HOW TO OVERCOME FEAR

It is time for you to overcome fear. Letdowns and disappointments are a part of life. We all go through them. Unfortunately, this leads one to build protective mechanisms to prevent them from experiencing that pain again because it sucks and hurts when one is let down. Disappointments create a root of fear that permeates every area of your life and can hinder you from living your best life. Fear prevents you from building healthy relationships because of the walls you build as a protective mechanism. The real you thus never get to be revealed, and you end up living a life that is not yours, to begin with. Unfortunately, because of experiences and traumas, we create filters that we use to view God. This then trickles down to your spiritual life, hindering your relationship with God because you think He will disappoint you as others did as well.

God is not like human beings. He will never disappoint us. We are told that those who hope in God will never be disappointed. Human beings will fail you, and you will do the same. This is because we are human and constantly fall short. Putting your foundation and trust in God is the only way you can remove the unnecessary high standards you have placed on others. God tells us that even when others leave or forsake us, He never will. Just because those in authority have disappointed you don’t mean God will do the same. And as long as your trust is 100% in God, other people’s actions will not affect you as much. It is time for you to live your best life and you first need to get rid of fear and allow God’s perfect love to cast out fear.

God does not want you to remain as you are. He wants you to overcome fear. But there is a process to that. You see, the Bible tells us that perfect love casts out fear.

New International Version
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Steps to take to overcome fear.

Acknowledge

Acknowledge the fear. The first step is realizing that you have a spirit of fear that has clouded your judgment and inhibited your joy, Fear is from the enemy and not from God. The thing with acknowledgment is it leads to exposure, and we all know that darkness cannot stay where the light is.

Have you confronted the fear? Have you realized that there is something wrong with you? You see the enemy can only torment you when you hide the fear. You should not allow shame and condemnation to prevent you from confronting your fears. It is when you shine a light on your fear that darkness will flee. Today I want you to acknowledge that you are dealing with fear and commit to overcome fear. This also helps you to start your journey of healing and completeness. God tells us He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.

Identify the root

Once you have acknowledged it, you need to figure out the root. Where did it come from? What event led to that spirit of fear coming on you? Fear is activated by a negative event, it doesn’t just come from nowhere. The only way you can permanently heal from fear is by digging deep and uprooting the source. This is an uncomfortable step because it forces you to deal with all the junk that is in you. The good thing is, you do not have to do it alone. In prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify the root of your fear.

Read also: Everything you need to know about the fear of success

Do you know where the fear came from? You can only overcome fear when you identify the root. The only way you can heal an illness is when you know the root cause of the said disease. And this is done by diagnosing it. When the Holy Spirit reveals it to you, now renounce the fear.

The Holy Spirit is more than willing to tell you the root cause of your fear. He wants you to overcome fear more than you want to overcome it. He wants you to ask Him what the root cause is. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper. So you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

Just ask the Holy Spirit. It does not have to be complicated. Just ask Him as you would a friend. He is your friend after all. Be expectant to hear from Him. And for you to do that you have to practice stillness and embrace solitude. You see, the Holy Spirit will not compete for your attention. He is gentle and patient. He also speaks in a still, small voice. His voice is like a gentle whisper. Therefore, you will hear Him in stillness. When you make room to hear Him, you will hear Him. Remember, He wants to speak to you more than you want to speak to Him.

Forgive

Whatever you focus on you empower, so when you give room to fear in your life, it will definitely take root and create a stronghold in your life. The good thing is, once you identify the root, you need to release forgiveness into the person or event. Maybe you have not forgiven yourself or God. Whoever it is you need to forgive, do so. Be very patient with yourself as well. It takes a while for roots to form once a seed is planted, so it will also take a while for the wound to heal and for you to fully forgive and release the event. But as long as you are trying, you are one step ahead of healing and restoration.

Also, ask the Holy Spirit to help you forgive. Remember, you cannot do it in your own strength and you do not have to. Because we have the Holy Spirit living in us, He will empower us to forgive and let go of the wound. He will then help us in our healing process once we have forgiven. The problem with unforgiveness is that it affects the one holding on to it and not the person who caused the pain to begin with.

While forgiving the other person also forgive yourself. You might not know it, but sometimes maybe you need to forgive yourself. So let me ask you this: Have you forgiven yourself for harboring fear? Why would you hold on to something God has already let go of?

Repent and renounce

Repentance is just asking God to forgive you for partnering with fear and allowing the lies of the enemies to permeate your life. Once you have repented, you then need to renounce the partnership you made with fear. This is as simple as just saying ‘ I renounce any agreement I made with fear. And I choose to partner with the truth of the Holy Spirit. Which is I am not a slave of fear, but a child of God, and in God there is no fear.’

Renouncing gives the enemy no room to torment you with it. You break every stronghold of fear when you renounce it. Repenting is simply changing your ways. You now don’t need to allow fear to be a part of you which is why you need to change your mindset.

Change your mindset

Now that you have uprooted the junk that had filled you. You need to fill yourself with Faith words that will replace the fear that was once in you. You now need to form new habits. And you can start by decreeing positivity in your life. Find out what God says about you and Speak God’s word over your life. The more you do that, the more you will believe it. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Also, allow the perfect love of God to flow through you. And again this will come through spending time with God. Whether it is through prayer, reading the Word, worship, or just soaking in His presence. Just look for a way to spend time with God. The more you do so, the more you will be renewed and experience transformation in your life.

Changing your mindset also involves you creating a faith-filled atmosphere whether it is the people you surround yourself with, the books you read, or even the movies and music you listen to. The point is you will have to change your habits if you want to overcome fear.

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Remember this, you can only renew your mind when you replace the thoughts that encourage fear with those that inhibit it. When you leave your mind to wander, you will revert to your old thinking. Surround yourself with people who speak words that inhibit fear. After all, what you fill your mind with is what will grow, Anytime a fearful thought tries to rear its ugly head, take the thought captive by thinking on the good things that will fuel your faith and bring peace to your heart. You can also take to God whatever is bothering you. When you take your problem to God, He will give you His peace.

⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10: 5

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. Philippians 4

Scriptures that will help you overcome fear.

Deuteronomy 31:6-9 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD your God, he it is that does go with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you. Moses called to Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of good courage: for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them; and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, he it is that does go before you; he will be with you, he will not fail you, neither forsake you: fear not, neither be dismayed. And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it to the priests the sons of Levi, which bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.

Isaiah 44:8 Fear you not, neither be afraid: have not I told you from that time, and have declared it? you are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yes, there is no God; I know not any.

Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare: but whoever puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tends to life: and he that has it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do to me.

Psalm 46: 1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.² Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, ³ though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Summary

Opening yourself up again to experiences, relationships and encounters is also key. Sometimes you can be your own stumbling block to amazing experiences because you do not want to let your guard down. There are amazing experiences on the other side of fear. God wants you to live again and experience joy and fulfillment. He has an amazing future for you, but He wants you to let go of the fear. God is telling you to try again. He got you, and even if you go through disappointments again; He has given you His strength because your hope is in Him. You do not have to put all your trust in people, just put it in God and allow Him to lead you every step of the way. You are not alone; He is always with you. Go out there and overcome fear.