365 Ways to Not Fear

In the Holy Bible, there are 365 verses instructing Christians to NOT FEAR, to NOT WORRY, to NOT BE ANXIOUS.  From the book of Genesis to Revelation, God has emphasized this. There is a very good reason for this! Satan uses fear to demotivate us and to ensnare us in his web of lies. He is like a wicked spider, weaving thoughts in our minds, thoughts that trap us and bind us, holding us back from God’s purpose.

In 1 Peter 5:8 — “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” This scripture reveals that we should always be prepared for spiritual warfare, and one of these ways is to put on the full armor of God.  To stand against the devil’s advances look to Ephesians 6:10-13 – “Finally be strong in the Lord, and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

What is the Armor of God?

• The Belt of Truth
• The Breastplate of Righteousness
• The Shoes of Peace
• The Shield of Faith
• The Helmet of Salvation
• The Sword of Truth

As Christians, we are the modern-day disciples, and as such we are all called to be warriors.  The Holy Spirit that dwells within us fuels our passion for spreading the Gospel, he uses our experiences for his glory even when we endure suffering, to condition our spirit and strengthen our faith in the Almighty. Wearing the Armor of God is NOT our ONLY defense, we also need to sharpen our “Sword of Truth” by reading God’s word and living by his divine Will.

Once we are armed to the teeth with the truth, we can battle victoriously. Fear is the enemy’s greatest tool; he uses it to build strongholds in our minds.  In Proverbs 23:7 – “As a man thinketh, so is he.” This could also be phrased “we are what we eat,” meaning simply that what we think on, will be what we act on. If you are giving into the anxious thoughts in your mind, you are more likely to do something irrational or behave in a frantic manner. It is the same concept as watching a horror movie and then having nightmares afterwards. What many fail to realize is that by giving into these issues in the mind gives place to the enemy and keeps you in fear’s bondage. People take ownership of their problems, identifying with it as “their disease”, “their migraine,” or “their depression.”

We should NEVER identify with our issues, instead we should surrender them to God and seek to break free from the battlefield of our minds. Fear is rooted in anxiety, depression, worries, doubt, anger, angst, etc. We give it power by feeding into the deception. Let us instead refuse to identify with fear and be brave.

When I was 12, I was baptized in a Southern Baptist church. I did not understand the meaning behind baptism at the time, but I knew two things: I did not want to go to hell at the age of accountability, and I wanted my dad to be proud of me. That day I did not realize I was baptized with the spirit of fear. For years I suffered through a generalized anxiety disorder and had panic attacks and anxiety attacks so intense I would have seizures. I received deliverance from many of these conditions, but fear was always with me in some form and no matter what I did I could not shake it. Because I didn’t know it was something I had went into covenant with during a Christian practice. I was baptized again a few months ago at my church, Full Gospel of Christ Church and I felt that spirit knocked clean out of me. I was delivered from the spirit of fear, and since then I have a clear mind.  I understand the meaning of baptism now and I did it with a joyful heart. Through a renewed mind, and a strengthened heart, you can face the fear with Jesus and cast it out too!