The next tool the devil likes to use to distract us from moving forward in life is the hammer of fear.
It can come in the obvious form of worry, anxiety, paranoia or even the not so obvious little worries we get about the smaller things.
I'm not going to say too much about this one because if I got into this topic to deeply, I don't think I would know where to stop, so rather then going into detail about how fear works and what we can do about it.
I'm just going to state the 3 main lessons I have learnt about fear and then give a source list so that if you want to do further study you are aware of some of the resources available.
Please note these lessons are about fear in a negative sense.
There is that age-old decision between fight or flight, and in most cases, the flight is the best option.
If you are in danger then yes you should get out of that situation and in that regard, yes flight is the best option.
However if you're not in danger and the fear is of something else like for example, fear of being rejected for the job so you just don't try in the first place, then that is not helping you in the long run.
The main fear that most people have to deal with is the fear of the unknown.I'm not going to elaborate on this point any more but once again, I do suggest Susan Jefers Book, Feel The Fear and Do it anyway.
The fact is, half the things we are afraid of will never actually happen. Our minds are battle Fields and if the devil can get us to be paralysed by fear then he can get us to accept his lies as we looked at in the previous post.
Fear can come in many different forms.
It can come in the obvious form of worry, anxiety, paranoia or even the not so obvious little worries we get about the smaller things.
I'm not going to say too much about this one because if I got into this topic to deeply, I don't think I would know where to stop, so rather then going into detail about how fear works and what we can do about it.
I'm just going to state the 3 main lessons I have learnt about fear and then give a source list so that if you want to do further study you are aware of some of the resources available.
Please note these lessons are about fear in a negative sense.
I know that fear can still be good and even protect us sometimes, but I am talking about the unhelpful side of fear in these lessons.
Lesson 1 - If you give fear space to grow it will.
Fear usually starts out as a thought in your head, the more you think on it the more it grows, before you know it a small worry has turned into something much bigger and in some cases, it can leave you paranoid and terrified, even sometimes for your very life.
Lesson 2- The best way to get over your fear is to face it.
Fear is a tricky one, if you don't deal with it then it holds power over you.
There is that age-old decision between fight or flight, and in most cases, the flight is the best option.
If you are in danger then yes you should get out of that situation and in that regard, yes flight is the best option.
However if you're not in danger and the fear is of something else like for example, fear of being rejected for the job so you just don't try in the first place, then that is not helping you in the long run.
The main fear that most people have to deal with is the fear of the unknown.I'm not going to elaborate on this point any more but once again, I do suggest Susan Jefers Book, Feel The Fear and Do it anyway.
Lesson 3- Fear is usually just a shadow.
Joyce Meyer, a New York Times bestseller and excellent teacher, has a very tragic story. She has suffered abuse and in many cases, had the right to be afraid, but she had learnt that Fear is only a shadow and often states that Fear is easily explained by this False Evidence Appearing Real.
The fact is, half the things we are afraid of will never actually happen. Our minds are battle Fields and if the devil can get us to be paralysed by fear then he can get us to accept his lies as we looked at in the previous post.
Lesson 4- Fear never works alone.
Fear has a little brother that it likes to take everywhere it goes.
Together with fear and doubt, climb into your mind and batter your brain with the constant chatter of "what if" and "why you can't" they sit there to hit your head, just like a hammer hitting a nail.
This little brother's name is doubt.
Recommended Resources ( Doubles as the source material for the last few posts)
Joyce Meyer - Battlefield of the Mind
http://www.joycemeyer.org/ProductDetail.aspx?id=000159
Susan Jeffers - Feel the Fear and do it Anyway
http://www.susanjeffers.com/home/detailtemplate.cfm?catID=2234
John 14 : 27 "I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid". - Jesus Christ ( NLT)