As part of our human nature, we have all experienced fear—both good and bad. I have experienced little fears and devastatingly overwhelming fear. In fact, recently I have been given several opportunities to be in fear. Some people are afraid of things such as spiders or sharks, and others have fear about abandonment or not being enough. No matter what it is you may find yourself afraid of, you don't have to live that way!
The first mention of fear that we see in the Bible is in Genesis 3:10: "He said, 'I heard Your voice in the garden and was afraid because I was naked, so I hid myself.'"
As soon as Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they opened the door to sin in the world. For the first time, they stepped away from God-consciousness and developed sin-consciousness, allowing them to experience fear.
God's original intention for mankind is His ultimate intention for mankind. He doesn't want us living in fear; He desires for us to fellowship in love with Him. As soon as mankind set itself onto the path of fear and death, God had a plan to save us, which He revealed first in Genesis 3:15 as a prophesy for coming of Christ.
The remedy of fear is knowledge—knowledge of who God is, His love and who we are in Him. During Christ's ministry on earth, we see Him first as a teacher. He teaches about perfect love and how to live in it. 1 John 4:18 tells us, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. Whoever fears is not perfect in love."
You can't live in fear while living in perfect love. The more you learn about love and how to live in it, the less fear will have a presence in your life. Fear is the internal conclusion in our minds that there is something to be afraid of, that there is something to worry about and that we don't have what it takes for the situation. When we learn and experience God's love, we know that there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of or worry about. We know that God supplies our every need, and we only have to believe to receive.
I encourage you to take control of your thought life and renew your mind in the knowledge of God's love, casting out any thought that goes against it. God has provided you with everything you need to live out your life's calling in His perfect love, peace, protection and everything that comes with it. Fill your heart with His truth. God has not given you the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. 
Mikel French has challenged "Spiritual Awakening" all across America, where many celebrations extended into multiple weeks, and has conducted celebrations in France, Sweden, Russia, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia, Germany, South Africa, Malawi, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Haiti, Japan, Singapore, India and Thailand. He conducted an outreach celebration in Manila, Philippines, reaching 200,000 teenagers with The Book of Hope. Through the generous support of partners, he has presented the message of Jesus Christ to millions of people in the nation of Russia through televised citywide Soul-Winning Celebrations. Mikel considers it an honor to assist in conducting the annual pastor's conference, where thousands of pastors from Russia's 11 time zones come for training, teaching and equipping. Mikel and his wife, Marsha, reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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