CURRENT SERIES: NEW BEGINNINGS

DAY 19: A NEW START ... WITH A FOCUS ON GOD AND NOT YOUR FEARS
By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

 
[Background: After Day 12’s piece entitled: A NEW BEGINNING… WITHOUT FEAR, I received several e-mails from readers telling me about their struggle to rid their lives from fear. Today’s piece focuses on why we should rid our lives from fear.]

Have you ever watched a boxing or tennis match before? To someone without any knowledge of sports, the boxing game might seem like two boxers prancing around only to take a blow at each other once in a while, or two tennis players hitting the ball with the main purpose of getting it over the net. In truth, both sports are extremely strategic as opponents are constantly analyzing each other to identify weaknesses in order to outwit each other.

In our lives, Satan is our enemy. And in 1 Peter 5:8 we read that he is daily walking around like a roaring lion, looking for ways to attack us. Job’s life story is a good example. He had a wonderful home with lots of possessions, a great number of children and a wonderful relationship with God. Satan hated it. What was particularly frustrating to him and his workers, was that no attack worked as God protected Job’s family and possessions with a wall of protection (Job 1:10 - 1953 translation).
 
Job however had one weakness: He feared that something will happen to his family and his belongings. Satan saw it and when he had a chance to test Job’s faith, he hit him where it hurts the most. In Job 3:25 we read Job’s words after he lost everything: “What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.”
 
What fears are you nurturing in your life? Do you have an unnatural fear that something will happen to your children or that your spouse will be unfaithful to you? Or perhaps that your family might be in a car accident or that you will be declared bankrupt? Do you realize that the enemy is observing you?

In 2 Timothy 1:7 we read: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” In Isaiah 54:17 we read: “‘... no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.”
 
When we allow any fear to become more important to us than God, we become an open target for the enemy. Rather focus on God, and remind yourself (and the enemy) that Jesus was already victorious. And when He places a wall of protection around you and your loved ones, no fiery dart will ever penetrate your life! God bless.
 
Father God, thank you for taking my fear and replacing it with peace in my heart. Please guide me daily by your Holy Spirit to focus my attention on You and not my fears. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a freelance journalist and author of the books, Ontdek God in die stories van mense and also Wysheid, oordenkings uit Spreuke.