Are You on Lockdown?

Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in. (Joshua 6:1 NLT)

The website phobialist.com keeps a list of phobia extracted from multiple reference books and medical journals. As at the last count, there were at least 500 phobias on the list. While some of these phobias like the fear of fire, heights, enclosed spaces, crowds etc may be common knowledge, some interesting ones on the list include the fear of:

Anything new- Neophobia.
Air swallowing- Aerophobia.
The number 8 - Octophobia.
Beards- Pogonophobia
Bald people- Peladophobia.
Books- Bibliophobia
Church- Ecclesiophobia
Eating or food- Sitophobia or Sitiophobia.
Freedom- Eleutherophobia
Good news, hearing good news- Euphobia.

The effects of these 500 plus phobias vary. Some people throw up when faced with a phobia. Others faint or go bananas because of these fears. There are people who have lost opportunities for advancement in their careers because of phobias. There is the story of an individual who had a fear of public restrooms who gave up a promising career because his office transferred to a new building and he was afraid of the layout of the restroom. Some who are afraid of flying or speaking publicly have turned down important opportunities.
There is even a phobia called agoraphobia where the sufferers are trapped in their homes because they see other environments as unsafe.

Our text is not about phobias, but the word picture of Jericho's gates being "tightly shut because the people were afraid" so that "No one was allowed to go out or in" is very analogous to what fear or a phobia can do in the life of a person. It can create a self-imposed lockdown, literally paralyzing or trapping the individual. It is obvious that you cannot live the abundant life Christ brought when you are trapped in fear. When you are afraid of failure, you never act so you cut of your chance of success. When you are afraid of being hurt, you avoid relationships that could be God-ordained. Fear limits you.

While no one is immune from fear, being paralyzed by fear is certainly not God's will for you. Paul told Timothy, For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)

John adds, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18 NIV)

How do you deal with these immobilizing fears? John offered us a clue. Perfect Love, which is God's love revealed in his word casts out fear. God's word builds faith ( Rom 10:17) which the reciprocal of fear. Phobias can fall off your life as you start meditating on Love's presence, care and provisions in His Word. Remember that we were created to have dominion over everything including the creeps and not the other way round. If you have been put under lockdown by fear in any area of your life, today is the day to begin filling yourself with the statements of faith from the Word of love, thus freeing yourself gradually from fear's grip . It may take a while, but if you persist, God's word will break the shackles of fear holding you down.

Decision of the Day

Christ has set me free. I will not be bound by fear. I will open my gates, face my fears and conquer them through his love.


Image courtesy http://590kid.com