Yesterday we looked at some of the root causes of fear and explored some of the things that many people are afraid of. Today we will continue to explore some of the additional sources of fear and how they manifest in people’s lives. We know that fear is a spirit which does not come from God. If fear does not come from God, then we can agree that it comes from the Devil. The enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy and uses fear as a weapon against the believer.
There is a concept known as self-fulfilling prophecy, which relates to a person having a false expectation,which becomes a reality. The concept is that someone speaks or prophecies something false about themselves and it then comes to pass. The spiritual law of confession dictates that what we speak will manifest. An example of how this works, is when the enemy plants seeds of fear and doubt in the minds of someone. That person then speaks what they feel out of fear. Although the statement may be untrue at the time, if the person continues to speak the ideas over themselves, their words will manifest.
Often the very thing that someone fears can become true, because if they say it long enough, they will begin to believe and act on it. For example, a mother may fear her teenaged daughter becoming pregnant because she was a teen mother herself. The mother can become extremely controlling and overprotective of her daughter and project her fears unto her. This can cause her daughter to listen to what her mother says repeatedly and rebel against her mother’s rules. This can drive her into the wrong friendships and lead to the very thing that her mother feared.
“For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me” (Job 3:25). Some Theologians believe that this statement suggests, that Job had a fear which opened a door for the devil to operate in his life. We may not know the answer to this question, but it is worthwhile examining where we have fears and start praying for God to remove these from our lives. Let us pray that our actions and motives are not driven by fear and also pray that we do not speak the seeds of fear that the enemy tries to plant in our minds. “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control(2 Timothy 1:7).
A.P.-Y.
Devotional Inspirations 
“The spiritual law of confession dictates that what we speak will manifest”
Doesn’t this idea suggest that we have more power over our future than we really have? Conversely you could flip this statement to imply that if you say you should have a better car, then one will appear…because if it can create a negative outcome it also has too have the ability to create a positive outcome. And that certainly doesn’t fit well with what we read in scripture as I understand it.
I agree with the idea of a self fulfilling prophecy possibly steering what may happen, but I’m not totally sure what you mean by this quote I put above.
What we say can come to pass, but not necessarily…
Andy B
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Andy. “Life and death is in the power of the tongue,” “as a man thinks in his heart so is he,” “you shall also decree a thing and it shall be established.” All of those are quotes from scriptures in the bible. I believe that there are spiritual laws that governs the earth such as sowing and reaping. “Whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap,” etc. I believe that nothing is an absolute guarantee of cause and effect, but for the majority of the times, what we say has consequences. Jesus is the life giving word of God, who became flesh and dwelt among us, the word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any double edged sword. I don’t believe that our words are just whimsical utterances that we should be reckless about. My father constantly spoke over us as children and I am a living example of what he prophesied constantly. Stay blessed. 🙏🏾
LikeLiked by 1 person
the bible tells us not to be anxious, and then offers up the solution for when we are anxious. there’s always such a lovely balance when God tells us to do, or not do, something
the issue with a self fulfilling prophecy is that it is not a biblical term – it’s a modern psychological one. and that always requires more wisdom to be applied – in the same way the bible doesn’t say gambling is wrong, and yet it is very clear that gambling is wrong: the bible simply doesn’t use the word so we have to dig a little deeper to understand the principles which flow throughout it.
the thing is that we don’t control our destiny. sure, we can seek to walk a certain way, but other things always affect what happens which we have no control over in the physical. what we say can have an effect, like the tiny rudder on a ship. but tugs can push the ship too, no matter what that rudder is doing. it isn’t the only thing that affects where that ship will end up
i totally agree with the basic principle that we can end up behaving a certain way of the we think or speak about something – commonly referred to as self-talk. i definitely believe that if we teach our child to avoid cycling into a tree, and they focus on a tree too much while cycling, there’s a good chance they’ll cycle right into that tree!
what we focus on certainly influences our direction of travel. no doubt of that!
but we need to be careful not to deny God’s sovereignty in all this. we aren’t little gods, but His children. He is still the King; because the words we use really do matter.
and I’ve been in, and seen, enough situations where what should have definitely happened has not, despite my own best efforts or intentions to make it happen, good or bad
it seems we’re on a similar wavelength here, perhaps using different words/terms.
it’s good to talk these things through – otherwise how do we really learn and grow as Christians.
Andy B
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bless you. Always good to hear different thoughts and ideas as we explain scripture. I am a trained Social Worker so psychological principles are always a part of my background and understanding. What I love about working in the behavioural sciences is seeing when science backs up scripture. I think of Ezekiel prophesying to the dry bones and our ability to speak like into dead situations. “I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;” Psalm 82:6. We are not Gods but created in the image of God and he lives in us. Since we are his temple and he has taken up residence in us and the same spirit that rose Christ from the dead lives in us. We are his expressed image created in his image to do the works that Christ did and even greater works. ☺️🙏🏾
LikeLiked by 1 person
Powerful series , thank you so much.
Fear opens doors for the negative.
Some simplify it by saying fear is having faith in the negative and the laws of faith applies in fear though in manifestations of negative things like Job’s scenario
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never heard of that concept before about fear being faith in the negative. Can you explain a bit more. Thanks for stopping by as usual to drop off some ideas.
LikeLike
Just like the issue of Job that what he feared the most ended up happening.So is the concept of fear because the things we are afraid of are not from God but these are ideas from the enemy.
An idea is a seed and when a seed is planted if not destroyed or uprooted it grows and produce fruit of its own kind.
So it’s just what you shared.
They say about ideas from the devil …you cannot forbid a bird to fly over your head ,but to build a nest you can decline.
So when fear comes and you understand the concept that if it is not dealt with it will manifest
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen 🙏🏾. Thanks for explaining a bit more. We have to nip things in the bud in essence and ensure that we destroy those seeds before they become strong trees. We need the light of the word to detect as eliminate those small weeds before they become trees. Stay blessed. 🙏🏾
LikeLike
Walking in the fear of the Lord removes reason to fear anything of this world. But i have to admit I am still afraid of snakes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂snakes are creepy crawlers. Reminds us of the evil one. Bless you and thanks for the laugh.
LikeLiked by 1 person