Genesis 15:1

Fear is a recurring temptation for God’s children. This is normal for we live in a very frightening world. Bad things have happened, and are happening all around us each and every day. We also live in a world that is determined to destroy the righteous. We have spiritual enemies who desire to snuff out our life and light. Repeatedly God is telling his children, “Do not be afraid”.

There are two major methods of decreasing the power of fear in our lives. The first is to shrink our estimation of the threat. Fear will cause us to think of our enemies as giants. It makes us believe that they cannot be defeated. Such fear has warped our ability to see the world as it really is. Our spiritual enemy is not invincible; he has already been defeated at the cross. He only becomes a genuine threat to our spiritual life when we cease to walk faithfully with the Lord. He becomes a real threat when we take our eyes off God and look to the world. When we see the world through the eyes of God all threats become smaller.

The second method to overcoming fear is to recognize the true strength of our protection. God tells Abram “I am your ______”. The word that is translated to fill in the blank of this verse has two different meanings. It can mean Sovereign, or it can mean shield. Most translators have chosen to use one or the other. I believe the best translation would use both. I believe what God told Abram was this, “I am your Sovereign Lord; I am your shield”.

Do not be afraid, choose God to be the Lord of your life and he will be your shield. Next to his might all danger shrinks in comparison. Choose God, and let him set you free from fear.