The Bible tells us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love…So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’” (1 John 4:18 NKJV, Heb. 13:6 NLT)

Today, my friend Kelly Balarie is my guest and talks about fear. Her new book Fear Fighting, Awakening the Courage to Overcome Your Fears has debuted for the world to see.

Kelly is the Cheerleader of Faith extraordinaire. And a Fighter of Fear. She leans on the power of God, rests on the shoulder of Christ, and discovers how to glow in the dark places of life. And she shares how she did it with practical heart-calming prayers, anxiety-reducing tips, and courage-building decrees that will transform your day in Fear Fighting: Awakening Courage to Overcome Your Fears.

Here’s Kelly…

Fear Fighting: Do you Live by Fear or Faith?

Just yesterday, my friend told me her daughter has lice.

I hugged that girl yesterday!

Would lice go from her hair to mine? Would I be cleaning the entire house, washing every sheet and stuffed animal, and pulling a thin comb through every inch of hair on my family’s heads from now until eternity? I can’t handle this thought. Next time, fist bumps will trump hugs.

Fear is the plumbing of discontentment.
It is the spillage of hesitation and loneliness.
It is the brakes to love.
It is the bulldozer to close relationships.
It is the boundary holding you back from God’s unlimited plan for you.

Fear is the rain cloud that always follows, the homicide to all God has, the breeding ground to insecurities, the shortness of breath that wakes you up at night, the cemetery of faith, and the artery blockage to the Spirit’s leading.

Fear is wildfire that makes you run so far that you find galaxies of space between you and your great Maker. It is the blocked artery to faith. It is the burden that keeps persisting. It is the laryngitis to the voice proclaiming God.

I hate fear. I’ve written all about it in my new book, Fear Fighting: Awakening the Courage to Overcome Your Fears.

It makes my eyes pulsate. I get angry at it.

But, here’s the thing about getting angry – the second I do is the second I have a deep gnawing feeling God wants to say something. Somehow, I know, if I don’t listen to it, I’ll miss out on – amazing.

So, I search and uncover God’s heart. What I come to is: “Faith, dear child, faith.”

Faith says, you can. Fear says, you won’t.
Faith ignites passion. Fear depletes it.
Faith brings hope. Fear fire hoses it.

Faith changes lives. Fear wrecks them.
Faith makes Jesus shine. Fear desecrates his name.
Faith charges lives. Fear zaps them.

Faith walks in hope of eternity. Fear cowers down to death.
Faith doesn’t have to be huge. Fears always are.
Faith exalts Jesus. Fear bows down to the devil.

Faith speaks humility. Fear listens to pride.
Faith accepts grace. Fear hugs shame.
Faith knows it’s not perfect. Fear thinks God leaves the imperfect.

Faith wins every time.
Faith takes I-am-going-over-the-cliff moments and turns them around. Suddenly, you realize you aren’t going over the cliff to die but to fly.

Where do you need faith? How can you create a second of space, before rapidly responding in fear?

I’ve found if I can just halt my response for a second, I have a second to choose God. And, when push comes to shove, even if we make the wrong choice, God knows we always have next time. He is full of grace. He is rooting for us. There is freedom for those in Christ Jesus.

Interested in fighting fear? You can join the 4 Days to Fearless Challenge!

Get all Kelly’s blog posts by email or visit her on her blog, Purposeful Faith.