I have come to believe that every decision and every act we make is a response to either fear or faith. When you climb in your car to go to work each morning, you are exercising faith. I now often test my motivation before I act; am I being motivated by fear or faith?

When I have said something that did not go down very well, or hurt someone close to me, I am inevitably amazed to find how often I can clearly see that what I said was birthed in some sort of fear rather than in love. To your 21 year old son “Don’t come home late tonight!” = Fear. “Have a good evening” = Love and faith that he will be responsible. To your husband “Who all were with you at the business dinner?” Can you to hear the difference? It is extremely important in our telephone counseling to grow in our discernment of what is motivating our callers.

A. There are two types of fear:

1. Helpful fear:
In this context, fear means to have respect and reverence. It does not contradict faith, but assists you in making right choices in life and brings about maturity.
a) for God (“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 9:10)
b) for dangerous situations such as children learn for fire, water and traffic, etc.
In the above case, concern can be an appropriate response. Concern leads us to avoid problems.
We can always take an issue that causes us justifiable concern to God and find His solution and strength. Faith added to concern brings release.
But when we do not activate faith in areas of concern, they can very easily develop into

2. Harmful fear:
The meaning in this context is derived from an Anglo-Saxon word which describes a wolf ripping up meat. “Being eaten into” is the process caused by harmful fear.

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2. Harmful fear:
The meaning in this context is derived from an Anglo-Saxon word which describes a wolf ripping up meat. “Being eaten into” is the process caused by harmful fear.

B. The effects of Harmful Fear

1. Fear can paralyze us, causing us not to take needed action. Not only figuratively, but givexample of literal paralysis

2. Fear can cause us to make the wrong decisions. Perhaps a young man or woman chooses to marry an unsuitable partner out of fear that no one else will want them.

3. Fear can lead to sin:
a) Lying to, or hurting others, to protect ourselves from perceived fears . Little white lies to get out of embarrassing situations
b) Worry, which reveals lack of faith in God’s care for us. Research shows 95% of our worries never materialize.

4. Fear can cause negative emotions that affect us physically. Every minute, you are having some kind of emotional reaction; either pleasant or unpleasant. The mental reaction I would get if I walked out to my car tonight and a hand reached out and grabbed me would cause an immediate chemical reaction in my body and adrenalin would begin pumping through my system to enable me to either fight or run the fastes 100 metres I have ever run.

A Dr Hans Seyle conducted an experiment to see which stressors caused the greatest problem to the human body. Bacterial invasion, virus infection, exposure to the elements, severe muscular exertion, Operations, injuries and even drug effects were tested amongst many others. Dr Seyle learned from his experiment that the greatest stressors are the psychic stressors, or unpleasant emotions.

a) It is Conservatively estimated that 60-70% of hospital patients affected by E.I.I.(Emotionally Induced Illness) that manifest in physical disease.
b) You may be surprised to know how many of the small physical problems you have are caused by your emotions. It is estimated that 75% of neck pains are emotionally induced
80% of headaches
80% of dizziness
90% of tiredness is considered emotionally induced
Guess what? 70% of constipation and 99% of gas or wind is reportedly caused by emotion. My son thinks that getting rid of stress is a great excuse for that one!

5. Fear Can cause negative emotions that affect us mentally
a) “…depression, long the leading mental illness, is virtually epidemic – and suicide is it’s all too frequent outcome.” Newsweek Magazine
c) 15-30% of the world’s population is estimated to suffer from some kind of mental or emotional disorder.
d) 1 out of every 7 Americans take tranquilizers to escape anxiety
e) In Britain 1 in 4 have some kind of psychiatric disorder
f) Mental & emotional illnesses rate no. 1 in Australia
g) And while the world is looking for someone to help them with this problem, those who are supposed to be qualified are often as caught up by it as everyone else:

Out of 200 doctors treated at 3 British Psychiatric hospitals, most were psychiatrists

In a survey of 2000 ministers of one well-known denomination in the U.S. revealed that 25% of the ministers and their wives have had or would like to have some psychiatric assistance.
h) An interesting aspect of EI.I. is that the more intelligent you are, the more prone you are to be affected. E.I.I. becomes more prevalent as one goes up the ladder of human responsibility.

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C. God’s answer to Fear

1. Recognize that worry and harmful fear is sin. “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:23 One or the other!

2. Realise that God wants to give you total deliverance from fear. “Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions and (physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power that the enemy possesses, and nothing shall in any way harm you.” Luke 10:19 Ampl. Jesus doesn’t want us bound by fear when he gave His own life, to set us free.

3. Take positive action and cast out the works of darkness. “Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5 Fear is a work of darkness from which we must make sure we are delivered, no matter how hard we have to fight it.

4. Release the burden and receive Christ’s power and strength into your life. “Cast your burden on the Lord, (releasing the weight of it) and He shall sustain you, and cause the consistently righteous not to fail, fall or slip.” Ps.55:22 Ampl.

5. Ask God to fill and control you with the Holy Spirit. “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.” 2 Tim. 1:7. That power, love and sound mind is a product of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals God to us. The more we know God, the more we will know how much we can place our trust in Him.

**I once heard a story of a American traveler in the pioneer days who came one winter night to the banks of a wide river. He had to get across but there was no bridge. The river was coated with a sheet of ice but he had no idea how safe it was. After much hesitation, he gingerly tested it with one foot and it held. Night was coming and he had to get across, so with much fear and care he crept out on hands and knees, hoping to distribute his weight on the uncertain ice. When he had gone some distance, painfully and slowly, he heard the sound of horse’s hooves and joyful singing. There in the dusk was a happy Negro driving a team of horses and a load of coal across the ice and cheerfully singing as he went. He knew the ice was safe. The traveler then got up, knowing he could totally trust the ice, and proceeded safely to the other side.

