By Olubunmi Adebayo
*Apart from sin and disobedience which could trigger fear that we discussed yesterday, a child of God must :*
*Live righteously as a necessary condition to overcome fear. Unrighteousness is an insulator of any human being from God.*
*Proverbs 14:[34]Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.*
*Unrighteousness will always cause chain reactions that will put a fellow in perpetual bondage.*
*On righteous living, Jesus has this testimony to say about Himself :*
*John 14:[30] “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: _for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me_.*
*Going by what you do privately, can you boldly say “the prince of this world can find nothing against me?” I tell you, this is a true test of a fellow’s character.*
*One challenge of righteousness is that man generally can be pretentious, but the truth is this :*
*Mark 4: [22] For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad.*
*Let me ask you this question : “who is as bold as a lion?”*
*Proverbs 28:[1] “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: _but the righteous are bold as a lion”_.*
*Another channel of overcoming fear is God’s Presence.*
*Moses taught us a great lesson in Exo 33 when God said He would send His angel to guide and guard the people of Israel on their journey through the wilderness to the promised land, but that He himself as the Almighty God will not be there with the people because of their constant provocations. Moses told God :*
*Exodus 33: [15]And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.*
*Each time fear is drowning you, it could be an indicator that God’s presence is far from your person.*
*Is 41:10 -“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”*
*Please notice what God said “don’t be afraid BECAUSE I’m with you”. Victory over fear isn’t pretending you’re brave. It is leaning on someone stronger than the thing you’re facing.*
*David lived this plainly – Ps 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”*
*David didn’t deny the existence of the valley, but he denied fear because of God’s presence which he enjoyed from time to time as a servant or child of God.*
*Tomorrow God willing, we shall be concluding this reflection by looking at faith as a critical counter-force against fear.*
Top of the day to you 👍
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
