Analyze Your Fear
“God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, and love, and discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). Obviously God is not the source of irrational fears, so then what, or who is? The first step to overcoming our fears is to analyze them. Who or what am I afraid of and why? Irrational fears are developed in the same way other flesh patterns are developed. It is often very helpful to ascertain when the fear became prominent and what was happening in your life at that time. There is always a cause and effect relationship. Remember, people are not in bondage to past traumas, they are in bondage to the lies they believe as a result of the trauma. The root of any phobia is a belief that is not based in truth. These false beliefs must be rooted out and replaced with God’s truth. Start by asking for God’s guidance:
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You as Your child. I put myself under Your protective care and acknowledge that You are the only legitimate fear object in my life. I confess that I have been fearful and anxious because of my belief and lack of trust. I have not always lived by faith in You and too often I have relied on my own strength and resources. I thank You that I am forgiven in Christ. I choose to believe the truth that You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). Therefore, I renounce any spirit of fear. I ask You to reveal to my mind all the fears that have been controlling me. Show me how I have become fearful and the lies I have believed. I desire to live a responsible life in the power of the Holy Spirit. Show me how these fears have kept me from living a responsible life. I ask this so that I can confess, renounce and overcome every fear by faith in You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
If you are struggling with panic attacks, determine when they first occurred. What experience preceded the first attack? People struggling with agoraphobia can usually identify one precipitating event. It is often associated with some tragedy or failure in their lives. Satan takes advantage of victimized people if they don’t seek a scriptural solution to their crisis. For example, affairs and abortions often precede anxiety attacks. When I establish the connection, I discover that the person has not sought a biblical solution for their problem of sin. They often rationalize their behavior instead of repenting. The psalmist says, “For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin” (Psalm 38:18).
Dr. Neil
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