YOU SHALL NOT BE AFRAID

• DAY 68
• Fear File:  YOU
• Scripture: Psalm 91:5-6

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

We’re still studying Psalm 91. Our study yesterday was centered on How God’s truth protects us. So if you missed it, click here to catch up. Before we get into it, I’d like you to pay attention to the words I emphasized in bold in our text today. We will examine what they mean.

Night Terrors

Did you know that there is an actual psychological or mental condition called Night Terror? People with Night terrors have episodes of intense fear around bedtime or while asleep. It can be caused by ailments, nightmares, or anxiety. There were seasons in my life when I had terrifying dreams every time I closed my eyes, I was afraid to sleep so I wouldn’t see those scary things.

I also had ‘Terror by night’ that had nothing to do with nightmares. There are times I woke up sweating and panting at the thought of missing my exams because I owed fees. I had terrors for the two years I watched my sister struggle with cancer. I was afraid that if I slept off she would die. When I catch myself sleeping my heart would nearly stop as I rushed to check if hers was still beating. And I had that same reaction for one whole year after she died. Fear is a terrible thing.

Arrows and More 

Arrows are weapons used in war, especially in the period that the scripture was written. When the people went to war, they used arrows to shoot at their enemies. Arrows were most effective at the time, and sometimes they were even poisoned. Arrows are engaged for targeted attacks. You need to see your opponent before you release an arrow and that is why I believe it is called “arrow by day”. Typically archers aim and shoot where they look and darkness can affect aim. Then there is also the pestilence that walketh in darkness and the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

See why the devil is a wicked devil? He comes at night and at noon; in daylight and in darkness. 

Times and Seasons

As the earth remaineth, we will have daytimes, nighttimes, noondays, and dark days. The day and noon when things seem jolly, and the night when we have to manage disappointments. These seasons of your life come as a result of the normal, natural cycle of life, but the enemy can use those times to plant fear. In the dark days, he says things like, “I thought you were serving God so why are these things happening to you?” On good days he says. “your life is going according to plan but don’t be too happy, the next moment something bad can happen.” It is often more difficult to accept the blessings of a good season, especially if you’ve had one too many bad seasons. 

But, God said

You shall not be afraid. Why? Because you dwell in the Secret Place of the Most High. You’re already under the protective covering of God. You’re under his wings, He’s covering you with His shadow. Thus you cannot allow the enemy to make you afraid or to cause you to become someone who is constantly living in terror or fear. Those things the enemy says, are all lies. even the scary village people in your dreams are lies. I’ll prove it to you. The Bible says

“You have been translated from the power of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son. (Colossians 1:13)

So whatever it is that is giving the enemy grounds to appear in your dreams and terrorize you, is illegal and operating on the basis of your ignorance and permission. You think he has a right to torment you so he is tormenting you. The moment you submit to God and resist the devil, he leaves. The Bible also says that you’ve been bought with a price, so whatever legal ground that the enemy had before it cannot stand anymore because Jesus has purchased you, and He bought you with his BLOOD. 

At Night, Remember, 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2

Even in the midst of that dark season of your life, He is with you. He has given you the assurance that you would never walk through any dark season of your life alone. 

In The Day Remember

That the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17)

God’s blessings cannot be overturned without His permission and if He permits it. Like with Job, it is for a reason and that reason will work out for your good. So enjoy the blessings of your good season and praise God for them.

Pray Thus.

Declare your freedom. Tell that terror that you are in the secret place of the Most High. Rebuke the enemy that comes to steal your sleep. Draw a bloodline round about your dream and shut the door that gives them access by the blood of Jesus. Declare that your sleep is not the enemy’s playground. And then you speak to your heart and say ‘you will not listen to the voice of the enemy, you will listen to the voice of the Lord because you are his sheep and you will only hear the shepherd’s voice. in the name of Jesus. 

If you have prayed and declared these over yourself,  you need to know that you don’t have to be afraid.

If You Have Night Terrors

The Bible says you will lay your head to sleep and nobody will make you afraid. Before you sleep, make this your declaration, ‘As I lay my head to sleep nobody, no demon, no thought will torment me. As I lay my head to sleep, I would not be afraid, I would sleep restfully and peacefully because the Lord gives me a sound sleep.’ 

When you’re done, you can play a worship song, it has a way of boosting your faith and making the atmosphere serene. You could also put your audio bible on repeat, not out of fear or because you think that the audio Bible will cast out the devil, cause it won’t. It is the truth, you know, that will set you free. Because if the devil can go and tempt the word(Jesus) himself, he can walk into a place where the Bible is playing on full blast and throw a louder party. So you play those things to build your faith and resist him. I’ve noticed that playing an audio Bible in my ear makes me sleep better. You can play it and sleep off to something great. 

Please! Do not expose yourself to scary, tormenting, or horror movies, because sometimes you might be seeing movie-induced dreams and be casting away demons that aren’t even attacking you by night. So avoid those types of movies, whether it’s in the day or night. Stay away from them, spend time in the word, or watch things that are clean and terror free. 

Shalom.