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Becoming obsessed with fear - 7/24/2008 9:41:10 AM
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txheart
Posts: 53
Joined: 11/24/2006
From: Sherri
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I have had a problem for many years now, but it's getting worse and I just don't know what to do! I gave my life to Christ when I was just a child. I think I have been saved for most of my life, with a teenage foray into sin.
I am terrified of death. I can feel every beat of my heart in my chest, and when I lay down at night it starts pounding, which puts me in panic mode, which speeds up my heart more, which makes me more scared, etc. You get the picture?
The reason I'm so scared is because I'm not certain I've been born again. I've done everything that's required to become a child of the living God, I feel like the Holy Ghost is continuously prompting me one way or another. I've done what you are supposed to do, but I'm still scared. What if I'm fooling myself? What if I'm not really saved and I die??
Help! I'm driving myself crazy...
_____________________________
Rom 7:24
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Thank God for Jesus! The Way, The Truth and The Life
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 7/24/2008 7:46:29 PM
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DougHorton
Posts: 914
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: Georgia
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My first response if that if you are even asking the question, you are born again. That is the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. If you were not born again, dead in sin, an enemy of God, you would not even ask the question. So of course you are saved.
My second response is... How dare you call God a liar!!! How can you read the promises He made, claim those promises and then not trust Him?
For example, Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
John 10:28,29 … and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
Romans 8:28-30 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
God's word never put a condition on whether he would hold onto you. You can try to let go. You can try to walk away. But it is God holding onto you that counts, not whether you are holding onto Him.
Cheer up! I am sure of your salvation.
_____________________________
Doug
You may think it strange, but he never likes any assistance. When he made the world, he did not ask the angel Gabriel so much as to cool the molten matter with his wing, but he did it entirely himself. -- Spurgeon
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 7/24/2008 8:23:52 PM
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mvic
Posts: 1349
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Good response from DougHorton. Nothing to add.
May I also suggest you check with a doctor about your heart pounding ...
_____________________________
Christian words of comfort at http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
Welcome to my Blog
MEI VITA INDICO CHRISTUS
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 7/30/2008 11:39:54 AM
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loveineffable
Posts: 90
Joined: 5/23/2008
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TX Heart, GOD just Loves you period. Search off of this premise, and the truth will set you free, thus seeing his perfect love that casts out all fear.
Remember God the creator, just loves you! be a responder to this rather than an initiater.
God is the initiater and we are the responders. Responding to his ineffable love.
ineffable love
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 7/30/2008 1:47:35 PM
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rileykins
Posts: 174
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: txheart
I have had a problem for many years now, but it's getting worse and I just don't know what to do! I gave my life to Christ when I was just a child. I think I have been saved for most of my life, with a teenage foray into sin.
I am terrified of death. I can feel every beat of my heart in my chest, and when I lay down at night it starts pounding, which puts me in panic mode, which speeds up my heart more, which makes me more scared, etc. You get the picture?
The reason I'm so scared is because I'm not certain I've been born again. I've done everything that's required to become a child of the living God, I feel like the Holy Ghost is continuously prompting me one way or another. I've done what you are supposed to do, but I'm still scared. What if I'm fooling myself? What if I'm not really saved and I die??
Help! I'm driving myself crazy...
Hi txheart
I'm curious to know what it is you mean when you say that you've done everything that's required to become a child of God. What are these requirements that you speak of if you don't mind my asking.
Your giving anything to God, your life, your heart, your commitment to do or not do this or that, is not what saves you. Is salvation obtained by giving something to God, or by receiving something from God?
rileykins
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 8/2/2008 2:30:58 PM
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cognitivemagic
Posts: 208
Joined: 1/14/2008
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One of the problems facing Protestants is the inability to console people after their theology colors personal "sinful" choices in "legal" terms. In other words, the theological paradigm is legalistic; and the way it resolves the issue of "guilt" and "guilt feelings" is the presentation of a "defense" that will absolve someone from those uncomfortable realities.
On the other hand, what if God is more like a Doctor and you were more like a Patient. How would "sin" be viewed? Answer: simply as an illness.
What is God then "saving" us from? Answer: death...just death.
What is God's default attitude about us, from the most sinful to the least? Answer: loving (John 3:16)
What is hell? Answer: feeling alienated from the love of God
In this present age, who feels alienated from the love of God? Answer: believers...because non-believers don't care.
What is the "lake of fire"? Answer: the presence of the love of God
So both believer's and unbeliever's will be subjected to "fire"? Answer: yes....but only believer's allow themselves to be subjected to the "refining" fire of God in this life; hence preparing themselves now, in order to remain unconsumed in the life to come.
Is the "refining fire" painful? Answer: yes (Hebrews 12) Surgery is never pleasant.
Why them am I subjected to fear? Answer: so that you can learn to have "courage"....to be "patient" with yourself....to learn to have the "faith" to triumph over your bully adversary (i.e. the devil). And, above all, to learn to be patient, kind, not boasting or rude or envious....in other words, to "love" others (i.e. 1 Cor 13). And that is what being "Christlike" is all about. It's what God really desires.
"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
(Rev. 2:10)
The Apostle wrote to people who had "feared". So rest assured, you are not the only Christian who "fears". All Christians do.
Furthermore, is it not the case that your own life feels like a "prison" in which you undergo great "tribulation"? Of course!! John's message is for you too!!
Therefore, be patient and fight the good fight because, despite all appearances, a "crown" just might be waiting for you too.
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 8/3/2008 12:28:32 AM
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Ezra
Posts: 1784
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: txheart
I have had a problem for many years now, but it's getting worse and I just don't know what to do! I gave my life to Christ when I was just a child. I think I have been saved for most of my life, with a teenage foray into sin.
txheart:
Every person who has truly believed the Gospel, repented, and received Christ as Lord and Savior also has assurance of eternal life, and the witness of the Holy Spirit within. You sound uncertain, therefore you should go back to Scripture and see what it says about being born again. Those who have believed on Christ and received Him are children of God (Jn. 1:12,13).
You speak of your "teenahe foray" into sin. Did you truly repent, and did you grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ after that? It so, you should be at peace.
quote:
I am terrified of death. I can feel every beat of my heart in my chest, and when I lay down at night it starts pounding, which puts me in panic mode, which speeds up my heart more, which makes me more scared, etc. You get the picture?
No Christian should be terrified of death, since Christ lives within the believer, therefore you must examine your heart and search the Scriptures and determine if (1) you truly understand what Christ accomplished in His death, burial and resurrection and (2) you truly believed the Gospel, believed God, and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who truly believe have eternal life (Jn.3:36) therefore death holds no fear for them. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
quote:
The reason I'm so scared is because I'm not certain I've been born again.
Go back to Scripture and see that if you have genuinely repented and genuinely believed, then you have been born again. However, perhaps you omitted being baptized as a believer or entering into fellowship with other believers for doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers (study Acts chapter 2 very carefully to see the Scriptural pattern).
quote:
I've done everything that's required to become a child of the living God, I feel like the Holy Ghost is continuously prompting me one way or another.
Perhaps the Holy Spirit is prompting you to move forward according to Scripture. But the child of God should have the witness within himself.
quote:
I've done what you are supposed to do, but I'm still scared. What if I'm fooling myself? What if I'm not really saved and I die??
Help! I'm driving myself crazy...
You'd be fooling yourself if you have simply been pretending instead of being genuine. Only you and God know. But those who are truly saved have complete peace and joy, and can face death with equanimity. The early Christian and more recent martyrs faced death without flinching. Study Acts chapter 7.
_____________________________
And whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely. Revelation 22:17
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 8/3/2008 12:43:54 AM
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captainfraulein
Posts: 569
Joined: 5/2/2005
From: Planet Earth
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I have read strange things like the Amazon Indians seeing the spirit of the 5 men rise "silver" up above after they killed the 5 men - Operation Acua back in 1956. They speared the men and literally saw their spirits leave their bodies "cross the big boa". I also have met some friends who had near death experiences. This is heavily debated in the Xtian community as some see it as Satan being an angel of light masquerading...but it does help me battle my unbelief. The thing is, I battle my unbelief a lot and nothing can resolve it it appears but submitting it each and every day to God thru much prayer. Satan wants you to doubt God's beauty and grace...and the free gift of life Jesus gives.
Nothing you do can earn it. You just can not pay it back. It is like going into a store and taking all the wine and chocolates...putting 5 bucks on the counter and saying "keep the change". That is what our looks look like to God...pretty pathetic (outside of any grace we have in our hearts which is only a gift from HIM anyway and NOT of ourselves).
If you get that...that this priceless precious gift you hold in your hands...is God holding you in HIS hands. He is so wonderful and giving and there is NOTHING you can do about it. NOTHING.
I overate today. I was a big pig at my church bible group picnic. I just prayed to God for forgiveness (giving into the sin of gluttony) and then put it behind me. Sometimes I fall off the wagon. But God is always there for me. I do not lose my gift of salvation from God because I made a piglet of myself at a picnic.
You see walking this trail God has given you is something to rejoice in. There is much horrid sin in the world. I believe the demons stir things up and cause horrible things to happen sometimes (like that guy on the bus in Manitoba). God's grace is just unfathomable.
I was talking about that today with a sister in the LORD "why did God permit me to live when I was reckless so much of my life...like letting a boyfriend who was high at the time drive us off the hwy into a sign and the sign bent back all mysteriously (made of wood and metal)...? While others like this young carnival worker get gruesomely attack and murdered? it just does not make sense!"
Well, God let's things happen for HIS reasons, not ours. The 5 men who died in Operation Auca ... a whole village came to know Christ of violent people.
Don't focus on what can go wrong in this world...plenty can. Focus on what goes RIGHT..this is God's grace each and every single day. Every breath you take out of your lungs is a gift from God. Every heart beat also.
I am a worrywart...I speak from that and hope something I say helps you as I tend to ramble.
Also, be thankful you grew up knowing the LORD. I myself did not till adulthood. Walking with the LORD as a child...how wonderful that must have been!
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 8/3/2008 12:53:02 AM
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Ezra
Posts: 1784
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: cognitivemagic
One of the problems facing Protestants is the inability to console people after their theology colors personal "sinful" choices in "legal" terms. In other words, the theological paradigm is legalistic; and the way it resolves the issue of "guilt" and "guilt feelings" is the presentation of a "defense" that will absolve someone from those uncomfortable realities.
cognitive:
It seems that you are presenting the Orthodox persepective on sin and guilt. However Scripture is very clear. Sin is the transgression of God's laws, and every sinner is guilty before God. Therefore there is no escaping the legalistic or forensic aspect of sin and guilt. Christ bore the judgment for sin, and where there is judgment there is a Judge and a forensic issue.
quote:
On the other hand, what if God is more like a Doctor and you were more like a Patient. How would "sin" be viewed? Answer: simply as an illness.
While there is some truth to the fact that sin is also a sickness, it would be delusional to limit sin to simply a matter of illness. Illness does not bring God's wrath and judgment, but sin does. This is where Orthodox theology is false.
quote:
What is God then "saving" us from? Answer: death...just death.
Once again, this is not according to Scripture. God saves us from (1) the penalty, (2) the power and (3) the presence of sin. Death (physical and eternal) is a consequence of sin, and therfore God also saves us from death, but to omit sin and guilt from this is to deny what the Bible affirms.
quote:
What is God's default attitude about us, from the most sinful to the least? Answer: loving (John 3:16)
This is indisputable, but God cannot and will not ignore or condone our sinfulness. Therefore He has dealt with it through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
quote:
What is hell? Answer: feeling alienated from the love of God
Once again, you are misrepresenting something on which Scripture is quite clear. Hell is the Lake of Fire and a place of eternal torment for unredeemed sinners as well as unrepentant angels.
quote:
In this present age, who feels alienated from the love of God? Answer: believers...because non-believers don't care.
I don't know where you get this, but believers have the constant assurance of God's love regardless of their circumstances. Read and study Romans 8.
quote:
What is the "lake of fire"? Answer: the presence of the love of God
Did you mean "the absence" of the love of God? If so, it would be true, since God's wrath rests upon those in the Lake of Fire.
quote:
So both believer's and unbeliever's will be subjected to "fire"?
Once again, you are not presenting Bible truth but some other concept. Believer's have been saved from God's wrath, and Purgatory is a myth. Therefore believers will not be subjected to "fire". Their works will be judged as though by fire, but this a a metaphor.
quote:
Answer: yes....but only believer's allow themselves to be subjected to the "refining" fire of God in this life; hence preparing themselves now, in order to remain unconsumed in the life to come.
