Do Not Fear!

I wish I could say I always take shelter and rest within the strong walls, but I get foolish, distracted, or caught off guard. I begin to feel lost again, but like a lighthouse, I see the light and greeted by the keeper of the light. I'm instantly in the peace that surpasses all understanding as I once again find rest.

I read some of my past writings describing the anxiety and panic attacks that once controlled me. I described it as a shadow always behind me and ready to consume me. It was like an ever so present feeling that, if triggered, would send me in that downward spiral. I feared the triggers as, like a light switch, my brain was programmed to run the same feelings from the first panic incident. A loss of control in the mind is a scary place as you know what is right within the mind, but physically the opposite occurred.

I found freedom in Christ through a process of paving a new foundation. A deconstruction of the old to build the new. The old built with lies that, even with the truths, made the whole structure collapse every time the storm within the mind would prevail.

So like the wise man who built his house on the rock, I journeyed to do the same. I called it freedom foundation. The cornerstone had to be Christ, and I built from there filtering everything against the Word. It took years, but the freedom comes when I keep my eyes set on Jesus. When I try to brave the storm on my own, leave my stronghold or try to build with weak material, the waves consume me, the enemy attacks me, and my world collapses in on me.

I'm only free when I am protected from the storm, the enemy, and the collapse. The stronghold built solid protects from all 3. We can only live and build in truth, for lies are like a structure built of hay. We can not mix steel with hay and expect a solid structure.

The foundation must be laid with Christ as the 1st stone to be laid, then the knowledge of identity, salvation security, grace, God's promises, a Biblical worldview, and secured by the truth of spiritual warfare and apologetics. This, for me, is my stronghold. I wish I could say I always take shelter and rest within the strong walls, but I get foolish, distracted, or caught off guard. I begin to feel lost again, but like a lighthouse, I see the light and greeted by the keeper of the light. I'm instantly in the peace that surpasses all understanding as I once again find rest.

Fear is a liar with a smooth and velvet tongue. Fear is lion who always telling me to run.

Jesus said " man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
Fear never goes away it always returns. It's what we do when we confront fear. We can allow it to stop us, shut us up, shut us in. Fear also defines us on who we are and what we truly believe. It can be a building block to our faith.
Paul always spoke of his weaknesses, he said that in his weaknesses there he is the strongest.
Jesus said to fear God and him only.
You saint are never alone, you are never forgotten, and you can never be plucked out of God's hand.
Sow the promises of God in your heart, in your mind, and in your soul.
Fear will lose its grip and be just a fleeing thought.

Wow! It’s like I wrote this myself. This is your thread and I won’t shift any focus away from you, but let’s just say I completely understand.

My prayers of peace, power, protection and joy are lifted so you may always overcome any storm quickly, easily and with permanence. May our Lighthouse always be in view. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 🙏

Not looking for focus on me as I wanted to make freedom in Christ the focus for all those who struggle in fear and anxiety.

I can see your heart is similar to mine. God bless you.

loved the read thanks for sharing your true heart

I would say there is the fear of the world and natural and then there is the fear and reverence of God.

Christ teaches as well as his apostles to fear God in that we revere him being the source of almighty power and keeper of the living soul. As we receive the spirit we should come to a healthy fear of God that is part of salvation and in that there is a sure escape from the fear of the world which destroys

as a child fears the Fathers authority , he is never afraid of his father but fears because there is an inherent understanding that the child cannot exist without the love of the father , protection of the father.

In the proper fear of God we come to find his warm embrace that comforts us in times of need , lifts us up when we have failed or fallen , the love of God that never fails even though we sometimes do

“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1:5-7‬ ‭KJV‬‬


“Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. …And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:41, 43-45, 47‬ ‭KJV‬‬

we fear our father but aren’t afraid we fear him in that we respect and have reverence for his wisdom and teachings knowing he intends to keep us safe and will never lead us astray.


We do not fear man , nor anything created nothing of the world but remain in the reverent fear of God which keeps us in the way

I agree. Having a proper perspective on what fear is crucial. As like a servant to a King we fear the authority of the King because the King holds both life and death, both judgement and salvation, both security and prosperity, both guidance and wisdom. A King of perfection with no flaw or blemish stands in front of us asking us to give our lives for Him. To crucify the old and join the ranks in a spiritual warfare that reaches both the flesh and soul. Fear the one who can destroy both the flesh and the soul.

I bet just about all of us who believe can relate to some degree with what you have shared

It is in many ways like a warrior exhausted from battle I often collapse at the feet of Jesus. Because the mind for me is the greatest of battle. To fight off the what ifs, the doubts, fears, and temptation of the enemy to pull me away. It reminds me of Paul's description of the armor. Looking at a Roman guard and knowing the armor protects the individual but the unit protected the man to the left and the right with shields locked. All standing with the sandals firmly grounded ready to resist the enemy.

As the body of Christ we was never meant to do life alone. Of course, God can protect the individual like David against Goiliath but so often David as an adult had an army and even a dozen of his best warriors dedicated as almost like a ancient version of the Navy Seals to fight beside him.

The enemy wants to cut us off from the body, to lure us away from the unit so that he can surround us.

I have felt that in the down spiral and found myself to be drenched in sweat, pale as a ghost, weak, and sometimes physically bloody as the event caused me to blackout and hit something on the way down.

I know what defeat feels like but I equally know what victory is as well. The victory that surpasses all understanding.

Battle tested believers become a weapon for the lord . Wisdom comes from the struggle and experience . Your heart is really open and good water is flowing out , and it’s so very relatable to many of us I’m sure of it

amen to all your saying there , we really are part of the same body , just as the eyes still need the ears we need one another and that fellowship to sometimes be weak and lean on the other who is strong at the moment and later , he finds those moments of weakness and is able to lean back on us in a time we’re standing firm

so much of life in Christ requires us to really form a love and fellowship with one another of course he can save a guy alone on the moon , but in the world here our greatest strength in him is to know we have a team of soldiers fighting along with us , a huge band of brothers and sisters is the church

I can really relate to what you’ve shared in this thread personally and am coming to understand many of the same things you are knowing the same battle and failures the same defeats and victory

I think God really uses the bad times and defeats to prepare us to live in victory more And more as we pass through this world as strangers and pilgrims knowing it is not our home or our permanent battleground but we sure can learn from everyday life in the world and it sure can change us at the core over time as we believe and trust and learn to truly go all in and start to gear up and March in step

And go into the battles with our shield held up high , our sword striking accurate and deadly blows to the enemy knowing salvation upon our heads and having righteousness covering the heart that gospel of peace is really something to prepare and shod the feet with shoes made ready

you are certainly a warrior and soldier brother and one that will be victorious in the Lord who stands above us our rear guard and goes before us our defender and deliverer as we follow and learn to put up our dukes against the enemy

Really a blessing to read this thread thank you for being so open and sharing your heart I see light shining

Thank you brother, an open heart is one of the first steps to freedom. We must be honest with ourselves and honest with others about how we feel. Honestly with the self brings to reality the difference between truth and the lie. Honesty with others invites others in to help you remain in the truth, remain on solid ground, remain in the vine. I find great strength and encouragement from the gray headed saints who have been through many trials through many decades. I admire their strength and wisdom and only pray I may have the same.

Because the mind for me is the greatest of battle. To fight off the what ifs, the doubts, fears, and temptation of the enemy to pull me away.

Fear is a liar with a smooth and velvet tongue. Fear is lion who always telling me to run.