Fear is a human response that is triggered by a perceived threat. This can be a good thing. But we must not allow ourselves to live a life of continual fear. The results of that would be detrimental, to say the least.

Recently, the Lord led me to send an audio prayer out to the partners of our ministry. This prayer was intended to help them combat fear and anxiety. But the volume of response to this audio prayer surprised me. Dozens of people wrote in to say thank you. They also let me know that they had recently been dealing with irrational fear and anxiety. And these were people not given to such emotions.

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I should not have been surprised. Our government and news media have been attempting to shove fear down our throats for a few years now. Fear of a virus. Fear of food shortages. Fear of high gas and grocery prices. Fear of war and conflict in our nation. Most of what we see and hear these days is drenched in fear. Now, with this recent attack on Israel and the resultant threats of terrorism, fear is elevated more than ever. If we do not remain in constant guard against it, this fear could consume us. We must not allow that to happen.

Fear affects not only our emotional and mental health, but our physical body as well. Some of those effects:

• Fear weakens our immune system and may cause cardiovascular damage, or gastrointestinal problems.
• Constant fear and anxiety can lead to accelerated aging and even premature death.
• Fear may interrupt the part of our brain that allows us to regulate emotions. This impacts our thinking and decision-making in negative ways.
• Chronic anxiety and fear may cause fatigue, clinical depression, and even PTSD.

For those reasons and many others, God commands us many times in the Bible: “Fear not.” What I find most interesting is that usually, when God says “fear not,” it involves some situation in which there is indeed an opportunity to fear. Many would argue that there is ample reason for fear in these days we’re living through. How can we possibly avoid fear in this current atmosphere?

We must be diligent about what we feed ourselves and what we put before our eyes and in our ears.

As I thought and prayed about this, I was reminded of 9/11. When the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, occurred, most Americans stayed glued to their TVs for weeks. And the images of that day are still as fresh in my mind today as they were that day. I noticed that after a few days of watching the news about 9/11, I was beginning to feel fearful and hopeless. The Lord prompted me to turn off the television and stop watching news stations.

Some would think that that’s burying your head in the sand. For me, it was not. Though I believe that we do need to be aware of what is going on in our nation and the world, I also believe we must be diligent to keep our eyes on God and continue to be a people of hope. If we keep terror, fear, war, and anger before our eyes continually, we will become a people without hope. We cannot watch a steady stream of horrors on social media and news media and remain in peace. It is simply not possible.

Evil people, demonic spirits, and Satan himself all intend to spread terror and fear in order to cause us to become paralyzed to the point we can no longer stand in faith or remain a people of hope. We must not allow that to happen.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome (Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC).

Fear causes discouragement, which, if allowed to remain, will destroy faith. However, God still has a good plan for His people. We have many reasons to remain filled with the hope that is found in God alone.

For this reason, we must be diligent about what we put in our mind and spirits on a daily basis. Also, we must feed more on the Word of God than on news media or anything else.

The Scripture says: … if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them] (Philippians 4:8 AMPC).

It is vital that we fix our minds on the things of God. Isaiah 26:3 tells us that God will keep us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed upon Him and His Word. We stay in peace when we fully trust and rely on God.

My friends, none of what is happening now has taken God by surprise. He is still saying: “Fear not.” He is still declaring: “Be still and know that I am your God.” Regardless of what is going on in this world, God remains faithful. We can trust Him, and by trusting Him, we will remain in peace.

Do not allow fear to consume you — don’t give it that much power. Instead, keep your mind stayed on good things, on the promises of God. Hope in God will never disappoint. We have His promise on this awesome truth (see Romans 5:5). Remember, God has not given us a spirit of fear. Fear is from the Enemy. Give him no place.

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Kim Potter is a writer and the founder of A New Thing Ministries, which sends a daily teaching to thousands of people all around the world. Her articles have appeared on The Elijah List, in Charisma Magazine, and on Spirit Fuel and iBelieve.com. Kim’s message is one of hope. She speaks to the hearts of those who have grown discouraged or disappointed by the circumstances of life, to impart hope. Her daily inspirational writings are available at ANewThingMinistries.com. Photo Credit: M.T ElGassier on Unsplash.