If by this you mean that the trials, tribulations, and afflictions of believers may be likened to refining fire, I can agree. But to go beyond that is unscriptural.
quote:
Is the "refining fire" painful? Answer: yes (Hebrews 12) Surgery is never pleasant.
What this has to do with a person's fear of death is uncertain, but it is true that believers will be subjected to refining in this life.
The fact of the matter is that since Christ is our life as well as our Eternal Life, no genuine Christian should be fearful of death. Death is simply a transition point from this earth to Heaven, to be eternally in the presence of Christ.
_____________________________
And whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely. Revelation 22:17
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 8/4/2008 10:44:22 AM
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DougHorton
Posts: 914
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: Georgia
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: cognitivemagic
On the other hand, what if God is more like a Doctor and you were more like a Patient. How would "sin" be viewed? Answer: simply as an illness.
We cannot deal with "what if". God is not a doctor dealing with a sick patient. Sin is not a sickness. We are DEAD in our sin and God must revive us from death before we can do anything.
_____________________________
Doug
You may think it strange, but he never likes any assistance. When he made the world, he did not ask the angel Gabriel so much as to cool the molten matter with his wing, but he did it entirely himself. -- Spurgeon
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 8/4/2008 6:31:11 PM
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cognitivemagic
Posts: 208
Joined: 1/14/2008
Status: offline
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quote:
It seems that you are presenting the Orthodox persepective on sin and guilt. However Scripture is very clear. Sin is the transgression of God's laws, and every sinner is guilty before God. Therefore there is no escaping the legalistic or forensic aspect of sin and guilt. Christ bore the judgment for sin, and where there is judgment there is a Judge and a forensic issue.
Once again, this is not according to Scripture. God saves us from (1) the penalty, (2) the power and (3) the presence of sin. Death (physical and eternal) is a consequence of sin, and therfore God also saves us from death, but to omit sin and guilt from this is to deny what the Bible affirms.
I did not deny that the "legal" metaphor is in scripture. What I do deny is that it is the dominant metaphor; as though an infinite God could be encapsulated under a single metaphor!! There are many other metaphors in the scripture (i.e. "bridegroom and bride", "landowner and tenants", "hen and chicks", "master and servant", "father and sons/daughters", "shepherd and sheep", "doctor and patient", etc.). I was suggesting, for the benefit of those who are fearful, to think about God in terms that suggest "healing"; a metaphor that helps a person draw nearer to God, rather than a metaphor that exacerbates anxiety. Therefore, you misrepresented and/or misunderstood my position.
But a second point about the "legal" metaphor is this: it offers no hope.
A judge acts solely in the interest of "justice". When it comes to an "offense", a judge must give sentence to the offender, based upon the nature of the crime and the culpability of the criminal. "Mercy" may be administered as to the leniency of punishment, as the judge will take into consideration those factors when reaching a verdict; but never is there a fiat acquittal in any case of "guilt".
But if we draw the parallel with Christianity, this is also true of the Divine Judge. God didn't just fiat "forgive" us, right? Well, why not?
Answer: because that would subvert Divine "justice".
So what did Jesus Christ accomplish?
Answer: He provided a way of escape for mankind. As it's been said: "hell used to hold only victims....now it only has volunteers".
But it's precisely this salvation, provided through Jesus Christ, that ends up collapsing the entire "legal" metaphor. And since scripture never places it's metaphorical eggs in one basket, then neither should we!!
quote:
This is indisputable, but God cannot and will not ignore or condone our sinfulness. Therefore He has dealt with it through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
In regards to Protestant theology, this is far from indisputable. The Reformed/Calvinist believes that God loves only the "elect". The Lutherans waffle on this issue. And the Weslyan tradition affirms this, but cannot break from the "legal" theology that they inherited from Roman Catholicism.
quote:
Once again, you are misrepresenting something on which Scripture is quite clear. Hell is the Lake of Fire and a place of eternal torment for unredeemed sinners as well as unrepentant angels.
Is it not a place of "outer darkness" as well? Do you really take the "lake of fire" idea literally? That may very well suit medieval scholasticism and Dante, but it's not scriptural; anymore than God is literally a "consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29; representing "light") or "thick darkness" (Exodus 20:21) or a "cloud" and "fire" (Ex. 40:34-38, representing both "light" and "darkness").
But the heart of the error in your theology is that it means that God is mutable. For instance, before the "fall", God was "happy" with man. But after the "fall", God becomes "wrathful".
So, based upon your statements and my readings of classic Protestant theology, something that mankind did by "sinning" has caused a change in God's attitude towards us. Is that your view?
Contrary to such notions, I affirm that God never has nor ever will change his attitude towards mankind. He is, from my perspective, truly immutable.
Therefore, the scriptural language of "wrath", "indignation", "anger", etc., which is attributed to God, is not literal; but rather anthropomorphic. God is love. But human experience of God, from the standpoint of man's inner subjectivity (or qualia) as "sinner", is wrath, anger, indignation, etc. But God's "love" and "goodwill" towards us is never flagging.
Which is also why the scripture calls God "faithful and true"; and even uses the contrasts of "sand" (man's character, which shifts all the time) to "rock" (God's character which, in contrast, is an anchor).
And also, why the scripture says: "God sends his rain on the just and the unjust" and "God is no respecter of persons".
Worse yet, is the greater heretical notion that arises from the idea that God's attitude changes: namely, that God is a lawless hypocrite.
How could God, speaking through the apostles, command us to "put away malice, anger and strife", yet He Himself not do the same? Or ask us to "love our enemies" and "bless those who persecute you", yet refuse to do so Himself? What kind of God is that?
It would mean that God puts burdens on mankind's shoulders that He Himself will not lift!!
The "medicinal/therapeutic" metaphor, as you said, has been favored by Eastern Orthodoxy. But here's the real rub: that metaphor was favored by those very "Greek Orthodox" believers that proceeded the Apostles, some of which were associates of the Apostles (and even spoke and read Greek as their "first" language, with a better understanding of idiomatic expressions that are not so clear to people who read the Greek 1900 years later); and of whom, preserved and transmitted the Gospels and Epistles. And finally, those Orthodox who weighed which texts were "authoritative", and ratified that decision by "canonizing" the selected texts.
But in the wake of Tertullian (a North African, Latin theologian, trained in law) and later St. Augustine (another North African, Latin theologian, with similar training), the dominance of the "legal" metaphor took root in the Western wing of the Empire; but not so in the Byzantine wing. "Original sin" was introduced, in rudimentary form, by Tertullian; but St. Augustine elucidated and defended it; along with a spurious understanding of "election" and "predestination". And since the theological heritage of all Western Theology is traceable to these two thinkers, it should not be surprising that Roman Catholicism and Protestantism are bedfellows (as strange as some might think it to be).
Which is why Philip Schaff, rightly, prefaces his Church Fathers volume containing the writings of Tertullian with this subtitle: Father of Latin Christendom.
Before St. Augustine, "original sin" was absent. And with the schism of 1054 A.D., the West adopted Augustinianism as it's default theology. The torch was taken up by Thomas Aquinas and passed down to Luther, Calvin, Knox and Zwingli. And, by proxy, to you.
So before you hastily accuse me of being "un-scriptural", perhaps you should evaluate the roots of the theological heritage and world-view that you're defending; and then ask yourself: Is this scriptural? Is this the consensus of the entire Church?
I think that history bears out the truthfulness of what I say. But what good are points about Church history if everyone is mostly ignorant of it?
< Message edited by cognitivemagic -- 8/4/2008 6:49:55 PM >
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 8/5/2008 10:31:08 AM
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DougHorton
Posts: 914
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: Georgia
Status: offline
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quote:
In regards to Protestant theology, this is far from indisputable. The Reformed/Calvinist believes that God loves only the "elect". The Lutherans waffle on this issue. And the Weslyan tradition affirms this, but cannot break from the "legal" theology that they inherited from Roman Catholicism.
Whoa! You are very far off base here on all points!
I think you'd better go back to the books and study up a little before you pretend to tell us what we believe.
Feel free to tell us what you believe, but steer clear of explaining other traditions until you have a modicum of understanding in those areas.
_____________________________
Doug
You may think it strange, but he never likes any assistance. When he made the world, he did not ask the angel Gabriel so much as to cool the molten matter with his wing, but he did it entirely himself. -- Spurgeon
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 8/9/2008 11:19:06 AM
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Ezra
Posts: 1784
Status: offline
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quote:
But a second point about the "legal" metaphor is this: it offers no hope.
First of all, we are not dealing in "legal metaphors" but in "legal realities". There is nothing metaphoric about God's laws and our trangressions. We are all guilty before God. There is none righteous, NO NOT ONE. The fact that our souls are "sick" -- infested with sin -- does not change the fact of our forensic guilt and it's legitimate penalty, eternal death or "the second death".
Secondly, the legal reality is meant to drive us to the conclusion that "I am a sinner, I am spiritually dead, I have no hope whatsoever outside of Christ. I can never meet God's demands or His standard of morality. Therefore I need the Savior".
The purpose of the Gospel however, is to drive home the fact that because we had no hope, Christ came to this earth, lived a sinless life, died the sinner's death for each one of us, and then was gloriously resurrected for our justification. If we believe on Him and repent, we not only have hope, but we receive the gift of eternal life.
The one who has eternal life -- Christ within -- cannot and must not fear death, since death places him or her directly in the presence of Christ in Heaven.
Death -- physical death -- is the separation of the body from the soul and spirit. The soul and spirit of the one who is in Christ go to be with Him, while his body remains in the earth awaiting the resurrection of the just. Eventually we will be in God's presence forever in a perfected state -- body, soul and spirit completely free from sin and it's consequences. Therefore, only the one who is outside of Christ should fear death and judgment thereafter.
_____________________________
And whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely. Revelation 22:17
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 8/10/2008 9:28:38 PM
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I-Luv-My-Flowers
Posts: 24
Joined: 5/5/2005
Status: offline
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I've been there, done that for several years.
I got saved when I was 7 but afterwards my family moved and we stopped going to church. My spiritual life hit the dust and Christianity wasn't something we discussed.
I would not just think about my death, but about horrible "what-if" situations in general. I didn't think I was saved and I was terrified of everything, including the dark.  Accept that some people have a hard time understanding that sometimes this is something you just don't "get-over." It took me years.
But I did it with the Lord's help and grace.
You've accepted the heart of you fear is doubts about your salvation. Do you go to church? Do you read your Bible every day? How often do you pray?
Christianity is not a solo activity. You need people to pray for you, draw you out, and hold you accountable. You need to pray and accept that G-d has made you whole through his son Jesus Christ. If you do these, you'll find out whether you're saved or not and the issue will be resolved.
During my years of fear Psalms became my favorite book.
Take for instance Psalm 22:14
quote:
14I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
Even David, a man after God's own heart, went through periods where he felt fearful and far from God. Yet look at what he continued to do:
quote:
22 I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,
and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24For he has not despised or abhorred
the affliction of the afflicted,
and he has not hidden his face from him,
but has heard, when he cried to him.
25From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will perform before those who fear him.
26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the LORD!
May your hearts live forever!
You need to be as David, that no matter what happens, you praise the Lord and celebrate his glory in your life, even when you feel doubtful.
When I prayed and offered my fears and sins up to him he gave me grace sufficient to be at peace. I wasn't cured overnight, but he gave me hope through belief and it has carried me to where I am now. Many of my problems still exist but I now know I can overcome them through Jesus Christ.
I know it's been a couple weeks since you posted, but I hope this helps.
_____________________________
 Charity
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. (Proverbs 31)
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RE: Becoming obsessed with fear - 8/23/2008 4:55:21 PM
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terryjohn
Posts: 450
Joined: 3/23/2007
Status: offline
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I too had once had a very real fear that if I trusted God He would bring me to shame and I would die in the wilderness lone and I would regret having done so. I got no peace until one day I heard God say, "I am not worried." In hindsight, I had nothing to worry about and if I could do it again, I would attempt even more for the love of Chirst.
Our peace comes from God. Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him and instead of answering, I think Peter would have been better off asking Christ, "Do I love you?" Now I may say that if you have done this or that you should be saved but the reality could be otherwise. The only answer you can trust is from God for men can always be mistaken.
I remember going before God in prayer as a young Christian and saying that I loved Him and wanted all that He wanted for me. I asked to know Him and for Him to change me by giving me His spirit so that I should know and love Him more and more. I also said that if He did not, then there was nothing I could do about it. I guess I handed over the responsibiltiy for my salvation to God and that brought peace. Nevertheless, I still fear not making the most of God given opportunites to be all I want to be in Christ. But I guess that is just the desire of the imperfect being impatient for that which is perfect and I can live with that, just.
Yes I fear death may come all too soon for too many of us but not soon enough for others.
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