A few nights ago, I was listening to a sermon in which the speaker said that pressure is the main weapon of the enemy used against believers.
I wasn’t sure if I agreed with that, so I thought about it.
Others have said that lies or deception are his main strategy, so I considered those too.
I finally drew a conclusion: While I believe that pressure, lies, and deception are part of the enemy’s tactics, one strategy overrides them all.
It is the same strategy used to deceive Eve in the Garden of Eden. He has been using it on mankind ever since.
Many people are under the influence of this strategy. The enemy controls them like puppets on a string.
If you do not get wise to this strategy, you too will become a victim of it.
This is essential knowledge to have if you want everything the Lord has for you this year.
What is this weapon? The fear of loss.
If you are hesitant about doing what is good and what the Lord has told you to do, then check if the fear of loss is controlling your decision.
Fears of loss include:
- Fear of losing love
- Fear of losing a relationship
- Fear of losing respect
- Fear of losing control
- Fear of losing comfort
- Fear of losing health
- Fear of losing money
- Fear of losing our image before others
- Fear of losing people’s approval or affirmation
Fear of deprivation, worry, and anxiety are also forms of fear of loss.
The fear of loss even deceived the first woman, Eve. God had told her husband Adam not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, for if he did, he would surely die.
First, the enemy got her to question what God said. Then he lied about what God said (see Genesis 3:6-7).
The war was on. Eve started occupying her mind with what the enemy told her rather than remaining focused on what God said.
The first sin mankind committed was unbelief in God’s word. Eve believed that eating from the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” was something good that she was missing out on, which is fearing loss.
By playing upon your fear of loss, the enemy’s ultimate lie is that you will not be able to live without the thing you fear losing.
But you have to remember that the Lord is with you. His wisdom is available to you. He will comfort you, even in the midst of loss. He has already gone before you, so you do not need to fear:
“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed (Deuteronomy 31:8).”
Not only that, but He lives and works within you:
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).”
The ultimate fear of loss is fearing death. When I said that the enemy lies and makes you think you will not be able to live without the thing you fear losing, he is tapping into mankind’s fear of death.
But you do not have to fear even death if Jesus Christ is your personal Savior. You have eternal life in Him.
He came to set you free from all fears on this Earth, even death:
…that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (Hebrews 2:14-15).”
If fear of loss has you in bondage to any addiction or destructive habit, then ask yourself, “What am I afraid I will lose if I don’t do this?”
Ask the Lord for revelation in this. Find a word from the Lord to plant in your heart, believe it, and practice it daily.
His perfect love casts out all fears when you believe Him.
The enemy wants you to occupy your mind with fear, cares, and worries so that you lose focus on what the Lord has for you. Not only that, but these things choke God’s word within you so that it becomes unfruitful (see Matthew 13:22).
You must protect God’s word within you at all costs!
So put your mind to work reading, meditating upon, listening to, and practicing God’s word. When the cares and fears come knocking, don’t even go there. Send Jesus to answer the door.
Like a gardener, commit to protecting God’s word within you so that it bears Spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to glorify Him (Galatians 5:22-23 and John 15:8).
When you are occupied with God’s love and solidified in God’s word, then the fear of loss will no longer have a hold on you.
Be blessed with health, healing, and wholeness,
Kimberly Taylor
Author/Christian Life Coach of the Take Back Your Temple program
P.S. When it comes to weight loss, do you often know what you should do but have a hard time doing it?
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The value of the Take Back Your Temple program is that you will learn how to think differently through using Biblical keys to overcome obstacles. You’ll discover how to win the Spiritual and mental battle that often causes us to become inconsistent and get off-track on our weight loss journey.
