Surprised by Joy
April 18, 2024
Dominating Fear
May 01, 2018
Then David arose and fled that day from Saul, and went to Achish king of Gath. But the servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of this one as they danced, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands'?" David took these words to heart and greatly feared Achish king of Gath. -1 Samuel 21:10-12
Fear dominates when it builds a fortress in the heart.
Achish sends out troops of taunts, and David allows them to build their base in his heart. The result is that David has his knees knocking over—compared to Goliath—a runt of a king.
David’s housing of fear in his heart brings to mind three elderly ladies from South Carolina who braved up for a vacation in New York City. Their minds were full of nightmares of being assaulted by hulking, swarthy men. One dusky evening they hurried off the street before the muggers prowled, and into their hotel elevator. Just before the door closed, a large man slipped in, leading a huge Doberman dog. The big man fit all their racial profiles of fearsome people. “Sit!” said the big man. Slowly, the three women, backs to the elevator wall, slid to the floor. The man looked at them quizzically, then with a smile, and finally with a guffaw. “Ladies, not you!” he said. “I was talking to my dog!”
When we take fear into our hearts, and allow it to dominate, we will react to any perceived threat, and sometimes make idiots of ourselves.
TODAY’S HEART FOCUS
What are the fears encamped in your heart? Confess them to God and ask Him to uproot them and tear down fortresses of anxiety they have created in you.
Achish sends out troops of taunts, and David allows them to build their base in his heart. The result is that David has his knees knocking over—compared to Goliath—a runt of a king.
David’s housing of fear in his heart brings to mind three elderly ladies from South Carolina who braved up for a vacation in New York City. Their minds were full of nightmares of being assaulted by hulking, swarthy men. One dusky evening they hurried off the street before the muggers prowled, and into their hotel elevator. Just before the door closed, a large man slipped in, leading a huge Doberman dog. The big man fit all their racial profiles of fearsome people. “Sit!” said the big man. Slowly, the three women, backs to the elevator wall, slid to the floor. The man looked at them quizzically, then with a smile, and finally with a guffaw. “Ladies, not you!” he said. “I was talking to my dog!”
When we take fear into our hearts, and allow it to dominate, we will react to any perceived threat, and sometimes make idiots of ourselves.
TODAY’S HEART FOCUS
What are the fears encamped in your heart? Confess them to God and ask Him to uproot them and tear down fortresses of anxiety they have created in you.
