F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real) is the devil’s favorite acronym. How much attention do you devote to turning mole hills into mountains or dreaming up problems that don’t exist? All because of false evidence you have turned into reality?
Let’s say you believe in God and you believe God is good, God is peace, and God is all about love and God means it when He says through Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Now let’s say you believe in God and you believe God is good and God is all about love and God is all about peace and you are certain he means what he says in Jeremiah 29:11, but no matter how you “appear” to be on the outside, you are often miserable on the inside, quarreling with yourself and others, defensive and easily offended, and often worrying about things that don’t exist; simply a disaster (see Jeremiah above) waiting to happen?
If you can relate you are most likely being driven by fear, or should I say being driven by False Evidence Appearing Real, or better yet, the devil. For years I have battled a “board of directors in my head.” And the devil is always trying to be the chairman of this board by making false evidence appearing real.
The fear I am talking about is what I refer to as the Devil’s playground. Fear that serves as a roadblock in our goal of achieving excellence with our lives. Fear that gets in the way of our relationship with God, and with others. Fear that prevents us from loving or being loved. Fear that prevents us from experiencing peace in our lives. Fear that makes us believe we have no “future and hope.”
A couple of keys to keeping the devil out of the chairman’s position on your mental board of directors is first to surround yourself with people, places and things that will generate good in your life. People, places and things that facilitate your efforts in having a great future and hope as God promises in Jeremiah. The devil works through other people to try to bring you down. The devil works through the news and other forms of media to take you off course. Try your best to nourish yourself with Godly people, places and things (e.g. church, the Bible etc…).
Secondly, too many people only read verse 11 from the 29th chapter of Jeremiah. It important to read and meditate upon verses 12, 13 and 14 also. “In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes.” Jeremiah 29:12-14 (NLT)Â
God trumps the devil every day of the week, if we ask him (i.e. prayer). People governed by fear which turns into anxiety, worry, sub-par performance, procrastination and unstable relationships are simply allowing the devil to serve as their chairman of the board of directors in their heads.
When you replace fear with prayer you begin experiencing peace no matter the person, place or thing you are struggling with or worrying about. Sometimes its an hourly or minute by minute process but if you begin praying (i.e. “by the blood of Jesus, devil be gone”) every time fear rears its ugly head you will slowly “fire” the devil as the chairman of your board and replace him with the chairman of mankind; your Father in heaven, who has good plans for you.
Once you begin surrounding yourself with Godly people, places and things and once God becomes your permanent chairman you will begin understanding more than you need to be understood, giving more than you need to receive, loving more than you need to be loved, anticipating great things more than you worry about little things, having peace no matter the circumstance. I write from experience.
Make a decision to name God as your chairman of your board today and you will be driven by a future and a hope instead of being paralyzed in today by fear, worry and anxiety.
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch
