
Joshua 1:9 NIV
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
God’s Word says, “do not fear”, 365 times. Think about that for a minute. One time for each day of the year. It surely must be an important message that God wants to imprint upon our minds.
SATAN CREATES AND FANS THE FLAME OF FEAR IN OUR LIVES

It is an important message because Satan strives to cause fear in the lives of humans, both non-Christians and Christians.
He wants to sap us of our joy and peace by instilling discouragement, doubt, anxiety and fear in our lives.
Once he takes up residence in a corner of our mind, filling us with some sort of fear, it becomes harder and harder to evict him.
Humans are fearful over a multitude of things. Losing one’s job; not having enough saved for emergencies; not having enough for a comfortable retirement; children’s problems; ill health and the list goes on.

JESUS TELLS US NOT TO FEAR
Matthew 6:34 NIV
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:27-29 NIV
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
It is so very clear that God does not want his children to live in fear.
However, we know that it can be very difficult not to fear, when something weighs on our minds.
Doctors can prescribe medications for some, which mask their fears; meditation can work for others.
However, the only true antidote to fear is steadfast and true trust and dependence on God our Father.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO WHEN FEAR GRIPS US?

Here is a simple story of how Satan tries to cause fear in our lives. The wife of someone I know was having a routine surgery, and he realized that it had been much longer than it was supposed to take. He made the mistake of asking himself the question “I wonder why it is taking so long?” He allowed his mind, with Satan trying to be in control, to think of things that could be the problem.
He said he started to pray, praying for his wife and a successful conclusion to the surgery. What came over him was difficult to explain, but it was the Holy Spirit telling him that there was no need to be concerned. He described it as a feeling of warmth and comfort, from the top of his head moving to his feet, and he immediately knew that God was in total control. It was a feeling he had never experienced, and he stressed that he cannot verbalize exactly what he felt.
God truly works in mysterious ways and deals with His children in different ways. God may deal with us in a different manner, but be assured that God will always be with us and provide the peace and strength that we need for the situation.
When discouragement, worry or fear creep into our minds, we should immediately call upon God, trusting and believing that He will help us.
He promised to never leave or forsake us, and God cannot break a promise.
Jesus tells us to take His yoke upon us. In other words, let Jesus do the pulling…the hard work.

Paul tells us explicitly to not allow Satan to control our minds and emotions.
Philippians 4:6-9 NIV
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
As a child of God, He has not given us the spirit of fear.
Through Him we have His power, His love and through Him, a sound mind.
The key to keeping that sound mind is to not let Satan take up residence in any corner of it.
If you begin to worry, fret or fear, pray to God that through His Holy Spirit, Satan and the thoughts he is planting in your mind will be removed.
Get thee behind me Satan!
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Always remember that God does not want us to live in fear.
We must always remember also that God is in total control and no matter what the outcome, all things work together for the good of His children.
When we are faced with daunting circumstances, let us always turn to God, asking for His help.
May our faith, trust and dependence in Him, always be steadfast, sure and certain.
Romans 8:28 NIV
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
RVH