3 Perspectives That Stir Up Fear...

Happy Wednesday, Everyone! Susie Larson here!

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So leave a post, share an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and a friend!

We've had a couple of great shows already this week. On Monday we talked about spiritual warfare with Leighann McCoy and on Tuesday we talked about living purposefully with Priscilla Shirer. Both were excellent interviews. Check 'em out if you need a spiritual boost! You won't be sorry. 

Now on to my topic...

I've recently come through a pretty tough battle. I won't say that I'm all the way to the other side, but I definitely have my feet under me once again. Praise God.

I've brushed myself off, straightened my shirt, and combed down my jacked hair. Now that I have my wits about me again, I can clearly identify three perspectives that gave the enemy permission and access to stir up my fears to the point where they eclipsed my faith. Perhaps they'll resonate with you as well.

Perspective #1 - Remembering Our Fears: The enemy knows all about our past fears. He knows what parts of those memories still serve as triggers for us today. All he has to do is to get us stirred up with a present reality that connects us to a past fear and he can spin us around so we won't know which way is up. 

The answer? 

Remembering God's Faithfulness: We remember and recall the many ways God has already come through for us. We pause to reflect on the countless times we worried for nothing because God held us close. We declare that God has been faithful and He'll be faithful again! 

Psalm 143:5 ~ I remember the days long ago. I think about all You have done. I think about the work of Your hands.

Perspective #2 - Seeing Our Circumstances: The enemy wants us to fixate on our earthly circumstances to the point that we lose sight of our heavenly Father. He wants us so situation-aware that we forget that we have access to heaven. Of course we need to acknowledge our circumstances. But when we lock down our gaze on the things that worry us and stir up our fears, and we do so without considering the power and the promise of God to save and intervene, we give the enemy paved access to overtake our perspective. His goal is to convince us that we are at the mercy of our circumstances. Thank the Lord, we are not. 

The answer?

Seeing God AMIDST Our Circumstances: If we look for Him, He will be found by us! May the eyes of our heart open up so we can know the depths of His love, the riches of our inheritance, and the power available to us right here and right now. No circumstance can diminish who we are and what we possess. No scenario is beyond God's ability to redeem. May we see calvary mounting on our behalf. May we see that God in our midst is mighty to save! 

Psalm 27:13-14 ~ I remain confident of this: I will SEE the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Perspective #3 - Envisioning Our Worst Case Scenario: This is exactly where we'll land if we embrace the first two perspectives. When we mull over past fears and stare long at present circumstances, the natural outcome will be to envision our worst case scenarios. What then? We step into the enemy's trap and get turned upside down. Too much blood goes to our head and our emotions rule the day. And, we lose sight of God and miss a perfectly good opportunity to please Him with our feisty faith.

The answer?

Envisioning Our Future With Hope: Scripture tells us that God causes all things to work together for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). His plan is not to harm us but to give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). God is able to do above and beyond all we could ever dare to ask or hope or dream (Ephesians 3:20)! So we must at least dare to ask and hope and dream, don't you think? 

1 Peter 5:10 ~ So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

So there you have it, three perspectives that stir up fear, and three perspectives that stir up faith. On what will you fix your gaze? On Whom will you put your trust? May we all look up and declare, If God is for us, who can stand against us?

You're right. No one. Nothing. Not a thing. 

We possess all in Christ. Thank you, Jesus.

~Until next week.

Comments

[Heather Von St James]

Wow...where you in my home this last few weeks? I've been stuck under the thumb of the enemy wrapped up, no paralyzed with fear about the cancer coming back...it's been. Struggle to keep my eyes up and on the Lord all summer.. People I know have had things happen to them and it made me even more scared.. But tonight... TONIGHT I surrenedered all.. I remebered the promise the Lord made to me.."This is not unto death" I stood up to the enemy, prayed with my mom ( my warrior mom!!) and I will not live in fear, but victory and hope.. I thank you so much for this bog post, as it cements my resolve even more...I go to sleep tonight in peace, without the anxiety..but in the arm of Him..Thank you for the reminder.

