Perspective:
Gen. 1:26
-28Isa. 8:12-14;1; Rom. 1:16
; Rom. 5:17
; Eph. 4:1
-The
only answer Scriptures gives to fear is the greater fear of the
Lord. Isaiah describes how the believer transfers his fear of
people and situations to the Lord who is always with him. As believers
we are to 'walk worthy 'of our calling, i. e. , to walk in harmony
with what we believe. The Gospel is good news of our restored
relationship with God , and a return to live in God's presence.
According to God's original design, we are to rule in love and
in righteousness.
Hope:
Josh. 1:6-9
; 1 Pet. 3:13-15
; Heb. 13:5-6
-In Scripture , the
presence of God is equated with the fear of God, and this is always
expressed in our behaviour. A person living in the fear of God
demonstrates a lifestyle of love, joy and peace-and above all,
freedom from fear.
Isa. 41:10 ; Ps. 23:4 ;3:18 , 27 -The presence of God is the logic behind a life, a life without fear. God's command to change our anxious behaviour is based on the reality of His presence. Freedom from worry, fretting, and anxiety is not a miracle in our emotions but is a result of the conclusions of a Holy Spirit enlightened mind.
Ps. 62:1 , 2 , 5 , 6 ; 2 Cor. 13:14 -Living in the fear of God means not only that Christ has died and is risen from the dead, but also that He is exalted and has sent the Spirit who indwells our heart, and is the center of our true self. Thus, our biblical hope is born of a living relationship with God, and we know we are in covenant with God who is love, and Who is active on our behalf.
Change:
Lu. 9:23-24
; Rom. 8:5-9
-We have practiced the presence of our
flesh so long that we are on 'automatic' in the presence of a
hostile situation. We react rather than act. We either deny there
is a reason to fear, or we are immobilized and paralyzed, or we
lash out in anger, afraid of our helplessness.
To counteract this tendency , we have to understand that we must act in faith , and practice the consciousness of God's presence within and with us . This does not just 'happen' to us! Notice Ps. 23:4 -it is David's determined faith and determined response to God's announcement that He is with us !
Rom. 8:26 ; Phil. 4:6-7 ; Isa. 26:3 , 4 ;40:31 -The Holy Spirit is our prayer partner, and we share every detail with God in prayer, and leave it with Him. We praise and give thanks, knowing it is the way faith anticipates His actions in our unknown future. This leads us to wait upon God which results in supernatural strength. We take time to simply sit in His presence and confess that "Thou art with me" and share the things that are the object of our worry and anxiety. When we do so, He promises that we will know the peace of God that is beyond all human comprehension.
2 Cor. 10:5
; Prov. 16:25
;18:21
-Every thought that comes to mind,
give immediately to the Holy Spirit Who will return the right
word to your mind to digest, to understand and to apply through
your tongue which addresses life and rejects death.