"FACING FEARS AND WORRIES"
By Evangelist Diana Gray
Copyright (c) 2000, All Right Reserved

      When we experience the symptoms of fear and worry, we have a good solid indication to "ourselves" that we have a problem.   At this time we need to pull back and do some serious revaluation or.........plain honest talking with ourselves.  When worry and fear come in strong like a roaring lion, then we "know" we are under "Satan's" attack.
     Peter I 5:8-10 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
     The torturous distraction of fears and worry hinder our relationship with the Lord.  They get us all tied up in knots, opening up the doorway for Satan's further attacks of sickness and diseases.   Lack of enough faith and trust can reduce one's life span and help bring about an early trip to the grave.  Just look around you and notice a lot of sick people with one thing or the other.  If you take a deeper look into their lives you will observe a considerable amount of fear and worry in their lives.  I am "not" saying all people who are sick have this problem but .........a lot do!
     How do we fight back and have victory over fear and worry, or rather Satan and his demons?  If you have been praying and believing .......now it is time to start "standing and trusting."
     You see when we "let" fear and worry take our emotions in a run away situation, we are "not" walking around fully trusting  the Lord.  That is right!  We have the ability to control the demons of fear and worry.  It becomes a part of our lives, when we have received the Salvation of Jesus Christ.  God gives us the "weapons" to fight Satan with like "faith and trust."  We can "choose" to trust the Lord or to fear the circumstances of our situations.  We make that decision for ourselves.  No one forces us to do anything.  We choose to follow God or to given to Satan.  God gives us the spiritual power to fight and stand as His gift to us.  We by choice, "choose"  to use that "power" to either have trusting faith in the Lord, or to "give" our  "power" away to Satan.  God gives us "power" and "authority" over Satan if we choose to use it in full faith and solid trust.

     Matthew 14:25-33 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

     The Apostle Peter, a normal man called of God walked on water with Jesus.  Think about it!  At that moment in time Peter had the faith to believe that he could walk to Jesus over water unsupported by rocks or land.  What Peter testing Jesus? No, he was reacting in loving faith and hungered to be with the Lord.  He was impulsive in asking to join Jesus on top of moving water but we all should have that kind of faith when it comes to the Lord.  This hunger and thirsting for righteousness sake.  It should become so powerfully strong in our lives that nothing else matters.
     What happened?  He took his eyes off of the Lord and looked at the problems of a storm blowing around him and began to sink.  Peter's faith wavered and faltered.  Instead of seeing with his spiritual eyes, he began to see with his carnal fleshly eyes and started to sink.  Peter remembered Jesus so he cried, saying, Lord, save me.   You see when we walk through our problems filled with fear and worry, we can still turn back and cry, saying, Lord, save me.  If Jesus reached out and saved Peter in the nick of time before he might have drowned, He will reach out to save us too.  How do we get our focus upon the Lord when the storms of difficult circumstances seem overwhelming?
How do we have victory over the "demons" of "fear and worry?"

1)  Pull ourselves up short and recognize the wake up call that fear and worry is giving us.  You see, just as pain tells us we have something wrong with our bodies, fear and worry tell us something is wrong with our spirit and emotions.  We need to take a serious look at what we are doing by asking ourselves this question. "Am I walking in strong peaceful, confident faith or am I making myself sick with worry and fear?" Be as honest with yourself as possible here.  Are you really being honest to your own heart and spirit?

2)  Get as deep into the Word as possible.  Eat the Word of God like you are starving.  Because ........in reality, you might be spiritually starving "without" realizing it!

3)  Pray and then..........pull yourself up and start seeing what you have asked the Lord for.  You know that when you walk in full faith the Lord hears your prayers and will do "what is right."  Release the Angels of the Lord to be about the Lord's work.  Doubt and disbelief hinder them. (If fear and worry are taking your emotions into even slight upsets then you need to pull yourself back and face it.)  Let yourself see in the spirit things having happened already even though you haven't seen the manifestation come to pass yet.
     When we pray then we need to release our requests and let God be God.  Negative worry and negative fear take away health and life.   Negatives...........who gives us negatives? Satan.

4)  Go over to a window and force yourself to look up at the trees and sky remembering Heaven.  (Depression and sadness make us tend to look down.)  I know that sounds funny but getting refocused upon the things of God and remembering that eternity is forever.  This world and it's pains is just a snap of the fingers in time.  Soon for us and our loved ones even the very memory of all of this life will have passed and totally forgotten.  You see that is the real focus here, Jesus and Heaven.  See with your spiritual eyes things of the world as being small and Heaven being gigantic going on for all eternity.  People tend to get too wrapped up in the things of this world in worry and upsets forgetting the real picture.

     Are you really letting yourself read this message with open eyes? Really?  This is something you "may not" have even realized might have been happening because you are too close to  a troubling situation.  I am saying this with all the love and compassion that I have.  Be honest with yourself and if there is anything here....any truth at all for you.....let the Lord lead you to a deeper spiritual walk of faith and trust.
     The Lord's Word, the bible speaks of positives. God is a God of positives not negatives. He doesn't give us the spirit of fear (fear comes from Satan,) but the spirit of bravery and courage. If we follow the Lord's teachings and allow Jesus to be fully Lord of our lives, then we will be living a life filled with strong positives and peace in spite of our circumstances.
   Instead of fearing to try something new, challenge yourself to explore your potential. No one person can stop you like you can. Don't be your own worse enemy outside of Satan.  Say to yourself, "I can with the Lord's help," at least try to challenge myself, by stepping out in faith.  Dare to believe in yourself and see the giftings that God has given to you. You're special, there is no one like you. Let the Lord help you to use your giftings for the Lord's good.
   Instead of fearing to be hurt, say to yourself, "I have Godly courage, and my Lord will be with me." I have asked Him and I know through faith that He will not leave me. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me! If hurt comes my way then they are only growing pains to bring me closer to the Lord.  When I am down, I have no where but to look up to my Lord."
   Instead of fearing to love because of not feeling loved, say to yourself, "I know that the Lord God loves me. He loved me before I was even born. I'm special and unique because He created me. If I don't feel very loved, I know that I am loved by God, therefore I can give love.
   You can also say to yourself, "The world is full of millions of people who "need" my love. I will give and give love because I know that I can't out give God. I know that my love will come back in ways I don't even expect." Keep your focus upon the Lord and pretty soon you will have more love than you thought possible. You are special and important to God. After all you are His child!
   Remember, "this Spiritual Sister" truly cares and if I care about you, think how much more the Lord our God cares for you. Dare to give hope, faith and your love all the opportunity that you can. In other words be kind to yourself and start walking in the type of faith that sees the positives that God gives you. My dear friend you might miss the greatest chance for true happiness if you don't.

    PLEASE NOTE: These Bible Studies may be printed out and used for "personal use only." They are "not" for profit in commercial  or public publication.  All Copyrights are reserved.  Please don't take them for other web sites.  This ministry retains the exscluive use of them.  If you desire to publish the mateial, please "ask for permission" by contacting this writer by e-mail address.  Permission to use these "bible study's" for  individual Church group bible study "is granted as long as you do not sell, donate or distrubute them.  "WE DO ASK THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THE AUTHORSHIP OF THIS WRITER "DIANA GRAY MINISTRIES."  MAY THEY BE A BLESSING AND ENCOURAGE YOU INTO A DEEPER SPIRITUAL GROWTH.