Psalm 27:1-3

    1      The LORD is my light and my salvation;
    Whom shall I fear?
    The LORD is the strength of my life;
    Of whom shall I be afraid?
    2      When the wicked came against me
    To eat up my flesh,
    My enemies and foes,
    They stumbled and fell.
    3      Though an army may encamp against me,
    My heart shall not fear;
    Though war may rise against me,
    In this I will be confident.
-Psalm 27:1-3

It has come to my attention in recent years that our society is plagued with living in fear. It has also come to my attention that this mentality has also invaded the church aggressively. In listening to Christian radio I have been shocked at how many songs were sung about fear. Truth be told, I didn't get it. I could not comprehend what believers were so afraid of. Was it trials? Temptations? Pain or suffering? When I approached other believers about it, many had expressed some degree of worry or concern in their lives. Their fears mostly surrounded their comforts or health issues.

I do not deny that many of the concerns were in fact concerning, yet all the same I still do not understand the constant lens of fear many modern Christian songs would have us believing there is today. The problem I have with fear is that it far exalts itself above the Lord in our minds if we allow it to. With the threat of our health being damaged, our comforts removed, provision lacking, or whatever else it may be, fear replaces the place of faith we are to have with the Lord.

David presents a clear understanding that the Lord is his light and salvation. As a result of that, he proposes a question that puts fear in its place. If I am standing firm in the Lord then who or what shall I fear? Is my body failing? Well aside from the mountain of examples of the Lord bringing healing, we also understand that we are living in tents. These bodies are temporary. Are our comforts being taken away? Scripture tells us to be content with food and clothing. Be wary if your comforts have you. The enemy will gladly use that to his advantage. Low on provisions? Never once have I seen the righteous forsaken. Handle your finances with wisdom and understand clearly that the Lord is our provider.

With anything that we may fear, the Lord is already above it. It was once told to me that any time you are fearing something of this world it means you are not fearing the Lord. Walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Fear should not dominate the life of the believer. Faith and trust in the strength of the Lord should be our focus.