Last month I brought three messages entitled "Victory Over Fear". In this space, I would like to glean some of the highlights as a helpful reminder. One reason is, you may need it, but I also have a selfish reason...I still struggle with fear! So, I need to review just as much as you may.

In fighting against any sin, it is necessary to seek the root of that sin. Johnny hits Sally because Sally took his toy. A parent needs to not only prohibit stealing toys and hitting, but also to instruct the children concerning the root of this behavior, namely selfishness and lack of self-control. We don't fear by accident, but because there are sinful roots that produce sinful fear.

The first one we mentioned was unbelief. "Fear not, o ye of little faith" are the kinds of things Jesus would say, linking many sinful fears to unbelief. One example of this is when we allow disturbing circumstances, potentially scary future outcomes and the like to become bigger and more dominant in our minds and hearts than...God! One exercise I mentioned in the sermon is to, either mentally or physically, put a list of your fears on one side of a page and a truth about God on the other side. Sometimes in our minds, the fears are written in large, bold print and God is written in much smaller, less impressive areas. So, we have to confess to God our unbelief, and not allow it to be nurtured in our hearts. As we put off unbelief, we put on faith, reminding ourselves over and over again of God's power, sufficiency, wisdom, love and sovereignty over everyone and everything. So, we may have on one side of the page, terrorists like ISIS or the fear of burglars. On the other side, we should recognize ISIS and burglars are not running foot-loose outside God's sovereign domain. Even if we are affected by such evil things, God has promised He would never leave us or forsake us.

Another root of sinful fear can be the desire to be in total control. Sometimes, we can think if we were in complete control, we could manage things in such a way to where everything would be just right. While God does call us to exercise responsible behavior in our lives, the reality is, we are not in ultimate control! Proverbs 27:1 says, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." While we do not know what a day will bring forth, God does, because we are taught to say, "If the Lord will, we shall live and do this, or that" (James 4:15). Some people rob themselves of peace and joy in the Lord, because they try to go beyond mere responsibility, and control just about everything and everyone around them. Since achieving that kind of control is impossible, they typically have lots of fears in heart and mind. Destroy that sinful root by this reminder and comfort: I am not in control, God is...and that is a good thing! "My times are in Thy hand..." (Psalm 31:15).

Another root we noted was: out of proportion desire for something, can lead to an inappropriate fear of losing it. For instance, if I desire success too much in a certain area (it is not wrong to want to do well), I may have a unhealthy fear of failure. A young person may have too great a desire to impress people with her piano skills, that she may be gripped with too great a fear of failing to perform perfectly at her recital. So, some fears are rooted in misplaced desires. This should lead us to look into our hearts and pray for our chief desire to be to love our God and please Him far and above all else.

Lastly, to overcome fear we should continually be viewing the character of our God. If He is our refuge and strength and if we are to trust Him...who are we trusting? He is the Holy One, the Most High, the all-wise, all-sufficient One. He has perfect knowledge of everything, including me and my needs. He is full of grace and mercy. He is kind and caring. He also is determined to get glory for Himself through His people's lives. He is sovereign and has pefect plans and purposes. This and much more filling our hearts and minds regularly helps us to find strength and refuge in God from our fears.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." II Tim. 1:7