I am a man who by nature is fearful. I can remember as a young kid, four or five years old, sleeping in the back bedroom with the windows wide open in a country home outside of Azle, TX. Most of these pitch-black nights, I was terrified believing someone was coming through that window to grab me. In psychological terms, I have been dominated by a gigantic neuro network of fear which set an unrelenting trap and refused to let go.
Proverbs 29:25 has been a challenge to me, yet a verse of hope and healing. “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” This verse encourages each of us to “trust in the Lord.” If so, God enables you and me over time to break through the entanglements in our minds.
Many of us are fearful because we are “people pleasers”…satisfaction in our lives is based on the approval of others. People pleasers are “other controlled” not self–controlled. Self-Control is listed in the nine fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22&23… very important in the Spiritual realm. The Holy Spirit does not want us to have any other master or controller than Jesus. You choose, not others. Learn to “speak the truth in love” to these folks. Let everyone know you have decided to have one and only one Lord…Jesus!
There is a healthy “F-E-A-R” that will free you up and heal you…the FEAR OF GOD:
- Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Godly knowledge begins when you are supremely respectful of Him…not until. If you approach God casually, you are foolish if you expect to grow and know Him.
- Psalm 25:12, “Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.” Once you fear God, He guides your life and instructs you what to choose.
- Psalm 25:14, “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” Notice the intimacy of our relationship with God.
- Psalm 27:1, “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?” Once feared, God blesses you with salvation and gives you great strength and protection.
- Psalm 27:5, “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.” When you wholly trust God, you experience confidence in your walk.
- Psalm 34:12, “Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!” Is this a powerful promise or what?! You will be wanting for nothing
Trust God. Fear Him. Develop a depth of rock-solid knowledge experiencing empowerment to make right decisions, intimacy with Him, freedom, confidence…lacking nothing. Ensnared? Fear God Not Man!
Barnabas Man 