Enjoying Freedom from Fear - Praying for our Children

Week 19

Enjoying Freedom from Fear

When I think about fear or being afraid one thing comes to mind.  Thunder Storms.  I am not a fan.  When I was a child they terrified me then as a teenager they didn't seem to bother me so much but after I got married and became a mother the fear and terror from them returned.  Part of what scared me so much the fact that for the first almost 14 years of my marriage we lived in a single wide trailer and I never felt completely secure there.  Everything was so loud and magnified when it was storming - the wind, the rain - oh the pounding rain.  The wind sounded like it was tearing our home apart.  I kept ear plugs in my night stand drawer that I used at night every time it stormed just to help me sleep. 

My mother always told me that her mother (my grandmother) was afraid of storms and that must be where I got it from.  While I loved my Grandmother - that is one thing I didn't want from her.  That is a generational curse that I do not want any part of. 

Being a mom changes things so much.  While on the inside I might be filled with fear - on the outside I couldn't let it show.  I have to encourage my boys and reassure them that everything is fine so they will not be afraid.  We pray, read the Bible, quote scripture, sing songs and so on.  But then one day when reading in Stormie's book "The Power of a Praying Parent" I read her quote that says "Fear is something that comes upon us the moment we don't believe that God is able to keep us, or all we care about, safe.  Oh Lord Jesus please forgive my unbelief, fear and doubt. 

2 Timothy 1:7 says that fear is a spirit.  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.  John 10:10 says The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it ^[a]overflows).  If you have ever been afraid of something then you know that in the moment of fear - you are not living your life like you should be.  It changes who I am in that moment.  Fear has changed my plans many times.  When fear grips you it is impossible to live life to the fullest like God intends for His children to do.  Every good gift comes from God so I know that he is the not the one sending this spirit of fear.  James 1:17 (Amp.)  Every good gift and every perfect (^[a]free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse].  And to put it plainly if it doesn't come from God - I DO NOT WANT IT!

My Verse for dealing with fear is 2 Timothy 1:7.  I quote it often and remind myself that fear has no place in my life.  I am a born again believer.  I belong to God and I refuse to be gripped by the spirit of fear that the devil would try to put on me. 

I have given you a personal story about me dealing with my fear but
fear can come in many different packages over many different things.  Thunder Storms may not bother you at all while something else may.  Be sensitive to your children and what they may be fearful of.  It may be not measuring up at school, their grades, friends, storms, disappointing you or many other things.  Pray for them and with them about this and do not allow the devil to steal anything from them through fear.  We have the power to stand against the power of the enemy for ourselves and our children.  Luke 10:19 Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.

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1 John 4:18 (Amp.)  There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love ^[a]turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear ^[b]brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].

1 John 4:8  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

2 Timothy 1:7 (Amp.)  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.