(Psalm 34:4 KJV) I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Re-Energizing Your Prayer Life,” by continuing with our teaching on “The Fear Factor.” Today and tomorrow I will wrap up the teaching on fear and get back to teach on prayer in a more direct way. I trust that by exposing what the Bible has to say about fear you are able to identify it, resist it, dispel it, and remain in faith, so that your prayers can be effective. The Bible says “It is impossible to please God without faith” (Heb 11:6). We have already learned that when we are in fear we are not in faith and are therefore not pleasing to God. My prayer is that we all live lives free from the bondage of fear.
David is a fascinating character. I believe many of us can identify with because he dealt with real issues in real ways. David wrote the 34th Psalm. Let’s look at the first four verses:
(v.1) I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Notice that David said, “I will.” To bless or not to bless the Lord is an act of your will; meaning that it is a choice that you make. You can choose to bless the Lord, just as easily as you can choose not to. This is important, because it is also your choice whether or not you operate in faith or fear. And your prayers can either be helped or hurt by that decision.
(v.2) My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. Your soul is comprised of your mind (your thinker), emotions (your feeler), and will (your chooser). David determined that his soul would make her boast in the Lord; meaning that he would boast of the goodness of God in such a way that others would hear about it and it would make them glad as well. If I followed you around all day, would I hear things that would make me glad or sad? Would I hear things that would feed my faith or my fear? What is your soul saying about what is going on inside of you?
(v.3) O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. David had problems like everyone else, but David chose to magnify the Lord, not his problems. When you choose to magnify your God above your problems, your problems seem to dwindle in comparison and you are better equipped to face them. However, if you choose to magnify your problems above your God, then fear will grip your heart and your prayers will be ineffective.
(v.4) I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. David said that by seeking the Lord he was able to be delivered from “all” of his fears. If God delivered David from “all” of his fears, then how many fears does that leave? None! David said that His relationship with God was able to get him to a fear-free state. In other words, David was able to get to the point where fear had no power over him. Guess what? What God did for David He can do for you! You can get to that same stage, and if you do, your fearless prayers will be powerful!
So what does this mean to you today? It means that it is possible to live a life free from the power of fear. You just read it for yourself. It happened for David because he focused on magnifying His God more than his problems. David’s emphasis on God and His relationship with God as the “Lord” of his life resulted in his deliverance from “all” the power of fear. God does not play favorites. God is ready, willing, and able to do the same for you, but you must choose to focus on the right things. Your focus can either feed your faith and starve your fear, or it can do the opposite. The choice is yours!
Closing Confession: Father, I will my will to bless you at all times. I declare that Your praises shall continually be in my mouth. I force my soul to make her boast in You. My praise is contagious and others start to praise You because of the continual praise that comes from my lips. I will seek You daily with an attitude of praise I ask You to deliver me from all my fears. Fear has no power over me. My God is bigger than my problems and as I focus on Him I am able to pray fearless prayers that get results! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
