Jun 26, 20232 min read

Day 69 - The Price of Your Fear and Self-Neglect

Conquer your fear so you do not accept it within and spread it to others.

And let the overseers go on to say to the people, If there is any man whose heart is feeble with fear, let him go back to his house before he makes the hearts of his countrymen feeble. (Deuteronomy 20.8 Bible in Basic English (BBE))

Whether you accept it or not, you are affected by your surroundings, and then you affect those around you. It has always been that way and always will be. A great example is when Moses was on the mountain with God. The people were driven to madness by the fear of a few. They did unspeakable things because fear took over. They became people they would not have recognized. If you subject yourself to evil influences or you are a terrible influence, you will lose your best over time. And you can hurt others along the way.

Fear is similar to a disease that kills the body part it is attached to. In this case, the fear, the disease, attaches to your soul, your goodness. Sorrowfully you will become less the child of God and more the evil you are in contact with. It is gradual in many cases, insidious in its slow constant takeover of your thoughts and actions.

Is this happening in your life? Even a small amount can become overwhelming if given the opportunity. Consider your friends, family, television preferences, and internet searches. Look for sources of lousy influence that make you think something you wouldn't have thought of in the past. You can stop the growth. You can reverse your path. Start with removing yourself from the negative and others' fear. Take a pause daily and remember how loved you are, how God knows your possibility and is rooting for you every minute of the day. Bless God and yourself by consistently turning away from your fear and the negative. Find peace in God and Jesus and come home to the Lord. If you can, bring others with you.

Prayer:

Lord,

There are days when my fear is almost overwhelming, and I see how I act and speak negatively when I give in to it. It is something that fortunately doesn't last, but even in the moments, it feels awful, and it is disturbing to realize that I shared my thoughts at this time. I feel ashamed. I realize shame is also a tool of evil to remove me from you. I ask for your grace in these challenging moments to remember you and how loving and wonderful you are. I ask for wisdom to know this will pass if I live within my faith. You have my pledge to try harder. Amen.