As we get to know God, He gives us so much reason to trust Him, that while others around us are frozen with fear, we can carry on with confidence and joy that He will hold us.

6. Continually remind yourself of God’s past care and provision for you and your family, as David reminded himself and the Isrealites in many of the Psalms. In Psalm 107 and in many others, David outlines the miracles of God in parting the Red Sea and delivering them from their enemies and exhorts himself and his people not to fear what may come but to praise God who has delivered them so many times before.

It is essential that having removed fear from your life, you immediately replace it with God’s provision for your life as laid out in His Word. Apply Biblical truths and practice them in your daily life.

Fear is the worst form of captivity. The enemy purposefully tries to keep us bound up by fear in every form so that we are of no use to ourselves, others and even God. But this captivity is actually a paper prison.

Several years ago some needy settlers in British Colombia began stripping an abandoned fort of it’s timber, electrical appliances and other serviceable items. The place had originally been used as a jail, consequently tey found might locks attached to heavy doors and two inch steel bars covering all the windows.

Upon closer examination, however, they were amazed to discover that the walls of the prison were made only of board and paper, cleverly painted to resemble iron. The prisoners had been completely fooled by the ruse and so had never tried to escape. Yet a good rugby tackle could have easily broken the frail partitions and caused the walls to give way.

Many times we are surrounded by fears, circumstances and difficulties that threaten to hold us prisoner. It is sometimes very easy to sit back defeated by fear and self-pity. But if we advance in faith we will often invariably find that the walls of fear that surround us are just weak barriers of the enemy’s clever deceptions.

My prayer for myself, for each of you and for all of our callers is that of Luke 1:74-75 :

“That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.”

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1. Ensure your own safety and that of the victim.
2. Protect the victim against the press and inquisitive people.
3. Provide emotional support and listen.
4. Do not tranquilize the victim (except for other reasons as determined by a doctor).
5. Provide practical assistance eg clean the house, fetch children or cook a meal.
6. Help to get information, names and even take photos of the scene of the incident.
7. Give the person a small task to do to begin to re-establish control over their lives eg ask them to make tea.
8. As soon as it is safe, have someone walk with them to burn off the adrenaline that has flooded the body.
9. Assure the person that it is OK to have mixed emotions.
10. Tell them that in a day or two they will feel ready to talk to someone about what has happened. Do not rush them.
11. Ask if you may pray for them. Be sensitive as the person is in a state of shock and may be angry at God. Pray for God’s peace and comfort.
12. Leave them in the general care of a trusted friend or family member.
13. Arrange for trauma debriefing after 24 hours and before 72 hours has passed.

- Courtesy of HOPE CENTRE, Hatfield Christian Church.

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Telefriend guest speaker, Carol Dutton’s story of surviving a criminal attack that included being stabbed with a screw driver reminds us that crime is a reality. Fortunately her testimony also reminds us that God is able to turn the trauma of crime into triumph. As Carol cried out repeatedly to Jesus to help her, the attackers turned on one another and released her! (Read Carol’s story).

Taking preventative measures is wise, but living in perpetual fear could prove as destructive to your well-being as suffering an actual crime. No one should dwell on an issue like crime to the extent that they become perpetually fearful. God’s word says we are not to have a spirit of fear but of love, power and a sound mind. It also teaches us to be aware - to “watch” and to exercise wisdom. Hatfield Christian Church and the Lyttleton Dutch Reformed Church in Pretoria recently held Safety in the Home and Security Days where members of the police force gave valuable guidelines on protecting your family against crime. Their approach was a Godly balance of wisdom and faith.

We can also turn our awareness of the situation to good by choosing to equip ourselves to skillfully and sensitively support people who have been affected by traumatic incidents. The more prepared we are, the more effectively the Holy Spirit will be able to use us. Learn more so that you are able to help others in appropriate ways.

The most powerful thing you can do is to pray for your country and it’s leaders. We are instructed to pray for those who rule our country so that we may live in peace. (1 Timothy 2:2) We can pray on behalf of our country, confessing the sin of our land and asking God’s forgiveness and mercy. We need to pray for clean hands and hearts. Where lawlessness is present, we need to move in the opposite spirit and make sure that we are submitting to the laws of our land. This includes keeping the speed limit, being honest in all our dealings and paying taxes.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land”

Prayer Power

Lord, I thank You for the men and women of God all over the world who have covered our nation in prayer. I know there are countless blessings which we enjoy because of their faithfulness to You. May those prayers increase until a revival of faith breaks out all across our land.

I pray that no evil will befall our nation and no plague will come near us. Make us immune so we will “not be afraid of the terror by night … or the pestilence that walks in the darkness:” (Psalm 91: 5-6). Protect us form the enemy who would like to destroy us. Render his weapons useless. Be with us to deliver us in our time of trouble, give us long life, and show us Your salvation. Deliver us from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence (Psalm 91:3). Lift us above the things that threaten us. Cover us as we take refuge in You.

Lord, I thank You for all the believers in our nation who serve and glorify you. Thank You for their many prayers and for the answers that You have given. Give us repentant hearts as we humble ourselves before You and turn form our selfish ways. As a nation we confess any pride and lack of faith. Open our blind eyes to see You and Your truth as we seek Your face.

I know that the power of a praying nation is Your power on behalf of those who pray. And I know that when we call upon You, You will answer. I ask this day that You would pour out Your Spirit on every city, town, community, school, government office, business, and church in this country. Reveal Yourself to people everywhere so that their eyes will be opened to Your truth. Help us to become the paying nation You want us to be. In Jesus’ name I pray.

From "The Power of a Praying Nation" by Stormie Omartian.

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