Assurance: Defeating Fear Daily, Bible Verses
Fear interweaves and originates the infection of most negative thoughts, emotions, and reactions. For assurance, defeating fear daily, I read over these passages three or four times each, out loud at least once, when I feel down.
Before reading, I pray, “Lord, I feel discouraged and down. Lift me up in your time. Help me to be patient and wait for your timing. I confess these sins… Please help me and heal me. Show me whatever else I may need to confess. Help me to remember that you defeated death. Point out, bring to my attention, enable me to see areas of my life where this fear still resides and burn it away. Help these passages to strengthen and renew me in you. Restore me to your rest. Amen.”
Pay Attention to Inward Condition
For assurance, defeating fear daily I need to pay attention to my inward condition. I need to attack anxiety, fear, and feelings of depression with these passages and with prayer as soon as I detect them as an inner disturbance. At first, it may seem I am getting no where, but with persistent faith, I will find my attitude toward life’s burdens lighter and my dependence on my Lord greater. A week, a month, or so may pass, but then one day the Lord will show me the progress made by trusting in Him.
Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Faith is Strengthened by Prayer and Assurance of His Word
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.
Mark 10.27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Remember Who is in Control No Matter How Bad Things Appear
Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
Philippians 4:6-8 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
He is Always Present for Assurance, Defeating Fear Daily
Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 27:1, 3-4, 14 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? …Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple…14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Psalm 18:2-3 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Remember the Role of Gratitude and Identity
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
John 15:4- 5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Fear of Death often at Core
If I haven’t come to terms with fear of death, this fear often expresses itself wearing the masks of other fears. Jesus destroyed death. This central point of the Gospel should be upon my mind daily.
Hebrews 2:14-15 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Matthew 4:14-16 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles– 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
No Longer Slaves to the Fear of Death
Luke 1:76-79 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
We are freed from the slavery of the fear of death. Meditating upon these passages, confessing this fear, and asking God to transform us so that our mind embraces His truth rather than the devil’s lie will in time help us to understand and experience we are no longer slaves and know his peace.
Assurance: Defeating Fear Daily: Writings from Oswald Chambers
I will not be obsessed with apprehension. This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God’s words of assurance. I will be full of courage, like a child who strives to reach the standard his father has set for him.
Whenever anything begins to disintegrate your life with Jesus Christ, turn to Him at once, asking Him to re-establish your rest.
There is Always Help Available
When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, “But ‘The Lord is my helper’ this very moment, even in my present circumstance.”
All of our fears are sinful, and we create our own fears by refusing to nourish ourselves in our faith. How can anyone who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief.
“Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this.”
All that is required is to live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ. Never try to live your life with God in any other way than His way. And His way means absolute devotion to Him. Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus.
The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty.
Common Sense Impotent for Spiritual Growth
Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life—gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises.
If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances. The things surrounding you are real, but when you look at them you are immediately overwhelmed, and even unable to recognize Jesus. Then comes His rebuke, “. . . why did you doubt?” (Mt 14: 31). Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining complete reliance upon Him.
Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to “supply all your need” (Philippians 4: 19).
Moment by Moment Obedience
If we realize that moment-by-moment obedience is the goal, then each moment as it comes is precious.
Fill your mind with the thought that God is there. And once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, “My heavenly Father knows all about this!” This will be no effort at all, but will be a natural thing for you when difficulties and uncertainties arise. God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry?
The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside. The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through. Let other things come and go as they will; let other people criticize us as they will; but never allow anything to obscure the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3: 3)
Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him.In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.
The Purpose of God
If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose of God is being accomplished in me. God is not working toward a particular finish—His purpose is the process itself. What He desires for me is that I see “Him walking on the sea” with no shore, no success, nor goal in sight, but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see “Him walking on the sea” (6: 49). It is the process, not the outcome, that is glorifying to God.
With the power of the Holy Spirit in prayer, we can defeat fear, anxiety, and depression. It takes time, but with each victory we become stronger in keeping assurance, defeating fear daily.
Several postings on prayer can be found listed on the page in this link about 2/3 down: Guide to Fasting and Prayer
Public and Private worship are essential to building our faith. For more about worship: “Is Your Religion Classic Greek?”
