Five Key Steps to Overcoming our Fears!

I think one of the biggest issues I've had to deal with most of my adult life, is fear. We all have our own private fears, some are real and perhaps some are imagined.

For me, I think the greatest fear has been concern for my little boy. I mean, if you read enough about autism, there are so many possibilities and the "umbrella" that ranges from mild to severe.

There was a time when I would watch Julian for any kind of sign that might indicate how mild or severe his autism would be. Its a hard way to live, let me tell you.

But you know what? In the end, I had to come to terms with the fact that being afraid to face whatever might come is no way to live.It's taken me years to learn to turn my fears over to the only one who can help me control my thoughts, feelings, and emotions, that is God Himself.

Here are some steps I've taken to overcome my own fears. I hope you'll find them helpful, whatever you may face in your own life.

1. Ask the Lord to show you any area(s) in your life where you might be experiencing fear. He loves us so much, it would never be His will for us to stumble around blindly, full of fearful thoughts and feelings of dread.

2. Sometimes it takes time (and practice) to release long-lived habits. So turn your fears over to God, and if you need to do it again and again, that's ok. Our God is patient and long-suffering, just as we are with our own children.

3. Read and study God's Word, especially what He has to say about fear. Memorize these awesome verses until your mind and heart are flooded with His powerful words of overcoming your fears.

4. Realize that there is actually a 'spirit of fear', and it isn't from God. The Bible plainly states that ...."God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, and peace, and a sound mind." Ask Him to rebuke any spirit of fear that may be tormenting you.

5. Speak God's Word into your life, into your fears. There is so much power in not just reading and quoting His Word, but in actually speaking it outloud. There is nothing more powerful than God's Word, so read it, speak it, believe it, and claim it!!

esther