Facing Fear: A Path to Spiritual Growth

Devotional

Day 1: Fear as a Catalyst for Growth

Fear is not inherently sinful, but it can lead us to sin if not addressed. Like Adam and Eve, our fears often stem from a desire to control or avoid something. Recognizing this can help us confront our fears with honesty and humility. Fear can be a powerful force in our lives, often driving us to make decisions that are not aligned with our values or beliefs. However, when we acknowledge our fears and bring them to God, we open ourselves to divine guidance and strength. This process allows us to see fear as a catalyst for spiritual growth rather than a barrier. By confronting our fears with honesty and humility, we can begin to understand their root causes and address them in a way that aligns with our faith. [02:16]

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a fear that has been influencing your decisions. How can you bring this fear to God today and seek His guidance in addressing it?

Day 2: The Ineffectiveness of Suppression

Suppressing fear is ineffective and counterproductive. Instead, we should acknowledge our fears and bring them to God. This openness allows us to receive divine guidance and strength. When we suppress our fears, they often become more persistent and can lead to anxiety and stress. By acknowledging our fears and bringing them to God, we allow ourselves to receive His guidance and strength. This openness helps us to face our fears head-on and to find peace in the midst of uncertainty. By trusting in God's presence, we can move from a place of paralysis to one of action, knowing that we are not alone in our struggles. [05:30]

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22, ESV)

Reflection: What fear have you been suppressing that you need to acknowledge today? How can you invite God into this area of your life?

Day 3: The Fear Inventory Process

The fear inventory process involves naming our fears, asking God for guidance, and being present in the moment. This practice helps us to face our fears with courage and faith. By naming our fears, we bring them into the light and allow ourselves to see them for what they are. This process involves three steps: naming our fears, asking God for guidance on any actions we need to take, and being present in the moment with God's presence. By following this process, we can face our fears with courage and faith, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. [06:09]

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: Take a moment to name one fear you are currently facing. What action might God be guiding you to take in response to this fear?

Day 4: Taking Action Against Fear

Taking action in response to fear is a biblical principle. Throughout scripture, God encourages His people to act despite their fears, promising His presence and support. When we take action against our fears, we demonstrate our trust in God's promises and His presence in our lives. This principle is evident throughout scripture, where God encourages His people to act despite their fears, assuring them of His constant support. By taking action, we move from a place of paralysis to one of empowerment, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. [09:39]

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one action you can take today to confront a fear you have been avoiding? How can you rely on God's presence as you take this step?

Day 5: Being Present in the Moment with God

Being present in the moment with God's presence transforms our experience of fear. It shifts our focus from what we cannot control to the assurance of God's constant companionship. When we are present in the moment with God, we experience peace amidst our fears. This practice allows us to shift our focus from what we cannot control to the assurance of God's constant companionship. By being present with God, we find the strength and courage to face whatever challenges come our way, knowing that we are not alone. [10:56]

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice being present with God today, especially in moments of fear? What difference might this make in your experience of fear?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound role that fear plays in our lives and how it can be a catalyst for spiritual growth. The psalmist's plea, "Try me and know my anxious thoughts," invites us to confront our fears rather than suppress them. Fear, as illustrated through the stories of Adam and Eve, is often at the root of our sins and missteps. It is a powerful force that can either paralyze us or propel us into action. The key is not to let fear dominate but to use it as a signal that something needs attention.

We explored the concept of a "fear inventory," a practice that involves three steps: naming our fears, asking God for guidance on any actions we need to take, and being present in the moment with God's presence. This process helps us to face our fears head-on, rather than pushing them aside, which only makes them more persistent. By naming our fears, we bring them into the light, allowing us to see them for what they are and to seek God's wisdom in addressing them.

The second step, asking God for guidance, is crucial. It involves discerning whether there is a specific action we need to take in response to our fears. This could be anything from having a difficult conversation to making a necessary payment. The goal is to move from paralysis to action, trusting that God is with us every step of the way.

Finally, being present in the moment with God's presence allows us to experience peace amidst our fears. It doesn't mean the fear will disappear, but it does mean we are not alone. God's presence provides the strength and courage we need to face whatever challenges come our way.

Key Takeaways

1. Fear is not inherently sinful, but it can lead us to sin if not addressed. Like Adam and Eve, our fears often stem from a desire to control or avoid something. Recognizing this can help us confront our fears with honesty and humility. [02:16]
2. Suppressing fear is ineffective and counterproductive. Instead, we should acknowledge our fears and bring them to God. This openness allows us to receive divine guidance and strength. [05:30]
3. The fear inventory process involves naming our fears, asking God for guidance, and being present in the moment. This practice helps us to face our fears with courage and faith. [06:09]
4. Taking action in response to fear is a biblical principle. Throughout scripture, God encourages His people to act despite their fears, promising His presence and support. [09:39]
5. Being present in the moment with God's presence transforms our experience of fear. It shifts our focus from what we cannot control to the assurance of God's constant companionship. [10:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:47] - The Role of Fear in Sin
[02:28] - Identifying the Root of Our Problems
[03:39] - Fear as a Corroding Thread
[04:27] - The Ineffectiveness of Suppression
[05:44] - Introducing the Fear Inventory
[06:28] - Naming Our Fears
[07:42] - Asking for Guidance
[08:18] - The Purpose of Fear
[09:08] - Taking Action Against Fear
[10:24] - Being Present in the Moment
[11:27] - Personal Reflections on Fear
[12:15] - Embracing the Present with God
[13:06] - Conclusion and Community Invitation

Sermon Clips

Fear, as illustrated through the stories of Adam and Eve, is often at the root of our sins and missteps. It is a powerful force that can either paralyze us or propel us into action. The key is not to let fear dominate but to use it as a signal that something needs attention. [00:02:07]

The problem with the way that most of us deal with fear, fearful thoughts, is we just try to kind of stiff-arm them and push them away. There was a seminal Journal article in the journal Personality and Social Psychology maybe 30 years ago that's the primary journal in its field. [00:04:32]

It turns out that when we deal with intrusive thoughts we don't want them, they get in the way of our living well. When we deal with them as we often do by trying to suppress them, it doesn't work very well. Part of our mind does what's called an automatic Target surge. [00:04:54]

Trying to suppress it actually causes me to look for it, and there's lots of research and as always in Psychology some debate on this sort of thing, but it seems to be the case that trying to go through life by suppressing thoughts is not a very good way to go through. [00:05:20]

The transformation that God wants to give to us that make is possible through his power. I can't, he can, I think I'll let him, is to give us new kinds of thoughts. So how do we do a fear inventory? Now I actually learned about this from a friend number of years ago. [00:05:34]

The fear inventory involves three steps. So we're doing this together now, we're doing it with God. Search me, oh God, and to begin with I start by simply directly naming what it is that I'm afraid of. So instead of trying to suppress it, trying to hold it off, I bring it into the open. [00:06:07]

The second step is just to ask, is there anything I should do? So if you are afraid of the IRS, probably instead of praying and asking God to protect you from the IRS, you should take the action of actually paying your taxes. Take a look directly at whatever the problem is. [00:07:56]

The alarm has a purpose. The alarm is there to say there's something wrong, pay attention to it. Fear is that way. It's a very good thing that we're capable of fear. We don't like it, it's not pleasant, we don't like alarms, but fear is there to tell you there's something going on. [00:08:48]

Fear so often paralyzes us, and then when we begin to take action, something amazing happens. In the Bible, as you may know, "don't be afraid" is the most common command. Usually what that means is do the very thing that you're afraid to do. Moses, I'll be with you. [00:09:30]

The third step is to be present in this moment. Ask God for the grace to be present. I name what it is that I'm afraid of and that I take any action. I ask, is there something I should do? I do it if there is, and then I say, God, now would you give me the ability to be present. [00:10:21]

For those of us who follow Jesus, it's not just being present in the moment, it's being present to the presence in the moment. God is here present with me, so that doesn't mean that I can make the fear go away, but I know that now I have inventoried and dealt with it. [00:10:52]

Whatever it is that you do, there will be moments of fear, there will be weight, there will be a burden to it. You can't make it go away, and it's a good thing that we can't. But what I could do is say, Okay God, I can't make this go away, I will accept that I'm carrying this burden. [00:12:11]

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