2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

A spirit of fear has taken over our world because of COVID-19.  I have watched from the sidelines as neighbors and friends have panicked and ran to the store to buy up every last roll of toilet paper, can of Lysol and bottle of hand sanitizer.  But the Bible says that fear is not from God.  So, if it is not from God, who is it from?  Fear is from the enemy. 

Fear often brings on sleepless nights, short tempers and bad decisions.  You end up feeling helpless, overwhelmed and completely alone.  Fear is one of the enemy’s most popular weapons that he uses against us. The most common lie that the enemy uses to instill fear into us is that God is far away or absent from our presence.  God has given us the power to break away from fear.  In Joshua 1:9 it says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discourage, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

God has proven time and time again, both in the Bible and in our lives, that He loves us and is always with us.  In Romans 8:38-39 it says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  In a time like this, God’s love should overflow from you to the people around you.  You can show love by helping your neighbors, family and friends.  Check on people that may be vulnerable to illness.  Offer to pick up something from the store if you are going anyway. 

Fear is not a physical enemy; it is a spiritual enemy and a spiritual battle requires spiritual weapons.  So, what weapons do you bring to a spiritual battle?  The most powerful weapons of all.  Prayer and worship!  It is easy to forget to pray and worship in a time like this. You find yourself glued to the media to hear the latest news.  Don’t get me wrong, it is good to be informed, but God has given you self-discipline too.  Self-discipline to stay in prayer.  Self-discipline to stay in worship.  Self-discipline to follow the guidelines given to us by the authorities.  A sound mind in a time like this is a gift from God.  Slow down, pray and worship. God will bring you comfort.

Dear God, thank you for the power you give us to defeat the enemy. Thank you for your never-ending love.  Help us to linger in prayer and worship so that fear is whipped out.  Amen