I take comfort in You, O Mighty Jesus, for You have overcome the obstacles in Your humanity and provided me with an example of how to do the same. You have blessed me with good things and provided hope for my future. Why then do I get a sense of panic and fear when asked to step outside of my comfort zone or storm clouds appear on the horizon? Instead of being joyful and confident in who I am in You, I shrink from trouble and Your calls to stand my ground. I want to respond in a positive way, but something within keeps pulling me back. I say to You “here I am” and then flee at the first sign of trouble. I think the reason I respond in this way is because my faith is weak and I’m afraid of failing. I love You and want to be brave and courageous, but worry and fear take over and I become paralyzed.
Help me never forget Your sovereignty and providence when I am about to cave in to panic and fear. You assure me, through Your Word, that I have not been given a spirit of fear or timidity, but one of power, love and a strong mind. The absence of faith is fear and I must not walk in fear. The bitter fruit of doubt is fear and worry. I reject them because they rob me of my joy, feelings of safety and hope for the future. To live in fear is to accept the fact that I do not trust You or believe that You cannot or will not help me in my times of need. When I allow fear to control my life, it’s an indication I am not maintaining my faith through daily prayer or reading and meditating on Your Word. As I go through my life, I am counting on Your love and grace to help me overcome the demon within me.
The goal of fear is to paralyze and enslave me. This bondage is far from the freedom and joy I feel when I remain close to You. It is not in the DNA of my “new birth” to run in fear or retreat in the heat of battle. Help my unbelief, Lord, during difficult times or when You want me to move my life forward. In the warmth of your love, cultivated in time spent with You, I want to grow in faith and learn to emulate Your behaviors. I want to shake free of the hold that fear has on me and surrender my life to the Holy Spirit so that I can be a living testimony of Your power and grace. No longer do I want to rebel against Your will but, instead, become obedient and submissive to it. As I am prompted to move outside of my comfort zone, help me respond in ways that show confidence and trust in You. I no longer want to be paralyzed by fear, rather become a warrior filled with boldness and conviction. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Hebrews 13:20-21 May the God of peace … equip you with everything good for doing His will and may He work in you what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ …