Letting Go and Letting God
Letting Go and Letting God
I’ll admit it. It really bothers me. I can’t understand why bad things happen to good people. And, just as confusing, how good things happen to bad people. It just irks me. It doesn’t make sense to my logical mind.
Scanning through a magazine one day, I read story after story of starving children, natural disasters, diseases and plagues, and it really hit me hard. “Why, Lord? I just want to know why!” I would read these articles in tears, weeping for what seemed to be the unjustness of it all. “Why Lord?” I continued to question.
I began to look back at a time when the children of Israel had just left Egypt. God’s miraculous hand had delivered them from Pharaoh’s grip. Their prayers were answered. They were free people–free from the bondage of slavery.
And now, God established new rules and regulations–a new way of living. The boundaries were clear. The system of justice was straightforward and fair. You didn’t break the law. Period. If you did, you were punished. And, to further my acceptance of this system, the punishment was based on severity of the offense.
A minor trespass–a fine.
A major trespass–death.
It was fair.
It was just.
It made sense.
Not to mention, God was there in their camp with his people. By day, he was a cloud that descended upon the Tabernacle. By night, a pillar of fire. You could see and hear God. If you had a question, you’d just ask Moses and he would inquire of God for you. “Should I start this job? Is this my spouse for life? Can I carry my Bible to school?” Questions were answered clearly. The objectiveness of it all made sense to my logical mind.
But to my amazement, these people still grumbled (Exodus 16:2). They complained (Numbers 11:1). They doubted (Numbers 14:3). And, even more shocking, they rebelled against God (Deut. 9:24). God was just. He was fair. He did not hide himself. He spoke to the people. But still, they turned from him.
I guess I liked this system of law, because it created a sense of control. You were the one in control of your destiny. If you messed up, you had to deal with the consequences. There was no need for an intimate relationship with God. In fact, the people told Moses, “You speak to God for us” (Exodus 20:19).
Being in control gives us this vain sense of peace. “If I can just maintain control, everything will be all right.” When things are beyond our control, anxiety and fear wells up within our heart. I believe that’s why the fear of death is so common with people with panic attacks. It is something beyond our control.
Looking back across the ages, through the Old and New Covenants, God declared that the age of Grace–the age of Jesus Christ–is a better covenant with better promises (Hebrews 8:6). Why is this a better time to live in? I believe it’s because we are called to have an intimate relationship with our Father, not a life full of rules and regulations. We are called a blessed people, because we live in an age where sin is forgiven through Jesus (Romans 4:8).
Today, I encourage you to surrender your control to God. Live your life in Christ, for a surrendered life is a life full of peace. When you relinquish your control to God, he will wrap his arms of love around you, and the fearful vulnerability will melt away.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Prayer: Lord, I have tried for so long to control everything in my life. You have not called us to be in control. You have called us to surrender our lives to you. Lord, I put my trust in you. I put my hope in you. Thank you for allowing me to let go of those I can’t control, and giving me the courage to let of the things I can control.
Faith versus Fear
Over the years, I’ve heard numerous people teach on faith versus fear? It goes something like this: “Faith and fear are opposites. When you have faith, there is no fear.”
I’ve heard these types of messages for years. But honestly, I don’t believe faith and fear are opposing forces that directly fight against one another. Rather, I believe that exist together. When fear strikes, what do you need most during that difficult time–faith!
When fear pounds your mind, you have to reach up to God and trust him. You have to believe that God is there for you. That’s faith. Fear will demand many things from you:
“What if something happens to you.”
“You’ve failed before.”
“Something is wrong.”
You respond to fear with faith. You see, faith and fear happen at the same time.
Looking through the Bible, I cannot find any direct references that faith and fear are opposites. Rather, this is what I found: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).
In this scripture, I do see two opposites: fear and love. The scripture does not say, “perfect faith casts out fear.” No. Perfect love casts out fear.
There is something about the love of God that breaks down the walls of fear. In my quest for peace, I’ve learned about my Father in heaven who loves me so much and cares for me in ways I could never comprehend. Truly, perfect love casts out fear.
The faith you need to fight fear is the faith that God really loves you, and that he cares for you. How much does he love you? Let the following scripture speak to your heart: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38).
There is nothing natural or supernatural than can separate you from the love of God in Christ. Nothing. But, you must receive it. If I give you a gift, it does you no good until you receive it. Today, receive the love of God in a new way–a way that you can be made perfect in his love.
Prayer: Lord, when the fear comes pounding on my mind, give me the strength I need to trust you. Your perfect love casts out all fear. Lord, I know you love me, and I trust in your love. Thank you for watching over me. My hope is in you.
Finding Purpose in a Cold, Dark World
There was a season when my wife enjoyed baking cakes. And, she was quite good at it. I would watch as she meticulously started the baking process–mixing ingredients, adjusting the taste, getting everything just right. Then, after it was cooked, she moved to the hard part–the decorating. This is where patience and a steady hand were essential. Hours later, a beautiful cake is born.
The task was complete. The job was done. There was nothing left except for us to enjoy the beautiful, flavorful creation. But, rarely did we eat the cake right after it was finished. The preparation process usually took place a day or so before it was needed. After it was baked and prepared, it was then placed into a hard plastic container and put in the refrigerator. There, the beautiful creation sat until the time was right for it to be revealed.
Now, if cakes could talk, you might here something like: “So, this must be my home. It’s kind of lonely, cold and dark, but it’s a nice home. I guess this is what I was prepared for. It seems like there’s more out there, but I’m just not sure. I guess I’ll make the best of it here.”
Like that cake, many of us are convinced that this world is our home. It’s dark, cold and very lonely. It seems like there’s more out there, but we’re just not sure. So, we strive to make the best of it here. We can’t see beyond the door, so we’re convinced that we were prepared for this world.
For most of my life, I lived for this world striving for purpose and meaning. I searched long and hard for something more than what this life has to offer. But, I’ve come to the conclusion that I was not created for this world, but for the world to come. As I strived in vain to find something in this world to hold on to, the fear of death would consume me, triggering waves of panic and fear. I wanted to stay in my cold, dark, hard container of life.
One morning, as I was journaling my thoughts and prayers, I felt like God was telling me, “Russell, I didn’t create you for that world–I created you for eternity.”
I was amazed. I knew at that moment God had created me for something bigger than this cold, dark refrigerator. My purpose was not for this world, but for the next. The fear of death started melting away. Months later, I was reading through the Bible and came across this confirming passage of scripture:
“We know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down–when we die and leave these bodies–we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit” (2 Corinthians 5:1, 5).
You were not created for this world. You were created to spend eternity with God. That’s your purpose. That’s why you were created. We can’t see all of this here in the dark, cold world we live in. It takes faith. “That is why we live by believing and not by seeing” (verse 7).
Prayer: “Father, help me know that I was created for your world, not this one. Release in my heart the ability to live by faith and not by sight. Let the warmth and light of your love wash away the cold, dark fear of death that is working in my life. Help me find my purpose in you. I receive all that Jesus did for me. I choose today to turn away from the wrong things I have done in my life. Cleanse and purify me for your work, Father. Open the eyes of my heart. I ask these things in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Your Refuge from Panic Attacks and Fear
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1).
What is a “refuge”? One dictionary defines it like this: “a place, or sometimes a person, offering protection or safe shelter from something.” A refuge is a place of safety, a place where you run to when you’re threatened or afraid.
When fear and panic strikes, where do you run? What is your refuge? Who is your refuge? I want you to be really honest with yourself. Is God truly your refuge? When things come crashing in, is he really the very first place you turn? Or, is he the last resort when nothing else seems to be working?
Is your spouse a refuge? Is beer a refuge? Is medication a refuge? Is food a refuge? Are Twinkies a very present help in times of trouble?
I’ll be the first to admit it. For most of my life, God was not my refuge and strength during the storms of fear. I turned to many other things when faced with crippling anxiety. I relied on people to help calm me down. I would typically call someone, because that would force me to “get things under control”. Or, I would turn to alcohol at night to numb the confusing thoughts. In fact, I had many refuges–medication, television, intellect, money–all have been refuges in times of trouble.
What is the very first thing you do when fear strikes? That is your refuge and strength. And, if it’s not God, then it will surely fail you. Yes, it may provide temporary peace, but it will not provide that deep, soul peace that we really need.
God, on the other hand, is a “very present help in times of trouble”. How close is God? He’s in you. He is closer to you than you are. He’s not just present–he is VERY present. When fear strikes, we don’t have to run to God, because he is already in you through Christ.
“Russell,” you may say, “I’ve tried that, and I don’t have any peace. I don’t know how to turn to God when the fear strikes.”
This battle of fear takes place internally, not externally. It’s a war of the mind. So, battling this internal war with external things will never be successful. Rather, we must fight internally, within our soul.
When fear comes crashing in, the first thing you must do is turn to God. Call out to him in prayer. Pray for strength, courage and wisdom in how you should respond. Let God be your refuge and strength, your very present help in times of trouble.
The next thing you should do is nothing. That’s sounds strange, but let me explain. Fear, at this point, is telling you to do something. It’s telling you to get off the road, get out of the store, call someone, get help, run for your life. This irrational fear is barking its commands at you, and your mind is being bombarded with this onslaught of demands. Terry Wardle, in his book “Whispers of Love in Seasons of Fear”, sums it up best when he says, “Resist the urge to manage your pain.”
Let God be your refuge and strength. Let him be your very present help in times of trouble. Let him be your first choice, not your last resort.
Prayer: “Father, I’ve relied on many other refuges in the past. I’ve trusted in the things of this world to bring me peace, but today, I choose you. Be my refuge and strength in times of trouble. Give me the strength to do nothing. Give me the strength to wage this war in my mind. Together, we shall be victorious. Apart from you, Lord, I can do nothing. I ask these things in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
How to choose between peace and panic
Last week, I shared a message entitled “Choosing who you will serve”, describing how you must choose which master you will serve. If you obey the commands of fear, then fear will be your master, but if you choose to obey God, then he will be your Master.
This week, I want to share how you can choose to obey God rather than fear.
Let me start with one of the Ten Commandments: “You must never worship or bow down to [other gods], for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god!” (Exodus 20:5).
For years, you may have bowed down the god of fear. Has irrational fear ever commanded you, “Don’t go there”, and you obey willingly? Has fear every whispered into your ear, This must be a very serious disease. Surely you will die from this. Or how about this one:You’ve done some really bad things. You can’t go to God now. He’s mad at you.
So, where do you start? You start with repentance. Repentance is confessing your obedience to fear as wrong and then choosing to do the right thing. Repentance is action. You must choose to do the right thing and then follow through with action.
“But, I don’t feel very strong,” you may say. “If God will just give me the strength and courage, then I can overcome this fear.” Here’s where the problem lies. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is how you respond while experiencing fear.
More than likely, you will never “feel” strong when it comes to fear. If you did feel strong, then there would be nothing to fear, and this wouldn’t be an issue.
Here’s the key: no matter how you feel, choose to follow God and not the fear. God promises you that if you will make the choice to follow him and trust him with all of your heart, even in the midst of fear, then he will strengthen you.
“The LORD who created you says: ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior’” (Isaiah 43:1b-3c).
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
If you would like to make this choice to follow God instead of fear, pray this prayer:“Father, I have obeyed the voice of fear and it has controlled my life for too long. I want to follow you. I want to obey your voice. Today, I repent for my idolatry–for bowing down to the god of fear. I confess it to you as wrong, and I ask you in Jesus’ name to forgive me for these wrong choices. Lord Jesus, come into my life and give me strength. Today, I choose to obey your voice. I won’t obey my feelings, if they are contrary to what you want. I will step forth in faith, trusting you to take care of me, trusting you to give me strength. No matter what happens, I will trust you, because I know you love me. Father, I ask these things in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Choosing Panic or Peace
It has been years since I’ve experienced a full-blown panic attack. Having lived most of my life in fear and panic, this new season in my life is wonderful and peaceful. What used to consume my thoughts minute-upon-minute now occasionally crosses my mind every once and awhile. I no longer live my life in the world of “what ifs”.
So, what did I do? How did I overcome a life-long battle of fear? What steps did I take?
All of my years of fear and panic came to pivotal point one night at 3 in the morning. I had drifted off to sleep like any other night, but I awoke with my heart racing and my mind spinning. These were the classical symptoms of a nighttime panic attack, or night terror. Typically, the medication I was taken would have kept my asleep, but I had tapered off all medication with the help of my doctor a couple of months earlier. I didn’t have anything to numb the pain.
As I lie there, bracing myself for the worst, a scripture came to mind: “For you are a slave to whatever controls you” (2 Peter 2:19b). In the past, as the panic would hit with all its force, I would jump out of bed and get out of the room as fast as I can. That was my typical response. But as the waves of panic began cresting in my mind that night, I made a choice–I will not obey the fear. I will not respond to the fearful thoughts consuming my mind.
Was it an easy choice? No. It was the hardest choice I’ve ever had to make. My body began quivering and shaking with fear. I wondered at one point if I would wake my wife with the terrible trembling I was experiencing. I lay there experiencing the full grunt of the fear. Everything in me wanted to run. Everything in me wanted to fight. But I chose that night not give in to the fear.
“Don’t you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval” (Romans 6:16).
Most attacks for me lasted less than a minute. The episode that night went on for an hour–my body trembling, my mind racing. It seemed like it was never going to end, but it did. I was able to go back to sleep and wake to a new morning filled with hope and courage.
That night, something happened in me. I came to the realization that I did not have to obey the fear, no matter how terrifying and scary it may seem. I was not going to be a slave to fear, for you are a slave to whatever controls you. Did the fear continue to plague my mind? Yes, occasionally. Did I give in to fear? No, I would not. I could not, because if I gave in to it, then it would become my master again, and I did not want fear to be my master.
Slowly over time, the attacks of fear have lessened. Occasionally, I experience “zaps of adrenaline”, as I call them, but I don’t respond to them. I don’t listen to the threats of fear anymore.
How can you do this? How can you choose not to obey fear? It starts by choosing something bigger than fear to obey. That night, as I lay there trembling and shaking with fear, I prayed, “Father, I choose tonight not to obey to the fear. Rather, I choose to obey you. Give me your strength. Fill me with your mercy and grace. It is only through your strength that I can overcome this fear. Apart from Jesus, I can do nothing.”
I really believe with all of my heart that many people reading this message can find freedom and peace from fear by choosing to obey God rather than fear. I don’t say this because I think it’s a good idea. I say this because I have experienced freedom firsthand. It works. It‚s real. With God, all things are possible.
“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15b).
Prayer: Father, today, I choose to obey you and not the fear. I will not obey the commands of fear anymore. I can do this in Christ, who gives me strength.
The Peace of God – Finding freedom from fear and panic
From reading the morning newspaper to watching the evening news, we are daily surrounded by fearful things. School shootings. Murder. Disease. Terrorism. How can anyone find peace in such a fearful world?
Let me share some verses from the Bible that have truly opened my eyes to the peace of God: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6).
What weighs you down? What thoughts consume your mind? How do you respond to them? The command is clear–don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need. Are you in need of something? Tell your Father. He cares for you and he desires to help you. Don’t tell him what you want. Tell him what you need.
And, to help you gain a perspective on what you need, take some time to thank him for all he has done. Surely God has done some good things in your life. A heart of thankfulness will open the door to prayer.
Now, if you do those things–don’t worry, pray, tell God what you need and thank him–then God promises you his peace. Read the very next verse: “If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (verse 7).
And, it’s not a peace that the world can offer you–it’s a peace that is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. It’s a peace that passes all understanding. There is no way to define or explain this kind of peace. It’s a divine peace, a supernatural peace, a heavenly peace.
And, here’s what makes God’s peace so special–it will guard your heart and mind as you live in Christ Jesus. Does your heart and mind need guarding? Live in Christ Jesus, and it will be guarded.
Prayer: Dear Father, I live in a fearful world. All around the storms of fear consume my thoughts and my mind. So many things weigh me down. Help me to give those burdens to you. Help me not be anxious about anything, but pray about everything. I will tell you what I need, and thank you for all you have done for me. Help me to live in Christ Jesus. I surrender my life to you, and to you alone. Let your heavenly peace cover me that I may rest in you. I ask these things in your Son’s precious name. Amen.
Who is your Master?
Over the years, fear has dominated much of life. My thoughts, my worries, my concerns, my anxieties were all dominated by the unseen world of “what if’s”. My decisions were founded in fear.
Paul wrote in Romans 6:16, “Don’t you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master?” Fear was my master.
- Fear told me not to drive. So, I obeyed.
- Fear told me not to fly. So, I obeyed.
- Fear told me what I could and could not do.
- Fear told me there is no hope. So, I believed.
- Fear told me I’ll never change. So, I believed.
- I had more faith in fear than I did in God.
Should we cast aside all fear? No. God created us with a fear response, what psychologist call the “fight or flight” mode. This is natural. But, there is a difference between rational fear and irrational fear.
- Rational fear says, “Don’t drive fast, because it’s dangerous.”
- Irrational fear says, “Don’t drive at all, because I might have an accident.”
- Rational fear says, “I wonder if I locked my front door.”
- Irrational fear says, “I’ve checked the front door three times now, but I should check it again to make sure it’s locked.”
Over the past few years, God has done an incredible work in my life regarding fear. I stopped praying for God to take away the fear and started praying for strength and courage to overcome the fear. I was tried of being a slave to fear.
Listen carefully to these instructions from God: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
God promises to strengthen you and help you. He promises to uphold you and carry you through the fear, if you’ll trust him. God doesn’t promise you freedom from the storm–he promises you protection through the storm.
I share this message from my heart, because it has worked in my life. So many people are desperately searching for something that works. This works. God can be trusted. He loves you more than you realize. Today, through Jesus Christ, turn from obeying fear, and turn to God. Let him carry you through the storms of fear.
Take that step, for God promises you this: “When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you” (Isaiah 43:2).
Prayer: Father, give me your strength, and give me the wisdom to know how to respond to fear. I choose today to rest in you and not fight this battle on my own.
Chasing your dreams
This week marks a very special week in my life, and it’s because of what God has done in my life in the area of panic and fear.
As most of you know, my early life was crippled by fear and panic. It often hindered my daily life, and crushed my hopes and dreams for the future. But almost 10 years ago, God did an amazing work in my life, and today I am free from panic attacks and crippling fear.
Being free from fear has opened up a world of possibilities for me. The biggest was my dream to make movies. In the late 90’s, I started dabbling in media, making home movies and learning how to edit and produce short films.
Over a period of 10 years, I learned more about the production industry while working full time in my cubicle job. My passion for media grew quickly and eventually led me to resign my corporate job in 2005 to pursue my dream of owning my own production company.
Even that experience of resigning a cushy, corporate job with its steady income and benefits to chase a dream of owning my own company was quite the fear hurdle to overcome, but with the encouragement and blessing from my wife, we did it.
In the summer of 2006, my passion for movies had reached an all-time high, and I was ready to chase that dream and make a movie. At first, I was going to try and write the script myself, but it’s hard to write well. So, for my first film, I decided to find a script and just get a movie made so I can learn from the experience.
