How to deal with tangible and real fear

Fear and unbelief are robbers. They rob people of God’s best for their lives. Fear will come to everyone but it does not overcome everyone. You need to know how to deal with fear if you are to enjoy God’s best for your life and ministry. If you are to fulfill your divine assignment on earth, you must learn how to overcome fear. Satan uses fear as a weapon to weaken our faith and rob us of our miracles.

Fear prevents a lot of people from acting on the Word of God. For instance, if you are afraid your salary is small and insufficient to meet your needs, you will not pay your tithe. You do not believe that God will fulfil His promise. All fear is rooted in unbelief. Whenever you are afraid, it is because you doubt a particular promise. So, you see fear and unbelief go hand in hand. Fear gives access to the devil to operate in your life while faith gives access to God to operate in your life. While faith delivers the promise of God, fear delivers the opposite.

The big question is how do you deal with fear?

2Chronicles 20:1-27

2Chronicles 20:3, “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.”

Jehoshaphat and Judah faced a life-threatening situation. The danger was real and unless something was done, they faced extermination. The Amorites and ammonites had gathered against Judah in battle. Judah was outnumbered. They faced a superior army. Jehoshaphat feared! This is not a time to tell a man ‘fear not’. When you are faced with this kind of situation, fear is inevitable.

It is not every situation you can ignore, like the current covid-19 pandemic. You should ignore you doubt but not life-threatening situations. Jehoshaphat feared! Then he proceeded to take some steps that brought him and Judah victory. Let us examine them in this passage. These same steps can help us whenever we are faced with life threatening situations.

1. He set himself to seek the Lord. 2Chronicles 20:3, “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.”
2. He proclaimed a fast.
3. They asked help of the Lord. 2Chronicles 20:4, “And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.”
4. He praised God and reaffirmed his belief in His sovereignty and supremacy over all. If you don’t believe in the supremacy of God over your enemies, your confidence will diminish and you will not be able to secure His help. 2Ch 20:6
5. He reaffirmed that the inheritance the enemy was trying to steal was given to them through their forefathers by God. 2Chronicles 20:7. Divine health and healing are your inheritance from God and should be defended and protected whenever the enemy is trying to steal them from you. This is applicable to every other thing we are blessed with as children of God.
6. He reminded God of His promise to help them and deliver them in the time of evil if they ask for help from the Lord. 2Chronicles 20:9, “If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.” You must remember and plead the promises of God in prayer whenever fear strikes in order to take control of that situation.
7. He stated their utter helplessness and complete dependence on God. 2Chronicles 20:12, “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.”
8. He asked the Lord to help them against their enemies. The world is facing a ruthless enemy right now, we need to cry out unto God for help.
9. They then received a response from God in form of a prophetic word stating that God had taken over their battle. 2Chronicles 20:14-15
10. They were then asked by God to proceed against the enemy without fear. 2Chronicles 20:16-17
11. They received this word with gratitude. They celebrated the prophecy. 2Chronicles 20:18-19. Those who celebrate the promise of God will eventually celebrate victory over their enemies and circumstances and experience their miracle.
12. They confronted their fear with faith. They believed and acted on the promise of God. They appointed singers to celebrate as if they had won the victory. 2Chronicles 20:21, “And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.” They saw themselves at the other of the crisis.
13. They ended up with victory in the battle. Their enemies destroyed themselves. 2Chronicles 20:22-25
14. They confessed their expectation.

Never say ‘fear not’ and do nothing. Fear not because you are standing on the promise of God and because you ask for help on the basis of this promise.

How Then Do You Deal With Fear?

1. Remember your superior covenant position and speak and act accordingly.
2. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for help. Fast if you are led to.
3. Bind and cast out the spirit of fear. Fear is not of God. God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
4. Speak to your mountain and command it to move out of your way permanently. Speak to every storm and command it to be still in Jesus name.
5. Confess the peace of God over your life.
6. Speak your expectation in faith. Confess the scripture that guarantees you victory in that situation. Remember, you shall have whatsoever you say.
7. Praise God continually until your victory manifests.
8. You may seek counsel if you are overwhelmed by the situation. Listen to tapes and read books that will inspire you and boost your faith.

9.Stand your ground.

Let me close with this promise of God. Isaiah 43:2, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” God will take us through this fire, in Jesus name.

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Bishop Dr. Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l. Website: www.dayspringcmi.org e-mail: [email protected] Help line: 08035150515