BY GREG CRUM

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Want to know the Biblical solution for “carefulness,” or as other translations render it, fear or anxiety? It’s faith-filled prayer and the corresponding thankfulness that is shown to a God that is more than capable of protecting those who put their trust in Him! In a world in which so many look to pills, high-fences, and heavy armament to provide them with a sense of calm and security, it’s good to know that we can still put our confidence in a Heavenly Father who loves us to keep us from all harm. 

The last couple of weeks we have written of the dangers of the spiritual force known as fear. What some embrace, especially at this time of year, is in reality one of the most effective weapons of our archenemy, Satan. For thousands of years, he has used fear to gain access into the lives of humans and rob them of the blessings that God provides us through our faith in Him. There’s not much that pleases the devil more than a scared Christian. Why? Because in essence, fear is faith in the devil and his ability to harm us, and fear, like faith, has the power to materialize into our lives the things we are expecting. When the devil is able to get us into a state of fear, he capitalizes on that spiritual principle to bring what we have feared upon us. The solution? Reject fear in all its negative forms and instead allow the power, love, and mindset of God to rule in our lives.