Fear, a dangerous trap.

"Do not fear anything except the Lord Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear Him, you need fear nothing else." --Isaiah 8:13 (NLT)

I guess I don't truly fear God b/c if I did, I would not fear anything else. Last night I had a dream which occurs every so often, usually 3 main people two of which are the same every time and the other changes. I don't usually remember my dreams, but I remember these every time and usually wake up with fear and it's hard for me to fall back asleep. One of my friends asked a couple of us what we fear, two out of the four of us answered, but we didn't get to myself and the one that asked the question. I have a couple things I fear. I think a lot of us do.

Some people may fear:

-dying

-being embarassed

-speaking in front of others

-not fulfilling your purpose

-letting people down

-getting too close to people

-not being able to have children

-not pleasing God

-etc. the list goes on and on

The fear itself is not hard to get, it's overcoming the fear that is the hard part.

I don't want to fear, and I've prayed especially about my dreams to not fear about it. However they keep tormenting me, and making me fearful. I have to cast thoughts down and rebuke the lies I have listened to. God is bigger than any situation/circumstance/dream/etc. that I may face. He is faithful always.

"Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but to trust the Lord means safety." ~Proverbs 29:25

trap: a confining or undesirable circumstance from which escape or relief is difficult.

Fear is difficult to overcome and get out of b/c it is a trap that ensnares us. It holds onto us for dear life, while it slowly kills the life we have to give. It holds us back from stepping out, it keeps us focused on what others will think so we are too afraid to let go, it makes us think we are not good enough, it keeps us from trusting b/c we have been hurt before-- fear is a trap, plan & simple. We need to break free from it.

So this is where I am at: I can't fear people or what they might do to me to hurt me or whatever. I need to put my trust and hope in the Lord b/c He will never leave me nor forsake me. I suppose like it says in 1 John 4:18 that His love has not yet been perfected in me. So I pray that it becomes perfected in me, that I overcome this fear that is buried deep inside me. Free me from all my fears Lord. In Your Sons name I pray. Amen.