No matter your political allegiance, there is a lot that hangs in the balance this week for our nation. No matter your religious beliefs, I hope this post will remind you to not fall for the fear tactics…whether they be in the political arena, the spiritual arena or in any area of your life. The enemy will throw his fiery darts at you in all areas of life and as believers, we must put on the full armor of God to withstand the enemy’s ploys! (Eph. 6)
If I think too long and hard about it, I can lean toward feeling hopeless about the state of our nation. I can gravitate toward fear in many situations in life, but I must learn to take every thought captive (2 Cor. 10) and to fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. (Heb. 12)
When I think too long and too hard about what is happening in our country (or in my home, or in my workplace, or in any area of my life) I must remind myself to change my focus, to set my mind on things above, where Christ is SEATED at the right hand of God! (Col. 3)
God’s Word has a lot to say to us about fear tactics.
5 Reasons Fear Tactics Don’t Work
1. The feelings of fear do not come from God.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
2. Our enemy is not flesh and blood.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:12-13
3. Our hope is not in a nation or its president.
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:5-8
4. Any real help our nation can receive is from God and God alone.
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121
5. When we declare our trust in God our hope is restored.
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7
Friends, the outcome of Super Tuesday or the upcoming presidential election does not have the power to sway our security in Christ or our eternity with Him. Do I still feel it’s important to vote? Yes. I will be voting.
But I will not let the outcomes of the vote cause my heart to fear. I will continue preaching the gospel to myself…God is on His throne, He is sovereign, He knew before the foundation of the earth the state that our nation would be in. God remains seated on His throne.
Today we must decide where to place our trust. Will we trust in chariots or horses? In the power of a nation? In the rulers of a nation? In the freedoms of its people?
Declare your trust in the Lord today, beloved. He is the only one who is worthy of trust. He is faithful and He is good. And He’s got the whole world in His hands.
More on Battling Our Fears with the Power of God’s Word
Book Quotes from Fearless by Max Lucado
Yes, friend! Yes!
This is great, mate. Thanks this has really encouraged me.
Well said! Thank you!
Thank you for the encouragement.
I needed to hear this tonight. I don’t know how God led me to this blog, but it was exactly what I needed. Thank you for writing. Continue to do so, it is helping people like me to remember to focus on Jesus and not on fear.