Christian Family Services Ministry

10-20-2018 – A Word to the Wise: However this is only one part of the equation. The second has to do with anxiety. I need to be more specific here. There are several types of anxiety. Some of which are not being addressed here.

We are not addressing anxiety brought on by certain drugs, or substances like coffee, drugs or alcohol. Nor are we addressing medical conditions which may result in anxiety. Specifically generalized anxiety is being targeted. This means excessive worry not confined to a specific situation or event present for a long period of time. It is the daily worrier fearful of what might happen.

This anxiety is rooted in what happens at 2 years of age when the Satan plants rebellion in the heart of the child. We have all seen the rebellion. The two or three year old looking you right in the face and saying NO! Now this may look cute, but it signifies that Satan’s seed is activated. With the presence of rebellion one always experiences anxiety. Thus the birth of fearfulness.

Now the common cure for anxiety is Xanax which is one of 40 similar drugs manufactured by man to relieve anxiety. The problem is all of these drugs are addictive, and lose effectiveness.

However, the Lord’s prescription is somewhat different. The book of Psalms the chief scriptures for dealing with emotions, stipulates some fifty times that fear of the Lord is escape from anxiety. The book of Proverbs which follows Psalms adds another 21 examples of what the fear of the Lord accomplishes.

Why acquision of the fear of the Lord is so important is because one is able to fear only one thing at a time. If that fear is rooted in the Lord there is no place for anxiety, nor rebellion.

So how does one acquire fear of the Lord? Fear of the Lord is the antithesis of Pride. Fear of the Lord is acquired by taking account of the mighty works of the Lord both in scripture and in one’s own daily life.

More specifically the following assignment targets anxiety.

Again this is a writing assignment. Begin with the book of Genesis. Look for anything and everything which indicates that the Lord did something. Intervenes in the affairs of man time and again. Proceed throughout the whole bible. I acknowledge it is going to be a long assignment. Proceed through the New Testament. The miracles, the book of Acts, Peter being rescued from prison.

The purpose is to convince self beyond any doubt of the power of the Almighty. The Lord acts in frightening ways to prove his great power.

After you have completed this first part of the task turn to your own life and begin listing all of the interventions the Lord has made for you. Events situations which seemed impossible to escape yet the impossible occurs.

The result of this task will be a fixed trust that the Lord is powerful and is able to care for you. Fear of the Lord is awareness of just how powerful the Lord is and results in the kind of awe found in Isaiah 6, where Isaiah finds himself before the throne of God. This experience overshadows any other fear and diminishes pride to the point of humility. Anxiety evaporates. It is just not possible to fear two things at once.

I have used following example previously from my own life, I repeat it now because the situation is burned so deeply in my being. The situation occurs in the midst of my study of the Fear of the Lord.

I worked the first fifteen years as a patrol officer in the area of South Dallas which is known for its exceedingly high crime. The following event occurred during the third year of service in the early 1980’s.

It was mid-July and very hot. My partner and I are preparing to leave the station at four in the afternoon. We had just let the dispatcher know we were available for a call. She responds, ” 341, you have a signal 6 at 1852 Valentine. (341 is our element number. Signal 6 is a disturbance call.) “Received, I said.” We start toward the location.

Again the dispatcher calls stating, “341, we are getting numerous calls from that location.” “Received dispatch we are en route.”

Silence fills the squad car as we both begin to feature in our minds the location.

Ten seconds later, the emergency signal was emitted, and the dispatcher said, “341 your call is now a shooting. You are authorized code three.” Tenseness in the dispatcher’s voice reflected our own feelings of the moment as red lights and siren pierced the hot afternoon.

A few moments later, again the emergency signal was emitted and again a very tense dispatcher speaks , “342, 345, 313, 311, cover 341 on a shooting at 1852 Valentine. Shots are being fired and the suspects are using automatic weapons. There are numerous victims approach the location with caution.”

In the distance we could hear the gunfire even over our siren as we approached the location. “341 we are a block from the location. Inform the other elements shots are still being fired.”

Having been studying the fear of the Lord, I had memorized some passages to repeat to myself in times of stress. Passages like; “The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,” You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and shield.” “The fear of man lays a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord is safe.”

Even in the midst of the chaos, a sense of calmness overwhelms me as I review these passages. It is amazing how a physical sense of peace and well-being flows and calms the agitation and terror of the moment. As we were pulling up the suspect is fleeing the scene unknown to us. We get out, weapons drawn. There are bodies everywhere.

But that deep sense of peace in the midst of chaos. That is what Scripture promises. If you want it this is where you begin.