you’re fearful of flying in an airplane. Could it be that you’re afraid that you’ll never find real and lasting love—or you’re anxious that the relationship you have will disappear?

Know this: You may feel fearful at times, but you do not have to live in fear.

You have a choice. I have a choice: Will I live by fear or by faith?

Click the link to read more...

http://www.drjamesdobson.org/blogs/living-single-blog/living-single/2016/08/05/6-encouraging-verses-to-overcome-fear

From Fear to Faith: How to Overcome

 

 

Fear says, “I cannot handle this situation.”

Faith says, “God can.”

Years ago, when I was learning how to mountain bike I was afraid to go down super big hills with rocky terrain. I was afraid of falling. I wanted to go slowly down the hill—to maintain control and feel more in control. However, my friend (who was an experienced mountain biker) said, “Speed is your friend,” and urged me to go faster.  

Faster? It sounded counterintuitive. Perched at the top or a hill strewn with rocks of all sizes, I paused. I prayed and I decided to trust him.  

As I went down the hill on my bike, the speed actually helped me to glide across the rocky path in a whole new way. I was scared and excited. It was exhilarating! 

Fear comes into our lives in many ways. Perhaps your fears are holding you back from what you truly want. Or, they are keeping you in bondage—not free.  

Fear says, “I cannot handle this situation.” Faith says, “God can.”  

When you release your grasp and let go of how you think things should be, they begin to change. Surrender is a powerful thing. Giving your fears to God, and allowing him to transform them into faith—faith that He will come through for you even though you can’t see now how it’s all going to work out. 

He is your strong protector, wise helper and total healer. He is stronger than any force that tries to come against you. God whispers, “Will you trust me?” Will you believe I will take care of all your needs and calm your fears?   

It starts by remembering what God has done in the past—for you and for others. Recall how He has seen you through before, and believe that He will again. Ask the Him to help you do what you cannot. 

Remember you are not alone. The Lord is with you always and He will fight for you.

 

 

Freedom from Fear and Finding Peace After a Breakup

The end of a relationship can put a lot of ideas into a your head. What if I’m making a mistake? What if no one ever loves me again? What if I’m too old, too fat, too thin, too boring, or too whatever? What if I never get married and have kids?

What if. . .?

Rejection and the resulting fear can often be crippling. It can hold you back from moving forward and taking risks in the future.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

While some fears are founded, others are irrational and will never come to pass. And it’s important to know the difference.

You may have heard the saying “feel the fear and do it anyway.” Sometimes we need to push past how we feel in order to do the right thing, or get where we need to be in life.

When Jesus walked the earth, one of the disciples named Peter did a very courageous thing when he decided to trust God and defy gravity by walking on water. In John 14:22-33 you can read the account of Peter and other disciples who were in a boat some distance from the shore when they saw Jesus walking on the lake. They thought it was a ghost and they were terrified.

It wasn’t a ghost. It was the One who loved them most.

Jesus told them not to be afraid, and Peter replied to Jesus saying, "Tell me to come to you on the water." Pretty daring, I’d say.

And Jesus said, "Come."

Interestingly, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he looked around he saw the wind, he became afraid, and began to sink into the lake.

Scary.

But as Peter he began to descend into the dark waters he cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand to Peter and lifted him up. Whew! A good lesson for us too: Eyes on Jesus we stand strong, eyes on the storm—we sink!

The Lord wants you to be free from fear, worry, and obsessive reasoning. He wants you to trust Him. When you do the rewards are great. Instead of fear, doubt, and panic, there is freedom, peace, joy.

Be at peace. The One who loves you most will take care of you.

Here are some Bible verses to reflect on –words of life and peace—to help you conquer your fears:

The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalm 56:3

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Trusting When You Cannot See the Way

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5, 6

Someone very wise penned those words thousands of years ago and they still apply today. So many times in life we ask, "What am I doing?" or "Where am I going with my life?" Like a path set before us with no end in sight, we often stand there, frozen. What causes us to feel stuck? Why is it so hard to move forward sometimes?

Fear.

Maybe we're afraid we will make the wrong choice, take the wrong path and miss it. Maybe we are afraid of success. Maybe uncertainty has us in its ugly grip and we just don't know how to let go.

First, Joyce Meyer has a great saying. When we worry and fret about thinking "What if I miss God? What if I make the wrong decision?" She says with a smile, "If you miss God, He'll find you!"

God is smarter than us, wiser, totally in control and never drops the ball. We can rest secure in knowing that if we surrender, obey and trust Him. He will lead and guide our lives. He does it. We do our part; He does his part. Our part is to trust and obey.

Trust. Release. Surrender. Let go of fear, worry, doubt. Unwrap each finger and hold open hands upward to God. And He will fill them with the blessings of heaven...and all He has for you.