By Victor Remes
"I'm no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God" - Bethel Music one of my all time favorite songs. The main reason this is my go to song is because it shouts out a declaration; telling myself that "I'm no longer a slave to fear as I am God's child" it gives me strength to overcome challenges that I may find afraid (Trust me it works!).
As human beings we all eventually fall under slavery with a common emotion that is called 'Fear'; some of you reading this right now are probably battling and being pressured by fear or going through a season of fear. This can be caused by a feeling of anxiety, a threat of danger or pain or even concerning something that might or might not happen; this all can stop us from reaching our full potential and also distract us from what more important, this shouldn't be the case. First of all fear is not of God but of the enemy (the devil). God's will for you is that you no longer fear but trust in Him to protect you; therefore you must resist the devil and he'll flee from you.
James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Psalm 56:3 - "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you."
1 Peter 5:7 - "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Galatians 4:7 - "So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."
In the book of Matthew Jesus himself went through a moment that showed some sort of 'Fear' on the night just before his arrest to be crucified; but instead of allowing it to grow and take over his mind, He took it to the Father in prayer. Shall we have a look.
Matthew 26:39- 45
39-He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
40-Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
41-Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 - Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
43-And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
44-So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45-Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Reading this passage I want you to notice what Jesus was saying in his prayer verse 39 - “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." when Jesus said "let this cup pass from Me" He was asking for alternative route even though Jesus himself knew that He had to go through this route even before He was born. After He finished His prayer He went back to the disciples and found them sleeping showing His frustrations, He basically had a go at them. “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation.The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (verse 40 - 41).
Going on, Jesus went back a second time to pray the same prayer to the Father; then once He finished Jesus made His way back to the disciple to find them again fast to sleep but He didn't wake them up this time, instead He made a straight U - turn and went the third time and prayed again saying the same words as He did previously (verse 42-44). Once Jesus had finished praying for the third time, He went and woke the disciples up saying “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners" (verse 45). After the third time Jesus's attitude to the whole situation changed, He had a moment of fear but after praying three times, He was ready to face what was coming.
Taking this example from our very own Saviour, whatever fears or anxiety that may be facing just simply pray about it. Pray in faith for the confidence, strength, boldness, direction, peace etc. but don't pray once and then say afterward praying didn't work; if it didn't its because you didn't pray in faith. Like Jesus go and pray as many times until your attitude to the whole situation has changed and that your mind has been filled with peace.
Matthew 21:22 - If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
I remember a time that I had been given the opportunity to lead worship for the very first time in church, I agreed and weeks before that Sunday to come up, I had so many negative thoughts going through my head where it came to a point that I nearly chickened out from doing it; but i'm glad I didn't. What I done differently is that I took all of my fears, negative thoughts, anxieties to prayer and just trusted God's will but it wasn't just one prayer. Every time I had these sort of thoughts, that is the amount of times I took it to prayer (For me, these were a lot of times); truth be told every time I prayed I still had the thoughts but I also had reassurance as well as confident. So when it came to that Sunday I prayed and prayed until I got to the altar and to tell you the truth I really felt God presence in the atmosphere as soon as I started to praise and worship, I forgot everything that was happening in my life all my fears, pain and more, just completely disappeared; I just enjoyed the opportunity to lead the people into His presences and therefore I would do it again.
Romans 8:14-17
14-For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
15-The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
16-The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
17- Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
My fellow Warriors, God loves you; He loves you so much that if you put all your trust in Him, He will give you are heart full of boldness and courage. Notice verse 15 it says the Spirit that you received from God does not make you a slave to fear, but the Spirit that you received brought your adoption as a child of God!; as soon as you pray saying "Abba Father".
Don't allow these setbacks to enslave your minds and cloud your judgments; as they will affect your attitude and as much as I don't like saying this, it would means that the enemy has won and placed your thoughts at the lowest level. In (Philippians 4:8-9) Paul tells us to take them to the highest level; we choose the thoughts to occupy our minds, and would only need to exercise it. When fear comes to mind, replace it with thoughts of protection and blessings from bible verse and your own experiences, proving not only to yourself but everyone around you that fear is unfounded. Since the Almighty God has protected you in the past and will therefore protect you in the future.
I encourage you to pray in faith, trusting God when fear and anxieties start to arise and keep on praying as many times until you feel at ease or until it's completely gone and take control of your thoughts by choosing positive one and if you do this I assure you that you have overcome the schemes of the "devil that defeated fool!".
Prayer:
Abba Father thank you for your hand that is over my life, I ask that you will continue to bless me with the heart full of Courage, a body full of Strength, a mind full of Protection, and a life full of Love. I pray that you keep my mind alert and protected from negative and fearful thoughts that the enemy is trying to implement; and if it is so occupy my mind with your voice of reassurance and encouragements. For I declare that I am no longer a slave to fear but I am child of God. In Jesus Name Amen.
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Below is the song that I mentioned at the start:
