Fight off the fretting, the worry, the woe!
Don’t give fear a foothold – not even a toe!
Resist the devil at the outset. When I first awoke this morning, there was the fear–again!–but disguised this time as vague anxiety. Could I do what I needed to today and stay in the peace of God’s presence?
“Okay, Father. I am going to get up, have our devotions and then write while I wait on the car.” Ten minutes later, Barny’s fur warmed my thigh as he lay next to me in the big rocker while we had chamomile tea and honey. I scanned the yellow high-lighted portions in Psalms, testimony to countless times when I had searched the Word for promises about peace. As I dressed, I repeated my basic Scriptures over in my head. (More about this later.)
Soon, I was out the door and into the fresh, cool smell of the gray, 59 degree morning, driving to the family-owned car repair shop I trusted. I sat in the waiting room on the big black easy chair with its cracked leather back and ripped arm rest, and pulled out my clipboard, enjoying the steady hum of the heater. I began pondering what I had learned about mastering fear.
How Jesus resisted the devil. In Mathew 4:1-11, Jesus demonstrates how to resist temptations. Three times the enemy talked to Jesus and each time Jesus answered with the Word. Jesus did not engage in discussion or arguing; He simply quoted the Word of God, and the devil finally left him. Jesus did not focus on what the enemy said. Rather, Jesus focused on the truth of God, and spoke those truths.
It took many painful lessons before I learned, for myself, that what you focus on grows. Rather than trying to fight the fear, I gradually learned to speak God’s Word when I felt fear and then keep my mind focused on His truth by pondering it over and over all day, as I endeavored to imprint it on my heart, to memorize it so that it would be ready on my lips the next time I felt shaky.
A father’s caring heart. As I sat in the repair shop, pondering how the Bible said to handle fear, I marveled that there was only a faint whiff of gasoline and rubber, unlike many car repair shops I had sat in over the years. It was clean and tidy, a well cared-for business. I felt a quiet camaraderie with the shop owner and his daughter as they sat just beyond the open door of the waiting room, he at his big desk behind a huge counter and she at a lower table next to his.
“Janie, do you want the rest of your milk?” said a low, resonant voice. “No, Daddy” came a soft murmur. “Well, we will put it in the fridge so you can finish it later.” This earthly father was taking care of his child’s needs.
A few minutes later: “Sweetie, you have to put this big puzzle piece in before the little ones.” This earthly father was keeping careful watch over what his child was doing.
A bit later: “We have to remember to take this sweater home with us tonight.” This earthly father was looking ahead to the tiny details of his child’s every need.
Meditate on our heavenly Father’s love. As I reflected on this father’s obvious love for his child, I realized that God’s fatherly love was the theme of four Scriptures I had learned to roll over and over in my mind whenever I felt afraid or worried. Four passages remind me that: God is good and He is near, so I can wait, and not fear.
[1] God is good. “The Lord is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him. So, it is good to wait quietly for the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25,26) (NLT)
[2] He is near. “And behold, I am with you and will keep [watch over you with care, take notice of] you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done all of which I have told you.” (Genesis 28:15, AMPC)
[3] I can wait. . . “Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14 AMPC)
[4] . . . and not fear. “Fear not, [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. (Isaiah 41:10, AMPC.
I can memorize – by grace and hard work! I wrote those verses on folded pieces of paper and looked at those pages repeatedly– while I cooked, while I exercised, when I sat down to rest a minute on the couch, at stoplights, and in grocery store lines. Like the velveteen rabbit, those pages are well loved.
After countless repetitions, I had the verses memorized and meditating on them worked every time I did my part and kept them foremost in my mind. But sometimes, I could only remember one of the verses or part of one. Like an actor who knows his lines but needs a little prompting, I needed a prompt for times when I could not whip out my trusty notes.
I learned that if I memorized the headings themselves (God is good, He is near, I can wait, and not fear) I could then repeat all four verses one after another, while I was driving, or going to sleep, or waiting in a doctor’s office. And those four phrases actually spell out another truth: That God is always good, that He is always near us, and that if we keep that in our minds, we can wait and not fear.
By God’s grace, I am learning to use His Word as soon as fear starts and to keep my mind focused on His truth by pondering Scripture over and over. It does take steady, consistent work but being desperate for His peace provides the motivation. Are you desperate for the peace of His presence? I pray God will help you “. . . take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17b, NIV).
Love and blessings,
Freda