By Reverend J. Loren Russell
Zephaniah 3:16-17 NLT
“16 On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid! 17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior.He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
The only healthy fear is the fear of the Lord. It is a fear coupled with love and hope. It is not an incapacitating dread, but a reverential respect for an omnipotent God. bound by love and hope. All other fear are sensations that can paralyze, immobilize, or incapacitate. Those fears trigger the “fight or flight” syndrome which can cause physical damage, weaken our immune system, make us susceptible to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and even fertility issues. Fear can even accelerate the aging process causing premature death.
Scotland National Health did a study that identified ways to combat fear. The study’s authors listed ten fear-coping methods that we should become familiar with. The list includes breathing slowly and deeply; imagining the worst thing that could happen, then recognizing that it won’t; realistically looking at the evidence; avoid perfectionism; recall a time in your life that you overcame a fear; talk about the fear, eat a good meal, take a walk, then get a good night sleep; then give yourself a reward.
However, the best defense against our fears is to confront them. Fears begins to diminish the moment you decide to confront them. Many times, the confrontation never takes place because the fear is gone.
The prophet Zephaniah did not create a list of things to do to alleviate fear, he simply reassures the kingdom of Judah that the Lord is with them as their mighty savior. He will give them the confidence to confront their fears. He is so confident in their victory over fear that the Lord Himself will rejoice over them with singing.
This was not only good advice for Judah but is good advice for us today. It is more effective than a ten-step method of any health organization. Face your fears with the Lord as your guide and rest assured, He will rejoice with singing over you also.
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial Strategy & Consulting; an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx; creator & host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook LIVE and author of Matters of Faith: The Book (eBook available at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177)
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