There was a season in my childhood when I was extremely afraid of my abuser. This person was unpredictable with the aggressive emotions and even broke my innocent spirit. The nightmares started to overpower me even way into my adulthood.  I knew that I had to overcome spirit of fear and intimidation and Psalm 56 was the beginning of my healing.

Often times, we give another fellow human being the power  to keep us locked in fear. Our lives are crippled by the thoughts of helplessness and we feel we cannot conquer the spirit of fear.  We want to keep everyone together lest a relationship breaks because of us. So instead we allow fear to creep in and nightmares to get power over us. The only way to overcome our fear is by declaring God’s Word  and promises in our lives.

Young David was a fearless boy as he tend his father’s sheep. He was able to face the lion and the bear that intimidated his sheep. Even while the grown men were afraid of Goliath’s roar , David picked up 5 stones holding on the name of God to face the giant.

1 Samuel 17:36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.

Psalm 56 is a prayer to overcome the spirit of fear and intimidation written by David.

We can read the main story in 1 Samuel 21:10-15. David now as an adult is afraid of the Philistine when they captured him in Gath. Gath is the same place where Goliath the giant grew up.

1 Samuel 21:10 David was afraid of Saul so he ran away and ended up going to Achish, King of Gath.

David had to run because of his fear of King Saul who was turning into a tyrant and seek refuge at Gath , the land of his enemy.

Thus is where David apparently wrote PSALM 56. This is called Michtam-a golden psalm. Titled –Jonath-elem-rechokim, which signifies the silent dove in a distant land.

David had cluelessly ran into the hands of the enemy and now he cries out for help by placing himself into the hands of His God.

Have you ever been stuck in the middle between fear and intimidation of your circumstances ,a group, or a person?

Here are the 3 important R’s to help you overcome spirit of fear and intimidation from Psalm 56.

1.Recognize your areas of fear

Young David had left his father’s house after he was anointed to be the next king. He was even able to kill a giant. But he realized that the king of Israel disliked him and wanted to kill him. So now he had to leave the camp and wander from one place to another seeking refuge. David went from being a brave once to being afraid of his tormentors.

Terrors and intimidation became his fellow mates and home now.

Psalm 56:2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.

5.Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

6.They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

Saul was the King of Israel. He has all the power in his hand to destroy a young man like David. Saul instead of being filled with the divine spirit had allowed the evil spirit to rule him.

Oh , how many times we have seen people who are called to lead their family, their church, their workplace transform into tormentors against those who are weak and vulnerable.

Predators and abusers know how to instill fear and suppress someone’s voice to call out for help.

Many homes have become a place of abuse by the very people who are supposed to protect and love.

David decided to overcome the spirit of fear and intimation by acknowledgement and recognizing the patterns by saying ” I am afraid”

2. Remember your Lord God is greater than your fear

Cancel fear by saying out loud , ” I TRUST IN YOU , O MOST HIGH ” This is a bold confession of faith that will help us overcome spirit of fear and intimidation.

Psalm 56:3 Whenever I am afraid, I WILL TRUST IN YOU.

Right after David recognized his presence of fear, He called upon the name of the Lord.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee is one of my favorite hymns to sing because it reminds us that Christ is the Solid Rock upon which we can hide away from our fears.

David knew that the power He received to tear apart the lion’s mouth and knock down Goliath with a mere rock was more than enough to place His trust upon God.

Remember how the Lord has protected and led you so far, my friend. The same God will carry you today and tomorrow in your valleys,

Greater is He that is in You than your spirit of fear

Jesus is greater than your tormentors!

Greater is the Lord of this Universe than the prince of this world.

God is the defender of the weak, the women , and the ones living in chains.

Psalm 56:11 In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

 

Peter was about to sink in the water, and he called out “Save me Lord” Right then , Jesus stretched out his arms and saved him.

Faith can dissolve even the tiniest fear and give you wings of freedom in Christ. No person has the power to tear down God’s protection over his children.

If God is for you, who can be against you? Romans 8:31

The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 118:6

3. Rejoice and restart your life with thanksgiving.

David overcomes the spirit of fear and intimidation with thanksgiving. He knew that God had collected all his tears and has not discarded any of them.

Psalm 56:13 For You have delivered my soul from death. Have you not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God in the light of the living?

verse 8 You number my wanderings; Put my tears into your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

Our tears do not go in vain for the Lord numbers each of them. God will vindicate us in His time and will take vengeance against those tormentors.

God watches over you and I with tender compassion and helps us to walk in the light of the living. Once we recognize that the enemy wants us to be stuck in the darkness, call out for help and step into the light of living in freedom.

May the Joy of the Lord become your strength to help you overcome any fear that you are facing today.

It is through triumphant trust in God that we can rejoice and see victory from all the battles we face every day.

1. Write out your fears in a journal
2. Speak words of faith and prayers over them. Remember God is greater than any man
3. Seek godly counsel from people you absolutely trust.
4. Get out from situations that put you in danger today.
5. Your life is very precious and you are worthy of every beautiful love in this world.

Reflection :

How did this post encourage you today?

If you know someone who will be comforted by this post, please do share.

Free in Christ

Diana