Fear No Evil - How To Avoid Worry And Fear

"Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me."

Do these words have meaning for you? Are you able to live them? Is your faith that strong? For most of us, the answer is probably no. Many people go through life in worry and fear. "Is that project I'm working on gonna fail?" "Where's Johnny? He's late! Do you think something happened to him?" "Is [he, she] ever going to love me like I do them?" "Why hasn't he/she called?" "I'm late for work. Is the boss gonna fire me?"

I note that all fears are based on thoughts about the future. Even when someone has a gun pointed at you, the fear concerns that future moment when they pull the trigger and the bullet is propelled into your body. When you are worried about Johnny being late, you are actually thinking about the moment you find out why. When you are living in the future, you can't enjoy the present. It is difficult to avoid worry and fear. We are only human, aren't we?

Fear of failure is a common fear for many, though not always recognized as such. Most would simply say that they are worried, not afraid. But, the feeling is basically the same. Maybe it's not as strong in one word's definition as the other, but it is still the same kind of feeling, at least for me. It seems that it is always about some future event. Maybe that event is important, maybe not. Sometimes the importance is very much exaggerated, especially by young folks.

Most worry is a fruitless expenditure of time and energy. Most of the imagined disasters , never materialize. Sometimes we tend to bring about the very disaster we fear, simply because we fear it. Worrying about making a mistake during a recital, job interview, book review, stage performance, or about any physical effort such as bowling or golf, can actually cause you to make that mistake. That's the picture in your mind as you go into the event. Experience suggests that picturing what you want to happen, instead of what you don't want to happen, works much better.

The same goes for life in general. When you picture the results you want, you can often achieve them. Dorothea Brande stated in her 1936 book, "Wake Up And Live", that you work best when you "act as if it's impossible to fail".

". . . I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me." Remember, the Lord is with you every step of the way. You can always ask Him to help, regardless the challenge. He will help. It may not be the way you thought, and it may take longer than you want, but He will answer your prayers, if you believe, i.e. "know" he will. If you know He will help, then why worry?

? 2004 David M. Butcher

Dave Butcher works a musical ministry with his wife, Carolyn Richards. They are full time and travel the USA presenting their programs at churches, gospels sings, revivals, RV campgrounds, fairs, festivals, and other events. Carolyn is the #5 "Most Played Overseas Gospel Artist" according to a chart published in the Oct & Nov, 2004 issues of Glory Train Express. Carolyn was in the top three percent "Most Played" of mainstream and indie country artists in early September according to a chart compiled by Western Heart Promotions of Phoenix, Arizona WORLDWIDE MAINSTREAM "MOST PLAYED "MAJOR & INDIE" ARTISTS CHART" 01-15 Sept.2004

According to the chart, she got more airplay in that time period than Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, and Loretta Lynn. She has had at least one song on the charts every month in 2004. Dave & Carolyn ask that you remember this: The Lord is gonna see that Everything's Alright! Trust Him! http://CarolynRichards.net

---

Spirits Language: How to Tell Whos Who in Your Inner Conversations

Your Spirit is continuously beaming communications to you. As long as your mind is properly receptive to your Spirit, this vital communication is received. But if your mind is busy being distracted by... Read More

Giving Can Overcome Language Differences

I recently had to take a trip to Germany. It has been more than ten years since making my last international trip. I now have a renewed sympathy for non-English speaking visitors and... Read More

Five Minutes Before the Miracle

Even though this article was next on my idea list, and I write them in order whether I want to or not, I REALLY didn't want to write this article. Why not? Because... Read More

Leaving The Child Behind. Recovery From Child Abuse

I looked at my father for the last time before he was finally laid to rest. And I said to myself, "I forgive you father".I have forgiven him but I have not forgotten... Read More

Irresistible

Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 29, 2003I'm attracted to my manager. He was the one who showed his interest to me first by complimenting me and making wonderful eye... Read More

Afraid of The Light?

