Keys to the Storehouse – My Fears

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12, 13

God does not bid you fear that He will fail to fulfill His promises, that His patience will weary, or His compassion be found wanting. Fear lest your will shall not be held in subjection to Christ’s will, lest your hereditary and cultivated traits of character shall control your life. ‘It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure’ [Philippians 2:13]. Fear lest self shall interpose between your soul and the great Master Worker. Fear lest self-will shall mar the high purpose that through you God desires to accomplish. Fear to trust to your own strength, fear to withdraw your hand from the hand of Christ and attempt to walk life’s pathway without His abiding presence.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 161.

We are not to fear that God will fail to fulfill His promises or that His patience will run out. We are to fear the following and pray these fears to the God of heaven:

Heavenly Father,

  • I fear lest my will shall not be held in subjection to the will of Your beloved Son, Jesus.
  • I fear lest my hereditary and cultivated traits of character shall control my life and not the guidance of Your Holy Spirit.
  • I fear lest self shall interpose between my soul and Thee, the great Master Worker.
  • I fear lest my self-will shall mar that high purpose that You desire to accomplish through me and that others may be turned away from You because of self.
  • I fear to trust in my own strength but choose to trust in Your strength.
  • I fear to withdraw my hand from the hand of Christ and attempt to walk life’s pathway without His abiding presence.
  • I lift these fears to You this moment that I may be comforted and that my life will not be without Christ—a life of sadness and gloom, but of joy and peace, because Christ, while dwelling in me, will be a wellspring of joy. Amen.

“The life in which the fear of the Lord is cherished will not be a life of sadness and gloom. It is the absence of Christ that makes the countenance sad, and the life a pilgrimage of sighs. Those who are filled with self-esteem and self-love do not feel the need of a living, personal union with Christ. The heart that has not fallen on the Rock is proud of its wholeness. Men want a dignified religion. They desire to walk in a path wide enough to take in their own attributes. Their self-love, their love of popularity and love of praise, exclude the Saviour from their hearts, and without Him there is gloom and sadness. But Christ dwelling in the soul is a wellspring of joy. For all who receive Him, the very keynote of the word of God is rejoicing.” Ibid., 162.

Let us each go humbly to the Lord with our fears so that He may revive our hearts. (See Isaiah 57:15.) Let us strive to be one with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that we may receive that wellspring of joy into our hearts.

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10.

Cast your fears upon the Lord and wait on Him and He “shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31.