CWW Week 10 - Day 2 - Fear

Fear

Scripture.

Psalm 23:4

”Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

Devotional

The years since the pandemic have taught me a great deal about human nature. We have all seen how fear has driven the narratives of control. It has been that way right through history from Eden.

Governments have become controlling in the same way a narcissist  manages his or her family by threatening to withdraw love and support from vulnerable members. As the fear ramped up more and more people became compliant and the cultural norm has become the acceptance of the unacceptable.

I have seen the fear narrative play out on both sides of the information divide. I watched a video the other day that was sent to me to reshare. I agreed with the context of the message but refused to share it because it used horrific graphics that only served to tighten the fear from the other perspective.

I have coined the phrase ‘mining for darkness.’ So many of those who claim to be awake are spending their entire lives digging deep into darkness to find even more fear generating material to support their opinions.’This nation Australia is more divided than ever before in it’s history. Fear of one narrative against the other driven by corruption at every level including the corruption of thought by the media on both sides. Depression, anxiety and even suicides have never been more visible as everyday people struggle under the weight of information that is mostly of no real use to them.

Do you remember the phrase often heard that, “if I had a dollar for everything I worried about that never happened I would be a wealthy man?”

We are fed on a diet of fear with headlines like….BE AFRAID…BE VERY AFRAID.

We have seen political leaders thriving at morning news conferences as they feed more and more fear to the populous culminating in the promise that they will do everything to “keep us safe.”

We have now become totally averse to risk of any kind and pathologically addicted to safety in ways that compromise our freedom and accept rules and constrictions that fly in the face of democracy.

God is being withdrawn from every institution and the growing man made exclusion of God is reflected in the horror and degradation we as a once God fearing people would never have tolerated.

The above scripture for today is best reflected in a situation that I was involved in when at a rally in the Australian Capital Canberra. Just two days before I was to speak at the largest protest in Australia’s history, a credible death threat was received by people in my circle of friends. Someone had reported that a contract had been put on me. My safety was jeopardised by a large sum of money being offered to someone to ‘deal with me.’

It was investigated and after much deliberation I was warned by police and my closest friends at the protest to go home. Police said that they could not guarantee my safety as the crowd, in the hundreds of thousands, was too big.

I thought on the matter and refused to leave. I had a message of faith to deliver to the crowd and I told police that I didn’t need their protection. God would protect me. I sat on the sound stage with Michelle right through the protest as we prayed for calm and protection. I can’t believe that in this once free nation, that I expected to be assassinated that day for sharing God’s word!

As I was one of the last speakers I drew a breath and prayed again for reassurance. As I rose to the microphone a thought came to my head that I believe was from God. ‘If you see a gun aimed at you from the crowd. Stand tall, point to the shooter and dare him pull the trigger.’ This battle is mine says the Lord.

I never felt more unafraid and more empowered in my entire life and with Gods’ armour I delivered.

When we love God and fear His awesomeness, much of our cares and worries dissolve. When I see the fear porn that is pushed from both sides I turn it off. Paranoia is rife and the destruction of all common sense goes down the drain. That’s why last weeks dissection of the Serenity Prayer is such a vital component of maintaining our sanity in this crazy world.

Too much media=too much fear. Satan is revelling in it.

So we have some questions to ask ourselves.

Questions

1. In your daily mining for darkness and your search for even more controversy, who do you think you are ultimately serving; God or Satan?
2. What are you most afraid of and what are you prepared to let go and let God?
3. How much of your life is spent living in darkness and therefore risking becoming what you behold?

Prayer

Dear Lord, Papa God.

Thank you for your eternal promise of safety in your love, grace and mercy. As we navigate the perilous controversies of our lives may we be forever fixed on the Remedy, the lighthouse in the storm who is your Son Jesus. May we stand in your light of truth and may  we be wise in Your counsel. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who comforts us in our darkest nights and thank you for the never failing promises that carry us through the valley of the shadow of death. Thank you for making conquerers of those of us who love and trust you.

In Jesus mighty name we pray.

Amen.

Graham Hood