#FEARLESS365 is a yearlong study of God’s commandment to us to live without fear. For 365 days, we will focus on one scripture and volunteers from all over the world will share their personal thoughts and what God has shared with them on the specific verse. For more info… go here.

Enjoy! ~Nichole

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 1:20

Heart racing, immobilized by my own fear I lay in bed waiting to hear if there was another sound.   I’d woken up from a dead sleep in an instate state of panic. I had a choice to make. I could pull the covers up over my head, try to calm and hope for the best.  Or, being the mother that I am, could say I prayer, recite a verse and get up to check on the house.  Thankfully I checked the house and the children and everything was fine.  Isn’t that crazy!!?!?  It could have just been a dream, or a noise outside and I was in such a state of fear it physically woke me up and affected my physical body!!

Now, I’m a verse by verse girl, myself, when it comes to studying the Bible for  the sake of this series and the verse I was given I’m going to talk about some ways I think you could apply this specific verse to your everyday  life!!

Let’s chat about fear, shall we.   Fear rears its ugly head in lives in far less dramatic circumstances than where our dear Joseph found himself.  Fear is so powerful; it can often bring on physical reactions from the emotional response.  You can be genuinely paralyzed by fear, unable to move. Fear can bring a steady heartbeat to raging pounding in your chest.

The Lord has much to say about fear though, regardless of your circumstance.  Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but the wrong kind of fear is a trap leading to worry, anxiety, discontentment, cowardice, weakness and even betrayal.

Joseph must have been terrified!! As if a pregnant finance who people would, literally kill, if he’d allowed it wasn’t enough to make him fearful he also had a ton to think about it regards to his choice and future family. He had SO much to fear by the worlds standards, but thankfully an angel came to alleviate his worries.

Though we don’t have angles talking us down every time fear overtakes us, we do have God’s Word and He gives us other choices to make besides being fearful.

10 Choices you can make instead of fear

Peace: Take a deep breath and remember all the Lord has done for you.

Trust: He knows the plans He has for you and He will work all things for good for those called according to His purpose.

Faithfulness: God has NEVER failed you. Even those parts of your life He allowed He will use if you let Him.

Thankfulness: Go through in your mind (and on paper if need be) all the goodness God has blessed you with. There are so many reasons to be thankful and focus on gratitude alleviates fear.

Sound Mind: Take captive your thoughts and don’t run with the bad ones.  Think on things that are right, pure and lovely.

Power and Strength: The power of the One who created the universe dwells in you (if you have accepted Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior of your life) and you do NOT HAVE TO BE AFRAID.  Choose power and strength.

Courage: Be brave. All of heaven is on your side.

Contentment:  Worrying is just a nice word for fear.  When you can be happy with what you have contentment reigns and worry subsides.

Redemption: You prize is in eternity.  No one can take your salvation from you!! Hold on tight to that because it’s important to remember.

Comfort:  God’s Word is truth. Find comfort in reading through His scriptures. Let Him comfort you as He so longs to do.

Here are a few truths from God’s word to hang on to!!!

^“ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,  make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

“…casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:5-6

 Nickole Perry is a self-proclaimed, domestically challenged wife of 10 years and mother to 7 littles.  She homeschools, blogs and dreams of starting a nonprofit to help women become closer each day to the women God created them to be. You can find her blogging at themomIwanttobe.com.  Once a week she’s LIVE on her FB Page and her mediocre photography can be found on Instagram @themomiwanttobe.