We have all lived inside the enclosure created by fear. You may be caged right now.
Fear is one of the enemy’s most popular weapons that he uses against us. Fear can be packaged in worry, anxiety, or despair and can overwhelm us with a thick shadow of darkness, controlling our every move and decision.
Have you ever heard of the African impala? This majestic animal is like a tiger or bobcat, but the African impala can jump vertically to the height of over 10 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot-high wall. You see, this animal will not jump if it cannot see where its feet will fall. They are caged not by a wall but by the fear of the unknown.
The Psalmist writes in Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” So how do you trust God exactly? Are there concrete actions to trusting him? The answer is a resounding yes! Learning to distance yourself from fear involves the mind. The Bible tells us to put feet to our thinking when the Apostle writes in Philippians 4:8 to “think on these things.” Here are three concrete ways to help you put your trust in Him: control what you can, cast off what you can’t control, and concentrate on what counts.
First, you can only control your thoughts, words and deeds. What you say, how you think, and what you do can make a situation better or worse, so choose wisely. Second, you can’t control other people or their moods, or the weather, or traffic. That means we must be prepared to cast off the wild and wacky ups-and-downs of friends, family, and yes, even the weather. Finally, you must concentrate on what counts. Focus on what really matters in life, not the things that dissipate over the course of days, weeks and months. Get an eternal perspective. Take the battlefield of your mind and think on these things.
Trust the One that can see outside the enclosure.
The next move is yours.