Fear is a wretched, four-letter word. Fear attacks the heart of a believer in order to render him or her incapable of responding with power and with authority to the challenges in life.
Fear is a warped gift offered by the deceiver himself, and he will try to award it to you time after time. The question is, "Will you unwrap it?" Perhaps an even better question is this one: "Will you even acknowledge it or receive it?"
Although fear may be a natural reaction to foreboding circumstances, as believers in Jesus Christ we must not react naturally, but respond supernaturally. We choose to allow the Holy Spirit to give us the power we need to face uncertain times and difficult situations in life.
Hard times will come into the life of a believer; we all must deal with human pain, deep disappointments and unfair treatment. When affliction or even tragedy comes barging into your life, you decide whether you will receive the deceiver's gift of fear or the Holy Spirit's endowment of power. You decide which gift to receive and therefore unwrap.
"I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
As we confront the challenging times in which we are living, fear should never be an acceptable response to disease, unfair treatment or unstable economic times. I have found it both comforting and empowering to declare the Word of God when the boat of my life is being rocked by fierce circumstances. The unseen strength found in the Word is fortifying and revitalizing with every word, every thought and every verse. When a Christian declares a promise of God in the midst of suffering and adversity, power rushes in, and fear runs away.
"For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and self-control" (2 Tim. 1:7).
Timothy was a young man who was being tormented by the instability in the church and in his culture. The church was under persecution, and Timothy knew that as a pastor he might face persecution or even torture. The Holy Spirit, through the pen of the apostle Paul, offered to this petrified pastor Timothy rich wisdom that still holds truth for the church and for Christians in the 21st century.
If you are afraid today, be reminded that the Lord is not the author nor the giver of fear. If fear has taken up residence in your heart, it is because you have unwrapped the awful gift from the deceiver. The spirit the Father gives to His beloved children, especially during times of instability and uncertainty, is the gift of His very own power! Who wouldn't want that? 
Carol McLeod is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical, biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written 11 books, including Significant, StormProof and Guide Your Mind, Guard Your Heart, Grace Your Tongue. Her teaching DVD, The Rooms of a Woman's Heart won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award for excellence in religious programming.
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