During this season of COVID-19, fear has become rampant throughout the earth. People are isolated and scared, and Satan is feasting, creating havoc in hearts, minds, homes, families, and nations worldwide. As Christians, we must take back our rightful authority that Jesus died to give us.
We trample snakes by rebuking fear and standing firm on faith. When the temptation to fear is all around us, we must remember that fear literally gives the Serpent authority in our lives. The Bible says that the way to “stand firm against him” is to “be strong in your faith”1 Peter 5:9
Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters* all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
(NLT). Faith gives us back the keys of authority when the world around us is festering with fear.
Standing strong in faith during these scary times can be difficult, but there are 10 ways we can safeguard our choice of faith. We become motivated to claim faith rather than fear because it is our faith that pleases God: “And without faith, it is impossible to please God…”Hebrews 11:6
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
(NIV)
Guard your heart. (Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
) Your heart is the tender soil for thoughts of good or evil to grow. When the enemy tries to plant seeds of fear, worry, anxiety, etc., we rebuke them instantly. Only allow God’s seeds of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control to take root. (Galatians 5:22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
)
Stand firm in faith. (1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous.* Be strong.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
) Faith protects us from the enemy’s schemes and places us in the center of God’s perfect peace. Our faith demonstrates to God and the world that we trust His provision, plan and power. When the circumstances around us swirl with disorder and animosity, we have every right to claim God’s peace. (1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God's holy people.*
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
)
Listen to the prophets. (2 Chronicles 20:20
Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, "Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed."
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
) God does nothing without revealing His plan to the prophets first. No prophet knows everything, but God gives them each a partial view of His Kingdom Plan. We seek prophets who have an excellent track record of speaking God’s heart in order to calm our fears.
Capture your thoughts. (2 Corinthians 10:5
We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
) We must play an active role in standing firm in faith by capturing thoughts of fear that are not of God. This habit may take a few weeks or even months to form, but the complete peace we gain is worth the effort.
Rejoice, pray, and give thanks. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
) We can move from fear to faith simply by praising and thanking God through prayer. The enemy can’t attack worship, so our thanksgiving is the key to rising above the negative waves in life.
Read your Bible. (Joshua 1:8
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
) The Bible is a living source of God’s encouragement and strength. (Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
) During times of stress, reading verses from the Book of Psalms can be particularly reassuring.
Stay in community. (Hebrews 10:25
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
) When we are bombarded by fear, we need to purposely surround ourselves with faith-filled Believers. Just knowing we aren’t alone is enough to fill us with a peaceful confidence that will sustain our faith.
Pray in tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:2
For if you have the ability to speak in tongues,* you will be talking only to God, since people won't be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit,* but it will all be mysterious.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
) Many times we don’t know what to pray, but the Holy Spirit does. Speaking in tongues may feel strange at first, but it can be done in secret, allowing the powerful presence of God to disperses all fears.
Speak the name of Jesus. (Philippians 2:10-11
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
) The name of Jesus spoken in complete faith of its authority will rebuke ugly thoughts of fear. Remembering that Jesus overcame death on the Cross gives us a hope and confidence that we are on the winning side. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57
O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?*" For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
)
Remain in God’s love. (Jude 1:21
and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
) Love disperses all fear. (1 John 4:18
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
) God loves us so much that He gave His Son as a sacrifice for our sins, so He can have a relationship with us. (John 3:16
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
) When we immerse ourselves in His love, our worries, anxieties, and fears have no chance to survive.
Award-winning writer, Alisa Hope Wagner, is aggressive about leading a simple life. She enjoys working out, reading and communicating God’s love and truth through Jesus. She married her high school sweetheart, and together they are raising their three children in a Christ-centered home. Though an introvert by nature, Alisa easily expresses herself through social media, especially on her blog, alisahopewagner.com. Alisa has earned her B.A. Degree in English and her M.S. Degree in Applied English Linguistics. She writes across genres, including fiction and nonfiction books. She is Personal
