Doug Reed Ministries Blog

Fears Dominance

I think we underestimate the impact and reach of fear.  It is easy to justify fears magnitude because it is so simple to make the emotional effect of fear go away.  We just avoid conflict and courage all together and our lack of action becomes a sanctuary to hide in. 

Fear is so common because it is so effective.  Being stranded where we are may be boring but it is also strangely comforting, because at least there is no surprises there.  The children of Israel are a great example of our fondness of the perverted benefits of fear.  They longed for the food of Egypt while lost in the desert of God's will.  Even though that life was a slave life, it was a known commodity and that is the comfort the sinful nature longs for.

Max Lucado wrote: "Fear deaden's our recall, it creates spiritual amnesia, it dulls our miracle memory."

Fear is a dominating enemy because it is an enemy we invite.  We love God's miracles but our memories have a way of highlighting the conflict over the rescue.  The truth is that we struggle with trust and we want control, we want to be our own providers, our own rescuers. 

The only real way to break the control of fear is to truly trust God.  Trust comes from knowing that we are deeply loved by God.  Our key verse here:  1 John 4:18 (CEV) - "Where God's love is, there is no fear, because perfect love drives out fear."  The first thing God's love does is remove fear.  It takes over every inch of your spiritual and emotional environment and leaves fear with no place to stay.  Fear hides the real you - God's love reveals the real you.  Brennon Manning once said: "We risk for Him to the degree that we know that we are loved by Him."  That is the transfer of power we all long for, the freedom that Christ died to give you.

Scary Choices

This month the Lord has reminded me several times about the value of obedience.  We often avoid the tough choices - the obvious points of obedience that could propel us to a higher level. I think there are several reasons for this.

• Fear of confrontation
• Fear of consequence
• Fear of the Unknown
• Fear of losing the security of the present
• Fear of failure

The theme here is fear and fear is the opposite of faith.

Question: What would you attempt for God if you knew that you would not fail?  The right answer comes when you re-define failure.  It is not about results, its about obedience.  The only real failure is the failure to try.  You are probably only one scary choice from a whole new world of unseen options. 

Blessing and obedience are inseparable. 

I like this quote from Joseph Cambell: 

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek"  

The Key is courage and courage comes from God. 

Fear paralyzes but courage mobilizes.  

Here is a modern day parallel to help make my point:  

"Steve & John's Story"

Steve always dreamed of owning his own business, but more than that, Steve truly believed in his dream to put affordable computers in every home and office. He really believed that it would revolutionize the world. So he took the plunge and started his own computer company. The only problem was that he knew computers; he didn't know business. He needed the best CEO he could get, and that meant John Sculley, CEO of Pepsi-Cola. Somehow Steve had to convince Sculley to leave his prominent position at one of the most prestigious and profitable companies in the world and run Steve's fledgling company.

Somehow, some way, Steve managed to schedule a meeting with John Sculley. Mr. Sculley listened patiently to the young man's presentation. He even allowed Steve to schedule another meeting. Finally, after several appointments, Sculley introduced Steve to reality: "You'd have to give me a million-dollar salary, a million-dollar signing bonus and a million-dollar severance package."

Steve was shocked. He couldn't afford anything close to those figures. Still, his boldness and passion blurted words out of his mouth: "You've got it. Even if I have to pay for it out of my own pocket."

Sculley didn't become CEO of a multi-national corporation by being foolish. He knew a bluff when he heard one. "Steve, I'd love to be an adviser, but I don't think I can come."

Steve dropped his head, took a long breath and issued a challenge that pierced Sculley to the core. Looking him right in the eye, Steve simply asked, "Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world?" John Sculley resigned from Pepsi-Cola and took Steve Jobs up on his offer to lead a fledgling computer company called Apple. And together they really did change the world.

Reject fear today.  

"Fearless" messages can be found at our website:

Englewood Ministries