Lets talk about fear that imprisons you

Lets talk about fear for a moment. I recall hearing Joyce Meyers talking about fear and she stated that it's simply false evidence appearing real. I always remembered her saying that, and I really had to learn how to put that into use for fears that I had in my own life. As a child one of my uncle's chased me with a lizard, so needless to say I have a fear of lizards. Well, today, I made up in my mind; that I was going to face that fear, and not be afraid. A lizard did get into my house, I screamed, my husband already knew what was going on and he came running to me prepared to save me from the menacing dragon. I had broom in hand and ready to shew the lizard out of the house, but my hero handled the task at hand. Today was my first time trying to handle it for myself, I believe I handled it well. I didn't run out of the room or jump on furniture. That's progress!

Now, you first have to know that when a lizard, spider or a frog is in my presence, I will pack up and leave the house until proof has been showed to me that the alien invader has been evicted from the house. As my husband says he doesn't play around with peoples fears, because a person can be so afraid that they can run into traffic, or do bodily harm to themselves or another trying to flee from what they deem to be danger. 

I have realized that fear can paralyze us from doing the will of God, if you are afraid of public speaking, some people have been called up to speak and they would lose their voice, they would become paralyzed and some would actually lose consciousness. 

People can be so fearful, that it would keep them from trying new things in life, it could keep them from traveling for fear of flying, driving on a busy highway, traveling by sea, or just taking a short drive across a bridge could leave someone catatonic. I remember hearing people say that they were afraid of elevators, heights, small rooms because of claustrophobia, or fearful of the pool because they couldn't swim even if the pool was waist deep, they still wouldn't get in for fear of drowning.

Fear arises with the threat of harm, either emotional, physical or psychological whether it be real or imagined. Most of our fears come from childhood, or from adulthood or somewhere inbetween. For me a lizard no matter how small, or how big they are huge iguana's, and I feel like they will jump on me, and bite. Now, I know they don't have teeth, but it's just my fear of it jumping on me.

When I went through a period of domestic violence, I found myself being afraid of people talking loudly, yelling, screaming, crying, being in crowds  and things of that nature. I remember getting really upset one evening, when I overheard someone speaking aggressively to another. I retreated to another location for fear that it would be an altercation, and I didn't want to see anyone get hurt.  

Fear can have you afraid to deal with life, work, your mental health will suffer, and sometimes it will cause you to be a homebody so to speak. You can develop anxiety and start to isolate from family and friends, functions that you use to attend, you will avoid. 

Fear can place you in an invisible prison, and one day you will look around and, ask how did I get here? Wounds from your past can creep up on you and cause you to think about different instances in life, such as if you were a victim of a robbery, mugged, raped, you may have had a bad experience with law enforcement, and when people seem to get to close it causes fear to rise up and you get in defense mode, when there actually is no threat around, its imagined. Your fear caused you to feel like you were going to be harmed. I know for me I really hate when someone walks to closely behind me, the one thing that I do when that happens is I turn to look at them and either I will speak or just make eye contact to make me feel more at ease and to avert a possible attack. 

Fear can cause so many invisible walls, and bars to be placed in your life that you don't see them, but others do. They will say things to you like why don't you go out with us anymore, or why do you stay to yourself all the time, you're isolating from your friends and family.  It's fear that has gripped you and now is taking over every aspect of your life.

One of my biggest fears was flying. So to overcome my fear, I went on vacation and decided to fly to Jamaica, this was back in 2002. The flight wasn't that long and the flight took an hour and 30 minutes at the most. Once I conquered that fear I found that it was a pleasant flight and I had imagined all the worse scenarios that could happen and never ever stepped foot on a plane until 2002, and now I enjoy flying. I actually just went on a helicopter ride this year and enjoyed it as well. I was able to conquer the fear of flying. I felt that wall fall down and a sense of freedom came upon me. It was like a breath of fresh air surrounded me. 

When you're trying to face your fears, take it one step at a time, don't do it alone, have someone with you, and if you need to talk to a professional about your fears, do not be afraid to open up to them. There are lots of people that have fears, that we may take for granted, but one thing I would say to anyone is please do not play with peoples fears, it could cause them to hurt themselves or others trying to flee from what they deem to be a dangerous situation.

Fear of speaking was another area in my life that I had to overcome, and it was crazy, because I had a job that required me to conduct orientations of anywhere from 15 to 50 people at the most I had to speak in front of 75 people on the job, and I was terrified, but it was my job and I had to do it. Fortunately, I was able to sit in on another co-workers orientation and found that if I organized myself the way she did, I would be able to get through it without any problems and that is what I did. I developed my own style of presenting the orientation. I overcame the fear of conducting orientations, and once I got into ministry, the work I did with orientations, helped me to be able to speak at church functions, and present sermons to the congregation. 

My experiences and facing some of my fears elevated me to this point of speaking on this podcast, it's hard to speak to people you don't know or to present a work that the Lord directed you to do and then not know if it is helpful to others, but I had to overcome my fear of failure as well. I overcame that by stepping out onto this platform and asking the Lord to direct me every step of the way. 

I have to follow my Heavenly Father's instructions, its my service to him, and he has brought me so far in my christian walk, he has delivered me and set me free from so many things that kept me bound to an invisible prison, he set this captive free and now I just pray that with these podcasts, you the listener will be set free as well.

Scripture tells us in Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

If you would just seek the Lord in prayer for answers you need about what is holding you back from going forth in what the Lord has spoken to you about doing for his kingdom, trust he will answer you and he will begin to take you through the steps to break down that invisible prison.  

Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you He will not leave you or forsake you. 

Allow the Lord to lead you to the place he has predestined for you, you may be that Preacher, teacher, motivational speaker that helps millions of people in their walk with life, in Christ, into freedom from their bondage. Just trust the Lord with your fears, give them to him and allow him to heal you from them. 

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.