Fear is the natural human response to any form of threat (whether physical, emotional or spiritual). When danger appears, fear often rises automatically. While there may be legitimate reasons to feel afraid, Scripture teaches that for the believer, faith should be our default response.
Faith is from God; fear is not.
The enemy’s strategy is simple: push us into fear. The moment fear dominates, faith is pushed out of the equation- and the Bible makes it clear that without faith, we cannot please God.
Hebrews 11:6:
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
Faith connects us to God; fear disconnects us from trusting Him.
That is why the Bible addresses fear at its root and calls it a spirit in 2 Timothy 1:7:
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
There is such a thing as the spirit of fear, and it is clearly not from God. What comes from God is faith, and the fruit of faith in a believer is power, love, and a sound mind.
Whenever you find yourself gripped by fear, recognize what is happening. The enemy is trying to draw you into his domain, and you cannot win in the domain of fear because God does not operate there. God’s domain is faith.
It is no surprise that when angels appeared to people in Scripture, their first words were often, “Fear not.”
In Luke 1:13, the angel said to Zechariah:
“Fear not, Zechariah: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son…”
And in Luke 1:30, the angel said to Mary:
“Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.”
God consistently calls His people away from fear and into trust.
Isaiah 41:10 declares:
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.”
Fear produces worry, and worry has never solved a problem. Instead, it drains strength, clouds judgment and opens the door to discouragement and despair.
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That is why we must starve our fears.
As long as we live in this world, there will always be situations that could make us afraid. However, we must intentionally choose to respond in faith.
One of the most powerful ways to respond in faith is to know and live by the Word of God.
Jesus is our perfect example. When He was tempted by the devil, He did not respond with fear or emotion; He responded with Scripture. He was able to do this because He was full of the Word. A person who is filled with the Word will not default to fear; they will respond according to the truth that lives within them.
The boldness of the early apostles came from their devotion to the Word. In Acts 6:4, they declared:
“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word.”
Their constant communion with God and commitment to His Word produced unshakable faith and supernatural boldness. It was this faith that empowered them to stand firm even in the face of persecution.
Beloved, you cannot afford to live in fear. God has called you to take ground, to make an impact, and to occupy territories for Him. That assignment requires boldness, and boldness is born from a life rooted in the Word.
Let the Word be your compass.
Let faith be your response.
Let the Spirit fill your heart.
Do not give room to fear this year. Starve it. Refuse it. Replace it with faith.
Be full of faith.
Be full of the Word.
Be full of the Spirit.
God bless you.
Mayowa Oladunjoye
IG: @oladunjoye.mayowa