Nancy writes:

This week’s assignment is about fear. I’ve heard, though I don’t know for fact, that Jesus says in the Bible 365 times, “Do not fear”. I’m not going to sit down and count to find out if it’s that many times or not. It did leave me thinking about my own fears and what fears other people have. If we will be honest, there is something which each of us fears losing so much that it strains the limits of our faith to contemplate trusting it to God. Our life is perhaps the least of these, for surely there are worse fates than dying. Perhaps it is losing our wife, husband or child. Perhaps it is losing our freedom, our health or our mind. Tell your fear and how you handle it when you don’t let God take it for you.

Nancy (this link is to her new site) sure comes up with some thought provoking assignments.

Unfortunately, I have a few fears, but they do not consume me.  One of my fears does have to do with the loss of a loved one.  My mind understands that death is inevitable, but my heart skips a beat at the very thought of it.  My biggest fear of death is not the act of physical death, but the thought that someone who knows the Truth may not have received the free gift and will die without accepting it.  It saddens me greatly to think I may not see them in heaven.  After explaining this fact of life, all I can do is pray that the Spirit will soften their hearts and that they will realize the true peace and love that comes with Salvation.  Some think that once you accept Him as Lord over your life that all the fun will be gone.  Nothing can be further from the truth.  God has given us everything in the world for us to enjoy.  What can be more fun than that?

A specific fear relating only to myself is uncertainty.  I know that this is a strong weapon of the enemy, but every now and then it slips in.  Am I following God’s plan or just doing what I want to do?  Have I done everything for His glory or my own?  When I stand before Him, will he say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” or will I hear “I never knew you”?  Satan wants us to doubt with all his might.  He places insecurity into our lives that we may falter.   I combat this fear by turning to God’s Word and praying. The weapons against these irrational thoughts are to stand firm on God’s Promises and be strengthened by His Words of reassurance. 

2 Peter 1:10-11

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.