October 22, 2024
- Read 1 Samuel 17 (NKJV)
In our journey of faith, one of the greatest battles we face is against fear. The enemy knows that if he can paralyze us with fear, he can keep us from stepping into the victory that God has already secured for us. In 1 Samuel 17:11 (NKJV), we see how fear took hold of Saul and the entire army of Israel when they heard the taunting words of Goliath. They were "dismayed and greatly afraid." Fear is a powerful weapon in the enemy’s arsenal, but as believers, we must learn to master this law of fear in order to effectively contend against the enemy.
The Bible tells us that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17, NKJV). Just as faith is built by what we hear, fear can also take root through the words we listen to. When Saul and the Israelites heard Goliath’s words, fear gripped them. This shows us the importance of guarding our ears against negative and fearful reports. We must choose to listen to the truth of God’s Word rather than the intimidating words of the enemy.
Fear is a significant battle we face, but we can reject it by focusing on God’s Word and choosing faith like David did.
Fear can also be triggered by what we see. In 1 Samuel 17:24 (NKJV), when the Israelites saw Goliath, they fled from him in great fear. The sight of their massive and battle-hardened enemy overwhelmed them. As believers, we must remember that our battles are not fought with physical eyes alone. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). When we focus on the size of our problems instead of the greatness of our God, fear can easily take hold of us.
To successfully contend with the enemy, we must master fear. The first step is recognizing that fear is a spirit, as 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) tells us: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." If fear is a spirit, then we have the authority to reject it in the name of Jesus. We don’t have to let fear control our actions or decisions. Instead, we can choose to operate in the power, of a sound mind which God has given us.
When David faced Goliath, he did not let fear take root in his heart. He knew that God was with him, and that assurance was enough. David boldly declared, "The battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:47, NKJV). David's faith overcame fear, and he went on to defeat the giant that had terrorized Israel.
Song of Worship
Fear is not my future
Song by Brandon Lake and Chandler Moore
Prayer - God is calling us to step out in faith, to face the giants in our lives with confidence in His power. Whatever challenges or intimidating circumstances we are facing, we must remember that fear is not our portion. We are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. In Jesus' name, Amen