Fear Full

Four years ago, we purchased land in St Marc, Haiti. With hopeful hearts we knew we'd see a building or two in no time. There are no buildings on the land to date. The question always rises up: "Why?" Can we logically answer why when we don't see what God sees? Does asking "why" stagnate us so that we never move from where we are? When the whys come, so does fear. Fear that what is so hoped for will never become reality.
There have been instances since this picture that fear has tried to all but dominate me. What a battle! When does the battle rage? As soon as it's time to sleep. Remember the little prayer we've taught our children before we knew how to pray and believe God? Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Thank about that prayer a minute or two and what it does to a child. If I should die before I wake........when I was a little girl, I was so afraid I'd die during the night that I couldn't stand to hear my heart beat. I feared it would stop beating. Maybe it was that prayer that instilled the fear? It could have contributed to fear but the fear was there then and now, thoughts of why and how and what if this and find their way into my thoughts when as I lay down to go to sleep. Is it aging that causes this fear battle to rage more today than ever? What is it that I'm afraid of now? I remember my mother saying, "If I just knew you kids would be okay, dying isn't a problem." I still hear her and it's exactly how I feel. I think I fear everything from what will happen to me to what will happen to my children, and what will happen to my grandchildren.
STOP! This is not the way a born again, spirit filled woman should be thinking. There are so many scriptures that encourage but sometimes I wonder if we want to be encouraged? Sometimes it may seem easier to wallow in the fear. Fear of everything negative is greater when my heart has dipped into what is around me, circumstances...situations...and why does that happen? When we don't take time to fill our hearts and minds with God's Word, all sorts of thoughts take over.......fear being the basis for them all. Remember when God spoke to Cain? Genesis 4:5-7: ...but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."
We know that Cain didn't listen and killed his brother. What if we change the word "angry" to "fear." When fear rules us our countenance does fall doesn't it? We try to hide it but it shows (either on our countenance or in the words we speak). And if anger is a sin that lies at the door wouldn't fear be sin that lies there as well? If when I lay down to sleep I become filled with fear, isn't that the same thing as sin lying at the door? Why is fear a sin? Because it consumes our thoughts. Whether it's anger or fear, anything that consumes the mind and all thoughts go that way, it's sin. So, without belaboring this point any longer, I think it's right to find the solution. What is the solution?
The solution is to find scriptures that combat the fear. Does that sound too easy? Or maybe it sounds too hard. It's actually very powerful. The Word of God is alive, it's sharper than a two edged sword, even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit. And it's a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) The Word goes forth and doesn't return to the Lord void, but accomplishes that which pleases Him.(Isaiah 55:11) It goes forth from His mouth and when we speak what He speaks.....it conquers the sin that lies at the door. It destroys that which is trying to rule over me. I speak it out of my mouth, it goes forth. What scriptures should I use to conquer this fear? How about Psalm 23? The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want, he makes me to lie down in green pastures, he restores my soul, he leads me in paths of righteousness for his name sake, and though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for He is with me. (HE is with me)! And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. How much greater a prayer to teach a child than "Now I lay me down to sleep". Psalm 23 gives hope and faith that no matter what happens He is with me and I will dwell in His house forever. As this particular scripture goes forth from my mouth, it goes forth containing everything I need to rid myself of fear. I have green pastures. I have protection, I walk in righteousness and no evil can befall me. The fear that lies at the door suddenly isn't ever present in my mind because the Word accomplishes what pleases God. God is pleased when I'm filled with Him. No more fear. What will happen the next time I lay down to sleep? Fear will still try to come and take over my thoughts but from now on I will keep my foot on the sin of fear by using the Word of God against it. Amen!