Notes

Freedom From Fear
I was raised with many fears and through Christ I've conquered many. I used to be afraid of the dark. When I was about 8 years old I didn't want to walk to the kitchen at bedtime to obtain a drink of water. My mother would always obtain it for me personally. I was afraid of walking down the dark hallway. One night she had fallen asleep on the chair and I needed water so very bad I transpired the long hall to the kitchen. Along the way, an ironing board behind a bedroom door along the hallway made a decision to fall forward which slammed the entranceway closed as the ironing board hit the floor with a loud thud. Well, that was proof that my concern with the dark was validated! At least for 19 more years of my life.

I meditated on Scripture about fear during my first year of salvation in 1977, and got freedom from fear of the dark. Since that time I don't need lights on all around the house and I can walk through the house in the dark without thinking something will eat me alive!

I used to truly have a concern with bugs. I was terrified at the sight of them. When I was small I saw my mother scream and run and I adopted the same posture having an added step. I'd get right up on a bit of furniture and scream hysterically. Although I was getting B's in my own 9th grade Science class, the fourth quarter was enough time for a bug collection which was to be the basis for the grade for that quarter. jars of fears I acquired the only real F my report cards ever saw. I couldn't even think about considering a bug collection.

Many years ago I asked god, the father for land with woods to find His peace and presence, and after 7 years of prayer while living on a busy street, He provided it in 1989. Living in the woods provides you with many opportunities to overcome a fear of bugs, but I don't think opportunity is what permits you to overcome. It's only the power of the Holy Spirit within applying Christ's victory on the cross to everyday activity.

I wanted to renew my mind about bugs since it was absolutely ridiculous that I was so fearful about something so small and literally harmless. The planet calls it a phobia. The definition of a phobia is "an irrational fear." There is no rhyme or reason to it. There isn't a bug in the world that is even how big is my hand, yet my reaction appeared that it was the size of an airplane prepared to land on me.

I thought about all the beautiful critters we were privileged to see in the woods and began considering bugs to stay the same category. There are several truly beautiful insects nowadays and I let God show me more of His creation as I began to be able to stay nearby and look at bugs to get something beautiful about them. As time passes I renewed my mind so much that I possibly could actually pick them up. We had a bug jar at the house in Alabama (circumstances with many bug opportunities since there's not enough cold to kill them off easily). The bug jar was a rescue vehicle for just about any bugs that got inside the house. We put them back outside.

Roaches! I understand you have had this bug flash across your brain -- you're wondering, aren't you? Well, I'm not that renewed yet. I still have a mental imprint about roaches, but I could say I'm not afraid of these. I can have them right into a jar and put them outside instead of screaming and fleeing for my entire life. I'm talking about wood roaches, not the type that multiply and plague homes.

It appears the more fears I am willing to face, the more God reveals if you ask me. The victories and freedom when i leave them behind one by one is nothing less than incredible!

For people who have done what must be done to overcome a fear, you understand the exhilaration to getting free. It's like sitting on elevated rocks with a mountain breeze blowing on your face and through your hair as you look around at the scenery thinking, just what a powerful and awesome God we have to create what can be seen in Nature. That power can be within us to not only change our very own lives, but to improve others, and even change the world for the better.

It's worthwhile to be free! It's worthwhile to take time to confront your fears and commence the procedure of evicting them from the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The workbook, "Biblical Foundations of Freedom" by Art Mathias has been a tremendous blessing if you ask me since it has helped to bring out fears that I didn't even know existed. And shining The Light on them is the first rung on the ladder to victory. It's been so refreshing in order to recognize fears and see how they've resulted in various health problems. I understand I still have plenty of hard work ahead of me, but the rewards are so excellent and each battle is easier than the last when i unravel the net the devil has woven around my soul. I pray that each of it will be possible to do the same.
Website: https://jaroffears.com/