Fear

One day while sitting by the pond, I screamed and just about jumped out of my skin.  What could possibly cause me fear at my quiet, peaceful pond?  A snake! 

            I have never liked snakes.  I’m not sure why.  Maybe it’s an unconscious thing.  The bible describes Satan as a serpent. (Genesis 1:1)  In the 21^st chapter of Numbers, God used venomous snakes to punish the Israelites.  In the movie, ‘The Passion’, Satan came to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane to taunt him just before He was crucified.  Satan thought he won…but he didn’t.  Jesus, as we all know, nailed the victory. Hallelujah!

            Maybe his disguise is in my subconscious and when I see a snake, I just get the willie nillies.  (Remember I’m a born and bred Oklahoman)

            My grandmother used to laugh while telling a story about when her dad, a farmer, was working out in his fields one day and he started hopping around.  She was watching from the house and said in a split second, he shot out of his pants and stood there in the field wearing his shirt, underwear and work shoes.  A snake had crawled up his leg and he came right out of his pants.  Apparently he didn’t like snakes either.

            I don’t think the actual snake is evil.  After all, God created it and everything from God is good.  But I try to calm myself with these verses when I see a snake:

           

            Psalm 23:4 –“…I will fear no evil.”

            Isaiah 35:4- “Be strong, do not fear.”

            Isaiah 41:10-“…do not fear….”

            Second Timothy 1:7… “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, and of a sound mind.”

            I think He’s telling me to not be afraid!  Not just of snakes but all other fears as well.  Is your fear on the top 10 list?

            1.  Public speaking

            2.  Heights

            3.  Terrorism

            4.  Insects and bugs

            5.  Financial problems

            6.  Deep water

            7.  Sickness

            8.  Death

            9.  Loneliness

           10. Flying

            One of mine used to be the fear of evangelism.  Why?  Because it evoked another fear of mine, rejection.  I learned not to let fear paralyze or immobilize me though, to keep me from utilizing God’s power and to not let the fear keep me from sharing God’s love and evangelizing.

            A lot of the “do not fear” verses are followed by…”for I am with you.”  Who?

God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  Who better to have on our side and in our heart than Jesus himself.  And who better to evangelize with and share God’s love than with the Holy Spirit. And who better to fight our battles and ease our fear than the mighty warrior himself, God.

            Fear is from the ol’ serpent himself, Satan.  So we need to turn to what causes him fear, which is the Word of God.  Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword…”  Let’s stand on the Word of God, especially for this segment, Ephesians 6:10-17, which says, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

            Just reading those words makes me feel more courageous.  So the next time you feel afraid because of the devil’s schemes and his flaming arrows, put on the whole armor of God and know He is standing with you.  When the flaming arrows were coming at my family, my husband and I went to our knees before the Lord, then stood strong with the armor on, and waited.

            As for the snake…I’m just going to have to buck up and see it as one of God’s creations…but maybe from afar.

“…He delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 34:4