Psalm 56
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Vs 3
What a week. Wow. We must go back to 9/11 to match the emotional tsunami we have experienced this week. America has long been known as "the land of the free and the home of the brave." Let's hope it's not changing to "the home of the fearful." As fears, anxieties, hoarding and panic grows, does the gospel have anything to say to this situation? The answer is a resounding "yes." David, in our Psalm today, is living through a very dangerous situation. In response to his fear of King Saul he moved to Goliath's hometown. The Goliath he had killed and whose head he had cut off, yeh, that Goliath. Fear often leads us to do really stupid things. But there in the midst of his great fears David starts to come back to his spiritual foundation. He decides to put his trust in God. This confidence in the Lord is a purposeful decision. It is accomplished by a courageous act of the will. "I will trust in God '' even if the circumstances around me are overwhelming. This declaration to trust God must be made to gain victory over fear.
Here are 15 ideas of how to live in victory over fear:
1. Verbally declare to God that you are placing all your trust in him.
2. Practice spiritual breathing. Exhale the spirit of fear and inhale the Spirit of power.
3. Worship. Worry and worship cannot exist in the same heart.
4. Practice gratitude. Start and end each day by declaring 3 things you are grateful for.
5. Spend time in God's Word.
6. Pray. Join us Monday for a day of prayer and fasting.
7. Plan family fun time. Have a game night and draw closer to your family.
8. Look around and see if you can help someone. The elderly and sick will need friends to shop, cook and care for them.
9. Share your toilet paper.
10. Pray before you go to sleep so you can get a good night of rest.
11. Eat healthy food and take vitamins. Take extra vitamin D.
12. Exercise daily.
13. Schedule an in-home romantic evening, candle light and all.
14. Take one day at a time.
15. Turn off the news for 24 hours.
We have seen the "bully of fear" show up many times in our lives. The "bully of fear" leaves you curled up in a fetal position. What if we could live fearlessly? What if we could face the "bully of fear" and instead of us running, the bully would run? What if we were able to trust in God so much that even going through these days, we had joy, peace and a smile on our face? All of that is possible because Jesus defeated the "bully of fear" 2000 years ago with his death and resurrection. Send the bully running today!
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