Danger is Very Real, but Fear is a Choice

What a great line!  It comes from a movie called After Earth.  A father and son (and an alien creature) are the only survivors of a space ship that crash lands on earth in the future.

The father is injured and cannot leave the wreckage, so the son has to travel across the terrain to retrieve the homing beacon so they can be rescued.  However, everything on the planet has evolved to kill humans, particularly the creature.  The good news is that the creature is naturally blind.  The bad news is that it can smell and sense fear.  The father’s best advice to his son is “Fear is not real; it is a product of the thoughts you create. Danger is very real, but fear is a choice.”

That’s awesome!  Can you imagine what your life would be like if you could really grasp that concept and live by it everyday?  It’s ok and even good to acknowledge that there is danger out there, but the key is to consciously choose not to live under the fear of it.  The Apostle Paul wrote “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 1st Timothy 1:7

What has you fearful?  Is it financial worries such as the fear of not being able to pay your bills?  Is your debt overwhelming you?  Maybe it is fear that the economy will collapse or our country will enter another war.  Maybe you have some health scares.  Whatever it is, there is a solution.

The first thing you need to do is make a decision.  Decide not to be fearful.  Fear paralyzes you.  Remember, the danger can be very real, but fear is our choice.  Take your thoughts captive.  Don’t let your mind wander into all kinds of scary scenarios.  The second thing is to take action.  Taking action helps to push back those fears.  Attack the thing that is attacking you.  For instance, are you afraid to call your debt collectors?  Crush those fears by picking up the phone, contacting them and make realistic payment arrangements towards your debt.  Also, get this program to help destroy your debt.

Something else to consider.  Are you hanging out with someone who is always fearful?  Do they feed your fears?  It might be time to make some new friends.  Spend time with those who will encourage and challenge you.

In The Return of the King, Aragorn made a speech to his army at the Black Gate.  They were ready to flee before the battle even started.  He said “Hold your ground, hold your ground! Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers!  I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me.  A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day.  An hour of wolves and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down!  But it is not this day!  This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!”

Fear is your choice.  How will you live today?  I bid you to stand and fight!