Plato once said, "It is easy to forgive a small child afraid of the dark, but not a full-grown man afraid of the light." Since long before Plato light has symbolized truth--facing the... Read More

Musicians Survival was Truly a Miracle: Singer Songwriter Fights for his Life

Every morning when singer-songwriter Michael Alan looks into the mirror and sees the surgical scar across his chest he is reminded of how lucky he is to be alive. Three years ago he... Read More

Victory is an Accomplishment

Did you ever watch a bird in flight? Especially ducks or geese as they take off from the water? The take off is not the soaring grace of flight; it is a struggle,... Read More

What Forgiveness Is Not

Is a grudge-laden heart sabotaging your success in business and in life?Much has been written over the ages about the value of forgiveness. And yet so many people continue to resist the idea... Read More

Are We There Yet?

In a recent disaster, a man was asked why he would keep searching for a loved one, even when he knew there was little hope of any survivors. He was told repeatedly, the... Read More

Personal Fear of Change and How to Change It!

It's interesting how we intellectually know that tomorrow will be different from yesterday, or even different from today. We know this based on experience. Wasn't it only yesterday computers started appearing on people's... Read More

Succeed by Whistling While You Work

Mark Twain (1835-1910) believed that having fun is important if you want to be successful."The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation."Mark Twain must have had fun as a writer. His... Read More

Stay Inspired

Two years ago I was in a wheelchair and told I would be paralyzed for life. Today I can jog on a treadmill. How did this happen?Well, I can't tell you how it... Read More

Pattern of Ripples

The Emmaus Journal Pattern of RipplesPicture within your mind an imaginary pool of water. Visualize a stone thrown into the water and see the waves of concentric circles that emulate from its point... Read More

Realistic Living

" The fountain of content must spring up in the mind, and he who hath so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition, will... Read More

Beauty, Gratitude, and the Open Heart

"?beauty on your earth is a shadow of the beauty of our heaven, and it's a bitter thing to have a blindness for beauty on earth, for it makes a longer teaching to... Read More

The Seasons of Life, Part 2 of 5

Last week we started a five part series on The Seasons of Life. At that time I stated that I believe there are overriding principles that we should follow and be led by.... Read More

Why Not Reinvent The Wheel?

"Why go and reinvent the wheel?" It's a question that's been around for centuries; right? Here's a better question: Why not reinvent the wheel? As a Peak Performance Coach, I do a lot... Read More

The River of Life

I've always loved the awesome majesty of mountains. They are, however, the byproduct of the rivers that formed them: flowing, adjusting, carving, crashing and gently nurturing the land and animals along the way.... Read More

Life is Art

In my years teaching people to be successful, I have seen that basically people break their lives down in to two major parts: Wealth-building and the rest of their lives. Having done a... Read More

Fashionably Late

Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 6, 2003What can a couple say and do when they have been late in getting wedding thank yous out to people? We have been... Read More

Self Acceptance ? Lessons From My Hair Affair

For our diet and, indeed, in every aspect of our lives, we must remember to relax from the demands of the unrealistic ideal. For those trying to lose weight, you cannot be the... Read More

Everyone Has Been Hurt ....Part 6

Continued....I have since grown a lot. I have grown through God's help and Jesus's love. My sister and my dad made up. My dad lived the rest of his life alone to punish... Read More

7 Keys for Joyful Living!

Here are some thoughts for finding and experiencing joy in your life. If there were one thing I could wish upon my family, friends and the readers of this Ezine, it would be... Read More

Finding Hope In Trying Times

Growing up, as a child of the 60's, peace, love and harmony were the words being chanted by the hippies, flower children and all who questioned authority and were against the Vietnam War.... Read More

Your Self-Image - How Is It Working for You?

"All that you desire or require is already on your pathway, but you must be wide awake to your good to bring it into manifestation." - Florence Scovel ShinnWhether you are a professional... Read More

Everyone Has Been Hurt..... Part 5

Continued...About a year later I met my husband. I met him through his youngest sister and we were inseparable. We began to fight a lot after his ex started coming in to the... Read More

Keeping Your Attitude Up When Circumstances Are Down

Everyone knows that a positive attitude is key to the successful life. But what happens when things go wrong? What happens when circumstances deal us a blow? We have a tendency to let... Read More

Starting A New Disaster Relief Program

I believe that it is an amazing time in our history. Mankind is truly showing his/her capabilities, they are observable because all thoughts are brought into physical being as symbols of thought. War... Read More