Please share this post!!!! Unhealthy fear is the nemesis of every soldier. It’s that sense of dread that the enemy is going to get him.
The pandemic has not just devastated lives physically and financially. It has been a crushing weight on the psyche of many who are prone to anxiety in the first place. And it’s nipped at the heels of the more confident amongst us.
As much as a virus test, Christians have a responsibility to take a fear-test based on the fear-factor: “False Evidence Appearing Real.”
For some, the ultimate fear is physical death and the shadow of the coronavirus has a way of scaring the hell into us.
Turning toward the media or politicians to prop up our faith is like walking the plank.
To get a better perspective…
If ever there was a guy who had reason to fear, it was Stephen who was martyred. But he was looking at Jesus while being stoned.
And David directly addressed the worst-case scenario: “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4 NKJV) This is from the guy who said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.” (1 Samuel 20:3 NIV)
Fear can be real. Faith can live alongside it. Some use this tagline: “Do it…afraid.”
God has not presented us with a life without tension, paradox and contradiction. In fact, they might be some of the handiest implements in his trust-making toolbox.
Ignorance nor denial aren’t our buddies during COVID. Just as surely, fear is Satan’s bosom buddy. In fact, current fear and fear of the future is the real pandemic we are experiencing in the spirit.
Like a coach screaming or a sergeant barking orders, whoever commands our attention controls us. Satan tries to get us to look at him while Jesus says, “Turn your eyes upon Me.”
It’s our eyes, after all.
PORTAL TO HEAVEN: Portals have been forever opened up through the lives of the millions known as the “cloud of witnesses.” We can’t hear them cheering us on, but we can take cheer in their innumerable testimonies left for us for times just like these.
We are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith…Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things…For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, and of love, and of self-control. Hebrews 12:1,2 NIV, Colossians 3:2 NIV, 2 Timothy 1:7 BLB
write us at norepcom@gmail.com