A Prayer to Let Go of Your Fear of Death
By Victoria Riollano
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. - Psalm 34:4
I hate fear.
I literally hate fear. From the age of six to twenty-six, fear encompassed my life. Fear of dogs, cats, riding in cars, speaking in front of people crossing the street, clowns, and being robbed, paralyzed me. So much to the point, that there were times I wouldn’t leave my home or would find ways to get out of planned family trips. Before long, fear had almost ruined my marriage and my life. After years of prayer for the Lord to remove this thorn in my flesh, the Lord spoke,
“You have to be willing to let it go.”
When I originally heard these gentle words from the Lord, I was convinced that maybe I misheard. After all, I had been praying for years to be free from the crippling bondage of fear. Yet, the Lord started to reveal that fear had become the foundation of my life. In my own way, fear was my way of remaining in control and not trusting Him.
In my mind, if I did everything I could to remain safe I would preserve my life for longer. If it meant not getting in the car, avoiding people, or not crossing the street, I was willing to do it. Before long, the fear of death and the unknown were a part of every decision that I made. I had become a self-proclaimed “fear-aholic” and my choice to cling to fear was infiltrating every aspect of my life. I had to make a choice to let it go once and for all.
Over the years, the Lord began to point me to His Word about fear. Over and over, we see God speak to His people and tell them not to fear.
In Joshua 1:9, He says it like this: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
In the New Testament, Jesus speaks a similar sentiment as He says,
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
As you read the Bible, you will not find an instance when the Lord calls His children to live in terror. Instead, He encourages us that He is present amid trouble and reminds us that He gives us peace. God goes further in 1 John 4:18 to say that His perfect love drives out all fear. I believe that this verse is a reminder that when we accept His love for us it would be impossible to live a life of fear.
Those who have accepted Him know that when their life ends, it is just beginning with God in eternity. This is why the Bible says O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:55)
Yes, we can live a life in complete peace knowing that God is with us from life to death and beyond! Fear has to go when we are in right alignment with Jesus and He is our safe place. My prayer for you today is that if you’ve been plagued with fear that God can bring you peace and that you would be willing to completely surrender those fears over to Him.
Lord, I thank you for your love. Help me to receive that love and maintain an awareness that you are with me. I pray against fear and every attack of the enemy against my life. Teach me to run to you when fear overtakes me.
Lord, I recognize fear as a tool of the enemy to rob me of the life you have ordained for me. Teach me to be wise and no longer allow fear to be my resting place. I thank you that you are with me at all times and I cannot outrun your love or your protection. Help my mind to rely on you above all. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Victoria Riollano is an author, blogger, and speaker. As a mother of six, military spouse, Psychology professor and minister’s wife, Victoria has learned the art of balancing family and accomplishing God’s ultimate purpose for her life. Recently, Victoria released her book, The Victory Walk: A 21 Day Devotional on Living A Victorious Life. Her ultimate desire is to empower women to live a life of victory, hope, and love. She believes that with Christ we can live a life that is ALWAYS winning. You can learn more about her ministry at victoryspeaks.org.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
Kerry Washington. Andrea Bocelli. Reba McEntire. Mark Wahlberg. Tony Dungy. Matthew McConaughey, What do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their story of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.
Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
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Originally published Wednesday, 16 February 2022.
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