And when fear is sown, it produces a harvest of torment in our lives. The Bible teaches us how to get rid of fear: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)
Here we see the power of love in action. Love ignites faith while extinguishing fear.
Remember, perfect love is doing what the Father tells us to do. When we're obedient to the commandment, "Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy might," (Deut. 6:5) we activate our faith and dispel fear.
"God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Tim. 1:7)
When we realize that God is with us and His Word is true, fear disappears.
Fear brings torment and ultimately produces dread. When we fear something, we dread doing it. But God says in 1 John 4:18 that walking in perfect love will remove the apprehension, dread and fear.
The more time we spend developing a relationship with God, the less time we'll spend operating in fear. When we exercise our love for God by doing what He tells us to do, fear leaves our lives. In other words, when we cultivate love for the Father, we walk in absence of fear.
Just as God uses faith to bring His words to pass, Satan uses fear to bring his words to pass. Fear is the "faith" of the devil. The Bible says if we "meditate on the Word day and night we'll make our way prosperous and have good success." (Josh. 1:8.)
Whereas, if we "worry over the devil's words day and night, we will only be successful in seeing the manifestation of fear and worry come to pass." (Job 3:25)
Worry is nothing more than a negative form of meditation. When we worry, we ponder negative thoughts over and over again, and they create destruction and torment in our lives.
The Bible says we are "to cast our care on God because He cares for us." (1 Peter 5:7.) But when we worry, we are essentially saying, "I don't need you right now, God. I can take care of myself."
When we do that, we become god over our own lives. Scripture confirms in Jeremiah 32:17 that there is nothing too hard for God. We must learn to allow God to handle our circumstances. He can do much more than we ever could.
As the old song goes, "Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there." However, leaving them there is the problem for many of us. How many times have you given your burdens to the Lord, either at the altar or in prayer, experienced temporary relief and then suddenly become overwhelmed by the circumstance all over again?
Worry and fear are cancers that try to destroy you from the inside out. Satan uses fear and worry as weapons to torment us. When you allow yourself to meditate on negative thoughts, you are cooperating with the devil's plans. Think about it.
The things you generally meditate on are the things that eventually happen. That's why God admonishes us to occupy our minds with good things. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. And the God of peace shall be with you.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers