“Tell Fear to Leave in Jesus’ Name.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – July 18, 2023
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
A couple weeks ago, I lay in bed and I was gripped with fear following an announcement from a doctor that I may have cancer in my elbow. (I recently discovered that it may also be a bone infection.)
I’m still waiting to find out more from an upcoming biopsy, but in the meantime, I am pressing close to Jesus, and believing for healing. I am confident I will get through this, but I’d sure like to jump to the end of the story!
This has been one of the most difficult trials I have ever experienced. It’s not difficult because of the physical pain thus far, even though I have been uncomfortable. It’s difficult because of fear.
Perhaps you know what that’s like. Maybe you too have had an unsettling health diagnosis or a sense of impending doom.
One minute, you feel fine. You are at peace, and you are trusting Jesus. Then the next moment, you’re gripped with fear and your heart accelerates as you imagine the worst.
Maybe someone says something that immediately causes you to fear. Perhaps a thought or an imagination about the future and what may happen enters your mind, and you feel panic.
This is what has made this trial so difficult. It’s the unknown. And when there is unknown, we can often be afraid.
A week ago, a family member sent me a text to ask how I was doing. I shared a little bit about what’s happening. She wrote back and said, “That’s really scary.”
Perhaps she was trying to empathize, but it didn’t help. Immediately, the peace I felt evaporated, and fear took its place. My heart rate quickened as I got my eyes off Jesus and onto my problem. My health problem felt bigger than Christ. Even though I’m sure she didn’t mean to, my family member told me that I should be afraid.
Just days earlier, I would have allowed that comment to send me into a spin and into a place of feeling terrified. But in that moment, I decided to do something different: I opened my mouth and told fear to get lost.
“Fear, I command you to leave me alone, in Jesus’ name! God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind! I do not need to be afraid because my God is with me. He is holding me by my right hand. I will not fear the future. Get away from me, fear, in Jesus’ name!”
Immediately, the fear left.
Numerous times since then, I have opened my mouth and claimed my identity in Christ— and I’ve been telling fear to get lost.
I’ve yelled at fear to get lost in Jesus’ name at the stoplight. I have opened my mouth at night while I have been in bed and told it to get lost. I have proclaimed my freedom from fear while I have been making dinner.
2 Timothy 1:7 says God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. I heard someone once say that fear is a spirit. And, just like all evil tactics of the devil, fear can be put away from us when we speak God’s truth, agree with God, and resist the devil.
James 4:7 says, “Submit yourself to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
The devil is an opportunist, and when he has an opportunity to take advantage of us, he will use his lies to deceive, and to cause us to get our eyes off Jesus.
Satan wants to use this health trial as his opportunity to hurt me and hurt God. I declare right now that I am using it to glorify God. He will not stop me from seeking Jesus and sharing His love. I will get through this and when the Lord heals me, I am going to tell everyone what He has done!
Resisting fear is not easy. It means you must be mindful about what you’re thinking. And, you have to be aware of the input you’re receiving from other people and life situations.
Then, when you feel fear, you must open your mouth and claim your authority in Christ and tell fear to leave in Jesus’ name!
Immediately, the peace of God will come and wrap His comforting arms around your heart and mind. Blessed peace! Thank you, Jesus!
You are not alone. He sees you. He knows. He will carry you through.
“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you” (Isaiah 41:13).
Prayer
Lord, make me mindful of my thoughts and help me make them obedient to you. I declare that I will exercise my God-given authority to resist the devil and banish fear. Amen.
Application
Put this devotional into practice today.
Related Reading
Deuteronomy 31:26; Psalm 23:4; Psalm 56:3-4
Worship Resource
Kari Jobe: No Fear
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