[Deb]

Powerful stuff, Susie! Thanks for the much needed fresh perspectives.

[Sheri Zimmermann]

Wow, Susie, Heather. Powerful and so encouraging. Thank you BOTH!! I was just reading yesterday out of Neil T. Anderson's book, "The Bondage Breaker". He stated that the only weapon that the enemy has on us is a lie. I've been pondering that all day. If I believe the lie - he has me. If I take all that Susie has beautifully laid out, that's my weapon against the lie. The other point he made was we can stand in what Christ Jesus has already done for us. We don't even fight with our own faith, we stand up under the blood of Jesus which has already defeated our enemy. And lastly, Susie - if you were not a threat to the enemy he wouldn't even be bothering you. I will be praying for continued strength for you in this battle because God is using you and your sweet precious heart in amazing ways for the Kingdom!! To Him we praise!! Love you, sister girl. :)

[Nancy Rodriguez]

Thank you Susie. God bless you. The right message comes at the right time as the enemy has stirred up past fears of my own. God is good all the time. I am looking forward to your conference at Grace Church. I was changed by your last visit and loved The Uncommon Women it has inspired me to be a better women. Have a blessed day.

[Kathy]

We fight from a place of victory. {I got that from you!}Amen, Amen! I haven't been getting your prayer requests yet, but I am praying for you ongoing!I love you Susie, you are such an encouragement!!!~Kathybtrsweeetfarm@hotmail.com

[Kathryn C]

Thanks Susie. I really needed this. The past month has been really difficult for me with a lot of personal difficulties for myself personally and for my friends to the point where I don't actually remember a lot of the past month. I have felt beaten down by satan ever since getting to school. Thank you so much Susie. Your blessings have blessed me greatly and they always seem to be exactly what I need at that moment. God has once again slowly been showing me that I can't do this on my own (this tends to be a reocurring theme for me.)

I could relate to each of those perspectives and could see how each of those related to my life and the past week. Thank you for the reminder Susie. Thank you so much.

[ali walker]

OH MY! such divine timing. I am only able to check your blog sporatically and today was definitely god's intervention making sure i saw this one!! thank you for shraing.

[Susie Larson]

Dear Ali,

I love God's divine timing and direction! So glad you stopped by! May God continue to nourish and encourage you as your soul needs it!

Blessings in Christ!

[Susie Larson]

Dear Kathryn,

I'm so sorry that you're walking through a tough season right now. May God bless you, lift your chin, and help you look up to all you possess in Him! May your heart believe Him for His promises instead of the enemy's threats. May you come through this season stronger and more sure of your identity in Christ alone. Bless you, dear one!

[Susie Larson]

Hi Kathy,

I've had all kinds of trouble with my group email but I think I've figured it out. I'll be sending out an update on Monday or Tuesday. Thank you so much for your willingness to stand on the wall for me! You are a treasure and a wonderful woman of God! Blessings, friend!

[Susie Larson]

Nancy,

Thank you for your post and your encouraging words! I'm so looking forward to our time in Racine as well! May God move mightily in our midst! Bless you, dear one!

[Susie Larson]

Sheri,

Thank you SO much for such an amazing post. I loved every word. Thanks for sharing what you're learning from Neil Anderson's book. We had him on the show a while back and he was an excellent guest. And thank you too for your encouraging words. I treasure them! Bless you, dear girl!

[Susie Larson]

You are welcome, Deb! Bless you, my dear!

[Susie Larson]

Oh, my goodness, sweet Heather!

I am so inspired by your post! I could feel my own faith rising as I read your words. And I'm so glad you have a warrior-momma! What a priceless gift. May God give you faith and strength and may He restore everything the enemy has tried to steal from you! As I'm writing these words a Psalm just popped in my head for you: Psalm 18:35 ~ You give me Your shield of Victory. Your right hands sustains me. You stoop down to make me great.

Love that, don't you? Blessings, dear girl!