Fear, or the spirit of Fear. How can I know the difference?

The Wound of Fear
 
Deuteronomy 31:6 (The Message)
6 "Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you.He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you."

2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified Bible)
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.

This week, we will address the Hidden Wound of Fear.  Let me begin by saying that there is Fear, and then there is the "spirit of Fear."  As you study the scripture and definitions provided below and read today's message, you will find that there is a reverential Fear, and that some Fear can be healthy.  However, it is the "spirit of Fear" that comes to immobilize us, and since our goal is to get "unstuck, and move forward"  the spirit of fear is what we are coming against in today's lesson.  Don't be afraid of Exposure people of God, Exposure breeds Authenticity and what we don't acknowledge, generally does not get addressed.

In addition to Fear, I've provided the definition of a few other terms.  Worry, Anxiety, Dread, and Apprehension...because we often see these in operation together. Meditate on these, and with God, search your heart and mind; reviewing some of your personal habits/behaviors and determine where any of these may be present in your life and whether or not you are addressing them.

Fear
1.  A distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Synonyms: foreboding, apprehension, consternation, dismay, dread, terror, fright, panic, horror, trepidation, qualm.

or

1. reverential (worshipful) awe, especially toward God: the fear of God.

Worry
1.  to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret.
2.  to torment with cares, anxieties, etc.; trouble; plague.
3.  a cause of uneasiness or anxiety; trouble.

Anxiety
1.  intense desire; eagerness
2.  A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties.

Dread
1.  to be reluctant to do, meet, or experience.
2.  terror or apprehension as to something in the future; great fear.

Apprehension
1.  anticipation of adversity or misfortune; suspicion or fear of future trouble or evil.
2.  acceptance of or receptivity to information without passing judgment on its validity, often without complete comprehension.

Let me ask this.  What exactly are you afraid of?  Being alone or feeling rejected?  Authority, truth, exposure, competition or confrontation?  What makes you, back up, turn around, or bow down? 

Everyone experiences fear.  Actually, fear is not all bad.  Some of the emotions attached to fear are meant to serve as a “warning” when you are embarking on dangerous territory.  But what I am addressing now, is that fear that causes us to quit, or to be quiet when we should speak out, even the fear of success.  If you do not put fear in “check” with the truth of the word of God, it becomes an immobilizing force, stopping you dead in your tracks, causing you to take unnecessary detours. 

You must examine your fears. I found that many of my greatest fears were imagined.  It’s like the story of the ferocious barking dog that scared a young schoolgirl every day, causing her to detour from the shortest route home.  One day, she got tired of going around that dog, and decided to meet it face to face. Well, upon approaching the dog, looking it dead in its face,  she discovered the dog had no teeth.

Except you take hold of the truths of God, your mind is a playground for the devil.  Don’t allow any fear, real or imagined to keep you from experiencing the life that God has promised you, for there is nothing like the feeling of having accomplished something you did not think you could do, or that others told you, you would never do.  Take it from me, a schoolgirl at heart!

(as taken from Victoria's first book, "Sabbath Songs:  A Spiritual Coming of Age in the Transforming Presence of Jesus Christ"  purchase your copy today at www.queensofthekingdom.org)