Instead of producing a faith-based movie (as I did with my short films), I decided to go the commercial route and produce a mystery thriller, whodunit film, to see if I could generate a profit for an indie film–a rarity in today’s market.
Later in 2006, while developing this movie project, I was having coffee with a friend of mine who loved the passion in me and said, “Russ, I want to fund the whole movie.” It was obvious that God was helping me chase my dreams. Immediately, we were up and running with production scheduled a few months later.
In early 2007, we spent 18 busy days shooting my first feature film, Fissure. Then, I spent that summer editing the film. Later that year, we finished up the music, sound and special effects. And, in 2008, we had our world premiere at the AFI Dallas film festival. Shortly after that, we were picked up for distribution–again, another rarity for indie films.
This summer on August 11th, we will release our feature film, Fissure. And starting June 15th, we will start posting webisodes of the movie online at Fissure.TV. In the meantime, you can watch some behind-the-scenes clips from the movie at Fissure.TV, including an interview of myself talking about the experience.
I wanted to share this story to encourage you. How many of you have had your dreams crushed by the weight of fear and panic and doubt? How many times have you stepped out and been pushed back down by fear? You see, fear has a way of crippling our dreams. That’s the tactic of the enemy. Many of our dreams have been planted in our hearts by God. And the enemy knows that by keeping us from our dreams, he is keeping us from our destiny.
Today, be encouraged that you can overcome your fear, chase dreams and pursue what God is calling you to do.
Prayer: Father, for years, I have been defeated by fear. My dreams have been buried for so long. Today, I ask you to rekindle your dreams in me. Help me see them clearly that I may begin walking them out in the strength of Christ.
All Bark and No Bite – Spiritual Warfare
A few years ago, we got a new puppy–a golden retriever. Full grown, these dogs can be quite large, anywhere between 80 to 120 pounds. But at 6 weeks old, Ginger was pretty small when we picked her up.
Keesha–the much older and wiser dog of the home–wasn’t much larger than the new little pup. Ginger’s curiosity quickly began to threaten Keesha’s little world. As the adventurous, young pup ventured into unwelcome territory, Keesha would immediately reveal her teeth and start to growl. If she got too close, Keesha would bark and even snap at her, but never bite her.
Initially, Ginger was quite intimidated. At the hint of Keesha’s threatening growl, the little pup would submissively roll over onto her back showing Keesha that she didn’t want any trouble. Two months later, however, Keesha still shows her teeth, barks and even snaps, but Ginger now knows that Keesha is all bark and no bite.
I share this story for one reason–fear is the same way. Fear, like Keesha, can show its fierce teeth, bark viciously and sometimes even snap at you. But, fear is all bark and no bite.
For the longest time, I would immediately rollover and cower at the first growl of fear. I would avoid a particular situation or skirt around an area that I knew was a threat. Soon, my world became smaller and smaller.
Unlike Ginger, who quickly recognized that her fear was baseless, I continued giving way to consuming fear. The growl, too loud. The threat, too real. But in answer to prayer, God started to show me just how unfounded my fear was, and how much I could trust him through those terrifying times.
Today, fear stills growls, roars and shows its ugly teeth attempting to scare me, but like Ginger, I now know that it’s all bark and no bite. By the grace and strength of God, I no longer give way to that fear.
erbium doped fiber amplifier“Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are” (1 Peter 5:8-9).
Prayer: Father, for too long, I’ve listened to the bark of fear. I’ve cowered, rolled over onto my back and gave in to roaring of the enemy. Father, I’m so tired of giving into this fear. Give me your strength to rise above the fear. Give me courage to press through. Help me to know that fear is all bark and no bite, and that I can trust you with all of my heart. With your strength, I choose today to no longer give in to fear. No matter how strong the growl sounds or how fierce the teeth look, I will not cower. In your strength, we will overcome. Lord, I ask all of these things in the name of Jesus. Amen!