Fear's Stronghold

"Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Co 10:3-5

This verse reminds me of a powerful saying - 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' Fear is one of most powerful weapons Satan uses against many of us. It creates a wormhole for him to get inside our minds and do the work he has set out to accomplish. Remember, Satan knows us better than we know ourselves. He has much more time to plan against us than we have to focus on how we will fortify our walls against him. We have so many distractions within our work life and personal life it is easy to stay hypnotized to the in and outs of life. But for Satan, developing manipulative strongholds in the most devoted Christian is his work and his life. He knows that these people have the threat to make the most impact in the lives of others for God. You better believe Christians are always on his attack radar. I write all of this not to heighten the very thing I warn you against - fear - but to give you the good news of the One who is free from fear.

God gave us His power to topple fear - 'For God did not give us the spirit of timidity, {fear} but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.' 2 Timothy 1:7. When I consider today's verse I love how the writer exhorts us to lay down and lessen anything in our imaginations that is greater than what God has promised us. It is so easy in our struggles to imagine the very worse and build up tragedies that are opposite of what our Savior has promised us. Who of us live a Mark Twain life: 'I've suffered a great many catastrophies in my life. Most of them never happened.' - Mark Twain (1835-1910)

When God gives us a beautiful canvas of promise and hope for our future we cannot allow Satan to place a black crayon in our hands to mark all over it. God promises the canvas is the working place and the picture will be beautiful if we will keep our hands off of the work. Lay down that black crayon of fear and allow the beautiful paint stokes of the ultimate Artist to breathe colors into your life.

Satan may control you through fear for a season but He cannot sustain what God did not ordain.