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Hi Kim,
I’m currently struggling terribly with fear and worry, even to the point that I’ve been questioning my own salvation. Your posts and attention to different scripture opens my eyes but it’s like I’m afraid to make a move. Two years ago I lost 71lbs, gave God all the credit when telling others of the strength and change of heart that he gave me that allowed me to make such big changes, and was so sure that I would finally meet my weightloss goal this time (I still had about 30lbs to go). Well life changed as it always does and when I was distracted from my usual fitness routine I felt it slipping away and couldn’t find my footing to stop the back slide into old eating habits and weight gain. I’ve gained back almost 60lbs and have been struggling and struggling to find my way back. Fear is defintely at work here, fear of failing again for the 100th time, fear of craving and having to deny myself of not eating whatever I want again, fear of the hard work it takes to keep the momentum going. I find it odd though that I fear these things more than fearing the health issues, pain, discomfort, depression, that has come back from not taking care of myself. I’ve never felt more stuck, dismayed, and regretful over something such as this. It’s suffocating. I’ve cried, pleaded with God, prayed for another change of heart, posted scripture to help encourage me, but it’s like my heart isn’t in it and because of this I keep hoping God will change my heart for me. I don’t want him to turn me over to my cravings for good since I keep ignoring what I need to do. I know I have to do my part but I swear it feels like I just can’t seem to get any footing that’s lasting. Kim, do you see anything in this message that I’m not seeing?
I can relate to Karla. I have always felt that I don’t measure up, that I’m not good enough ( even as a child). I am one of six children and my older sister and I didn’t get along and she was much better at words than me and put me down all the time. My mom told me that the reason we didn’t get along was because we were alike ( which was not comforting at all).
When I was in high school I really wanted to be a math teacher but I didn’t apply myself to my studies so mom and dad told me I was better to find a different vocation and I went to BOCES for secretarial practice and got a job out of high school.
As far as my relationship with my husband I always feel inadequate and I don’t feel cherished. That could be because I don’t really like myself.
So I guess I have a lot of issues to work through with God’s help
Hi Sue and Karla – I understand that feeling! But things can change for you when you meditate upon what God says about you and believe that about what anyone else says! Here are some scriptures that can help: https://takebackyourtemple.com/who-i-am-in-christ/.
So true and thank you. Your post reminded me that my fear of loss of whatever is actually saying that my God isn’t enough.
That is a sobering thought, Wendy but it is true. We all need reminders of that, including me. I was feeling anxious the other day but I meditated on Psalm 73:26 to change my perspective: “My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” He is more than enough for us!
Thank you for the daily emails. I found the one today especially relevant to my life as I am letting go of the bingeing. God has given me so much. I am humbled daily by your choice to help all of us in our struggles.
Thanks so much! I am humbled that God chooses to use me in this way – all glory to Him!
I’m pretty sure that I have the fear of loss with love and comfort, and I can wrap my head around those pretty easily. Fear of deprivation is another. I “feel” like I have a fear of relationship, but it’s not loss as much as it would be attention paid TO me – what I mean is my underlying fear is that I STILL wouldn’t measure up. I have an ex-husband that wanted a blond, brown-eyed girl (I’m brunette, blue-eyed). I have parents that compared me to my sister…who was not me….so I have felt less than (false pride) at some point all my life. When my husband left me for another woman, it confirmed to me all that I learned throughout my life. I’ve been gaining weight ever since. Now…however, I realize my focus has been on people and their thoughts rather of God and His thoughts. I’m a work in progress.
Wow Kim, you hit the nail on the head! My husband has asked me the same thing over the years “what are you afraid of?” I have discovered a big fear in losing weight was the unwanted attention from men. I was sexually abused by a neighbor as a young child (age 5) that impacted my view of men and sex. I realize that I have carried these fears into my 50’s and am finally ready to release them and trust the Lord. I have began losing weight and see a difference in the way I relate to people. The Lord has given me a wonderful loving husband who has helped me as well. We have been married for 32 years and we are both still growing and learning. I love God’s promise to keep us in “perfect peace” when we keep our mind (and thoughts) focused on Him and not on the fears!