5 Easy Ways to 'Be Not Afraid'!

Be not afraid. According to the online Bible Gateway, a helpful Bible reference resource, this phrase is used 97 times in the Holy Bible, and for good reason.

LOS ANGELES, CA - Amongst Judeo-Christians, people of faith have been enduring great persecution for centuries. Today, in modern times things are no different. As striving Catholic Christians, we must keep our eyes squarely on Jesus and the cross or risk drowning in a sea of angst and fear. Similar to St. Peter's experience of walking on water under Jesus' tutelage, he took his eyes off of Jesus briefly, and began to sink into the water under the duress of his own fear.

If you have taken time out of your hectic schedule lately to read the newspaper, obtain news from the internet, or watch TV news, surely you have noticed that the World is changing swiftly. At once, it can be even a bit disconcerting as it seems that what's right is 'wrong' and what's wrong is 'right.' ISIS, Al Qaeda, Abortion, tens of thousands of abandoned children crossing our Mexican borders, The Ukraine incursion, Ebola and science gone awry.

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Some days, it is hard to even know fact from fiction as media outlets opt to spin statistics, post distressing images, and subvert important world events by covering some in-depth and while other important news is omitted In the process, avoiding certain political and timely stories about high-impact real life issues and events.

As with the case with the persecution in Syria and Iraq by ISIS, this all leaves news readers and media viewers feeling afraid, uncomfortable, unsettled, and weary, wondering if the world has gone mad, and if these may be biblical 'End Times.' One can even quickly get that sense from going on Social Media such as Twitter, Facebook, and by reading various blogs.

As Catholic Christians, among others, we must find a way to unplug a bit and regain our composure lest our blood pressure rise, our physical health fall, and mental health suffer, as well. For fear is an insidious, life-changing toxic enemy that can leave one feeling hopeless; and it is the precursor to depression. Fear often manifests as anxiety first and foremost, extinguishing hope, while building up obstacles and walls within oneself and eventually spills over into relationships leaving the fearful in a state of feeling utterly alone. Clearly, fear is a dead-end road that is to be avoided at all costs.

So what is the polar opposite of fear? It is faith in God. Here are some easy ways to quell fear and put it in its place:

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5 Easy Ways to 'Be Not Afraid!'

1) Important Bed Time Reading
Gone are the days of watching the news just before going to bed, for the ramped up intensity of the local and global events can easily thrust one into a protracted case of insomnia, preventing one from getting a good nights' sleep, and setting the stage for daytime anxiety. However, reading a daily devotional such as Our Daily Bread, or Bible passages at bedtime, such as the Psalms or Philippians are positive steps in fighting fear and faith building.  

 2) Limit your Exposure to Global News
Too much of anything can become a problem, and may even stoke the fires of fear, anxiety and depression. And watching news for more than 1 hour per day may be bad for your physical and mental health. Be sure and be aware of just what you are exposing yourself to on a daily basis. Also, when obtaining news, try to put aside your political affiliation, and look at things through the lens of biblical truth. It likely will decrease any ambivalence you may have about biblical truth and the World at-large.

 3) Join a Bible Study or faith-sharing small group
The Bible shows us again and again how important and helpful it can be to have regular contact with a striving faith community. If you attend church, great! If not, you may want to consider joining one to surround yourself with other believers.

 4) Pray in Gratitude to God
When praying, be sure and ask God for whatever you need, and be specific as possible. If you are specific with God, He will be specific in answering your prayers. Also, incorporate gratitude to God into your prayers. Gratitude and praise are the cornerstone to a grateful, fearless heart as you come to realize that God is in control!

 5) The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength / Nehemiah 8:10
Lastly, walk in the confidence that 'The joy of the Lord is your strength. On our own, we can do nothing, but "If God is for us, who can be against? "For God so loved the World that He gave His only Son.

Regardless of how the World appears, we must 'walk by faith, not by sight.' As Bible reading Catholic Christians, we know how the story ends; Satan and evil cannot dispel the fact that God is in charge of Heaven and earth. Period!

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