Refuse to Live in Fear

by Joyce Meyer

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. —2 Timothy 1:7

Back when I married my husband, Dave, in 1967, I constantly deflected his love rather than receive it, because of the way I felt about myself down deep inside. Fear causes a person to run, retreat, or shrink back.

A confident woman refuses to live in fear. “I will not fear” is the only acceptable attitude we can have toward fear. That does not mean that we will never feel fear, but it does mean that we will not allow it to rule our decisions and actions. Fear is not from God; it is the devil’s tool to keep people from enjoying their lives and making progress. The Bible says in Hebrews 10:38 that we are to live by faith and not draw back in fear—and if we do draw back in fear, God’s soul has no delight in us. That does not mean that God does not love us; it means that He is disappointed because He wants us to experience all of the good things He has in His plan for us. We can receive from God only by faith.

Lord, I put my faith in You, and I refuse to live my life in fear. I will not run and hide when I feel afraid, but I will draw closer to You and triumph over it. Amen.

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