Fear is the enemy’s greatest tactic. In the garden, there was nothing to fear, but after sin was committed and the curse was pronounced, everything changed. Adam and Eve must have been anxious as they left the garden for the unknown. Eve must have been terrified when the pangs of childbirth hit her. Both Adam and Eve must have trembled when they witnessed the rivalry and animosity between their children. And ever since, the number of fear-inducing events has been incalculable. 

There’s a booklet, quite dated, called Born For Battle. Here is a quote: To get the Christian to react the wrong way, the devil devises a storm. He stimulates in us a panic to act according to the predicament we are in without taking time to think of God’s promises. The devil is a panic artist and plays heavily on our fearful reactions in an emergency!

I grew up in a two-story home. When it was dark, I dreaded going upstairs alone because I sensed there was a bear-like creature lurking up there. I don’t remember seeing anything, but I sensed it and was terrified. Since the only bathroom was upstairs, I would often have to go up by myself. I would turn the light on in the stairwell first, then race up the stairs to find the next set of light switches. The real challenge came when I had to turn the lights off behind me to leave. I would run all the way down the stairs and into the lighted part of the house, yelling, “A bear! A bear!” My parents thought I had a vivid imagination. Today, I know better and have asked Jesus to remove the terror in the memory.

There are myriads of things that make our hearts race. No wonder there are so many ‘Don’t be afraid’ commands in scripture. We are creatures of fear. And we will be casualties of fear if we aren’t proactive in applying the cures. The antidotes are these: 1.) Intimacy with Jesus so His presence is palpable. 2.) The promises of God that have been tucked away by memory. And, 3.) An armament of warfare scriptures to vocalize out loud when the enemy is breathing down your neck. 

To live courageously and victoriously must be intentional. Abba Father has provided Himself as our refuge – with His presence and very words. The fake lion’s roar will no longer succeed with a surprise attack if we are armed and ready.