The Fear of Moving On

Heb. 13:5-6  

   Fear is poison. An event happens in your life, often traumatic, and then the enemy has you believe a lie about that event. Then, in response to the lie, you build up a self defense mechanism. That self defense mechanism now "protects" you by initiating a response from you each time that sensitive area of your life is touched. And then that response causes another event in our life which starts this whole destructive cycle in our life over again until we have what is called a stronghold.

   Fear works like this. An individual will, say, get hurt in a relationship. Then the enemy has them believe a lie about that, like "You will never be loved.". This fear puts in place a defense, often an attitude that says "I will never be hurt again. I will never allow myself to end up in that situation as long as I live. I wont take risk again in relationships." Then, one day, someone who genuinely wants to be your friend or have a relationship with you approaches you in friendship and what happens? You sulk away, you get angry at them, you hide in the corner, etc. until they no longer bother you. And because they walk away you believe the lie even more........

   I have started my "rotten fruit" syllabus with fear, appropriate for Halloween. I prayed for how to get this across and the Lord said to show them how fear infects every area of their life if they let it in. Like poison spreading after a snake bite, fear, after one event, spreads into the mind and changes their entire outlook on life.

   I told them that we often say we are not afraid because we don't really know what fear looks like. Fear can be : not being able to step out and make decisions on your own, not trusting others, not doing good to others for fear of being hurt or being taken advantage of.

   There are really three steps to overcoming fear in any area of your life:
1. Love "perfect love drives out fear" How does this work? Well, when you love as God wants you to love, then you aren't concerned about how others treat you or how they respond to you.

2. Let God heal that part of your life that started your fear. This might mean forgiveness, repentance, or acceptance of God's love in your life. Let the Holy Spirit remind you of where you received that wound, and then let Him heal that area in your life. Remember, healing in this area is often a process.

3. Finally, take risk with God. Stepping out in faith and trusting God is the only way that you will experience God's safety net for your life and see the miraculous things God wants to do for you. I am not saying you make inappropriate decisions, but that instead you choose to do what you were uncomfortable with because God stands beside you.

   At the end of the lesson several signed up for a contact newsletter, and two stayed behind for prayer. One man wanted prayer for his family, and another wanted genuine life change. The second man was convulsing in tears by the end and God worked mightily in his life.

   Thank you for praying for this ministry and please remember to pray for open doors into juvenile detention.

God bless.