What is Fear?
Websters Dictionary defines fear as:
"A distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid."
The Bible says that fear has to do with torment.Torment is not a fun way to live. I lived in fear of everything for a number of years. I suffered from panick attacks, anxiety disorder and manic deppression. Everything I did was motivated by fear. Fear of not being accepted, fear of being rejected, fear of abandonment, fear of being decieved, fear of betrayal, fear of being fat, fear of loss, fear of sickness, the list could go on and on.
I did not know, or understand at the time, that when you grow up in a home without love, without security, without positive affirmation, attention, stability, eddification and encouragement, that this instills in a child a feeling of fear and lack of safety and security.
In a perfect world our parents and menat to be an Earthly representation of a Godly family. Our Fathers are meant to represent to us as children, the embodyment of protection, provision, discipline, strength, integrity, honesty, humility, grace, and learning. Fathers are meant to be an example of the male characteristics of God. Our Mothers are meant to typify the female characteristics of God, some of which are; kindness, nuturing, gentleness, meakness,service etc.
In this enviroment a child feels safe, secure, loved, balanced and healthy. They grow up experiencing wholeness, balanced chracter, healthy emotions and a good solid understanding of who they are and who God is. They have a good idea of their gifitngs, their identity and usually have good and healthy realtionships as a result.
NOW....how many of us grew up with that kind of family? Yeah right, probably not many of us, myself included. As a result, I grew up lost, confused, angery, rebellious, frustrated, insecure, having no identity, unhealthy emotionsand unhealthy relationships. I had no idea who I was, what I was here for, or that I was loved and cared about. I was NAKED, without cover, without protection, without safety, without security, without love, without direction, without identity, without purpose, without meaning, lost, ALONE and very afraid! Lack of love results in lack of security, thus breeding insecurity and FEAR!! The deeper the lack of love, the deeper the fear.
OK, so how does one go from these toxic feelings of fear etc to ones of feeling loved and secure? Good questions! First we need to acknowledge just where we are at and how we truly feel, this is the beginning of all roads to recovery. We cannot live in dennial of our feelings, or our needs. Then we need to understand how we got to where we are currently at, this is different for everyone to some degree but alot of times stems from childhood trauma, abuse, negelect, absenti-ism of a parent, the list goes on. Thirdly we need to forgive those responsible for these hurts, regardless of if they were wrong, or not. We need to rid ourselves of bitterness that these hurts have caused too. Fourth, we need to forgive ourselves. Fifth, if neccessary we need to cleanse ourselves of any generational curses in our families (I will disccuss this later, or read books by Derel Prince, Bob Larson, Jack Frost). Sixth, ask God to heal us of our hurts, this can take time. Ask him to show us his love for us in ways we can understand. Read his Word. Read every Strongs Concordance verse on Love. Read Godly books on love. Start acting in love towards others. Allow God to work on you from the inside out, invite on a daily basis to show you his love for you, give him room & time to talk to you by his spirit and through his Word.
As time goes by, day by day we begin to walk out of negativity, deppression, fear, hatered etc.It is a dying to the flesh, it takes hard work, commitment, a change in our thinking. It takes prayer, it takes discipline, it takes honesty and humility. God is faithful. I know. I am a living testimony of his goodness in showing me his love, in the midst of my complete brokeness. He has given me a life I could never have imagined. I have gone from a life of hopelessness, despair, anger, defilement, shame, hatered, fear, brokeness, loneliness, sadness, addition and the likes, to a life of love, joy, peace, patience, happiness, quietness, fullfilment, security, purpose, hope and destiny!
This is a free gift for all, including you! God Bless you.
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