Less than four months after completing the first draft of this book, I put on the early morning news to witness the worst act of terrorism committed. Two planes had plowed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York, America, and one possibly into the Pentagon. These barbaric attacks on Sept 11 2001 will surely be remembered as the day the U.S.A, indeed other nations, received a ‘wake-up call’. How anyone could perpetrate such callous acts and have 3000 people lose their lives is hard to comprehend.
Now, more than twenty years later, we are confronted with new threats to personal security, irrevocably changing the level of safety enjoyed for half a century. The stark reality is even greater threats loom large—biological, chemical, and atomic—and with even more security procedures forced upon us at airports and other public places by the recent ‘pandemic’, the prospects of living a carefree life are slim indeed. Each passing decade means we face an increasingly precarious future.
‘And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan.’ (Jer 12.5) Winning the war against ‘fear’, then, is not merely a good idea or a noble aspiration. To navigate the troubled waters ahead leaves us with no other option than to kill the ‘lion and the bear’ (of ‘fear’) while still living in relative safety. It will be much harder when the threat becomes a ‘giant’. (Cf. King David of Israel) Now, you may be comfortable with your level of fear, thinking it has an upside as well as a downside. For instance, the fear of rejection offers you a defense against further hurt, or the fear of cancer makes you much more careful about your diet. And because of a fear of calamity, some may even feel better prepared for the worst (like the Y2K Bug). But any supposed benefits can never compensate for the negative effects of ‘fear’. In the long run, it is a false comforter, counter-productive, and not worth hanging onto.
Incidentally, I started stuttering again not long after the 911 terror attack. It was not the problem that tormented me as a teenager, just unsettling and becoming more and more embarrassing. Why was this happening when I had been free for so many years? I asked the same question and sought an answer from the Lord, only to discover it was fresh intimidation from a spirit of ‘fear’ discerned as an octopus-like dark force with its tentacles wrapped around me. Yet despite my attempts to deal with the problem, it continued to make life awkward until a pastor discerned the same while praying a blessing on me (he saw the tentacles around me). With a strong rebuke, the spirit was dispatched and almost immediately the stammering and stress stopped.
So, once again, I had to stand up to intimidation from ‘fear’. To make the effort to counter the attack if I was to win this new battle. I could not ignore it, hoping the attack would go away; there was no other option than to face up to the task of dealing with it. ‘Fear’ will always do this—make us cower so we don’t counter-attack. You, then, must be prepared to stand against such attacks more than once; for to do otherwise—procrastinate or be indecisive—could be ‘suicide’. The adage of ‘he who hesitates is lost’ still holds good. So please, face ‘fear’ when it attacks and rebuke it. But make sure to also be on constant alert (Jesus said, watchful) for such a fight, and at the first sign of fear’s advance, be ready to use the bible verses quickened to you. Like the ‘stones in the shepherd’s bag’ (1Sam 17) of David, you can use them to bring down your ‘Goliath’. So, wind up your sling and fire them at ‘fear’ with as much force as you can muster.
Now, I believe the set of strategies I detail in this book to beat ‘fear’ are balanced and realistic. I have also tried to be positive and inspire with hope this war is winnable, yet have not engaged in triumphalism as it is clear ‘fear’ (to some degree) will continue to plague us this side of heaven. Some with an especially sensitive personality could find it more than a minor problem. In fact, not everyone will necessarily see total victory over ‘fear’ using these strategies, yet, making the effort to beat it can mean less harassment. The strategies, then, are not a ‘cure all’, but an antidote to much of its venom. Even if the improvement seems negligible, please don’t give up; over time, these will add up.
Finally, let me say this; none of these truths to win the war will be of value without a strong desire to beat this enemy. All warriors must have this ‘killer instinct’ and this is mandatory to beat ‘fear’. Merely having the desire to live free from worry, anxiety, and dysfunctional behavior is not enough. It must go beyond wanting release from the inconvenience to where you are passionate about wanting to be free to fulfill God’s will. I hope you have this, for as I have emphasized, the price for freedom will be significant. You will never regret paying the price, but it will mean some ‘blood and tears’. If you are ready to fight for victory over ‘fear’, I invite you to pray this prayer.
Father, by Your grace I commit myself to the war on fear you have shown me I need to wage. Expose all the work of this enemy in my life and throughout the campaign, help me maintain the resolve to beat it. I choose to fight for freedom; for Your glory, for myself, and for those who rely on me. I fight in your strength according to the strategies you lead me to implement and for as long as indicated. Thank You that You will train and show me how to wage this war. Amen.