When I was growing up I’m sure I was afraid of several things. But the thing that sticks out most to me was a fear of going to the basement by myself. Most of our toys were down there so it was pertinent that I overcame that fear, but weird noises, dark corners, that funny basement smell…it all just creeped me out.

As an adult, I’m totally okay to be in my basement by myself.  Some fears you leave behind with childhood, but some fears are not so easy to grow out of…they’re not so easy to let go of.

What are you afraid of?  I’m not talking about spiders or heights or clowns or the dark…I’m talking about what are you really afraid of?  Being alone?  Failure? Rejection, looking foolish, being mocked or made fun of, abandonment?  Being taken advantage of?  Death, loss, sickness, commitment, change, the future?

I think it’s important to identify what we’re afraid of because over and over in Scripture we are told not to be afraid.  And we are told not to be afraid because we have a Father God who has freed us from that slavery.

We’ve got to acknowledge that our fears shape our behavior.  If you’re afraid of snakes, it changes where you walk.  If you’re afraid of failure, it changes how you walk, if you’re afraid of commitment, it changes who you walk with.  Fear can enslave us, it can paralyze us…fear can convince us that being the victim is the only role to play.  Fear is powerful…it can have a huge amount of control in our lives.  We treat our fears like it’s a part of our identity instead of recognizing it as a choice we make…something God can deliver us from.

What fears in your life are keeping you from living in freedom?  Ask God to reveal in you the fears you have that maybe you didn’t really recognize before…and ask Him to take them away.  We’re told in I John 4:18a, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear.”  If perfect love drives out fear, then God already has victory over any fear you could possibly have.

Psalm 34:4

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.”

Ask God to REVEAL in you the things that you’re afraid of and pray that he will REMOVE them.

Isaiah 41:9b-10

“I have chosen you and have not rejected you.  So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Be confident that you have been chosen by God and REST in His promise to uphold you.