Freedom Series – Fear
Katia Adams • May 25, 2017
So often I find that fear cripples me. And as hard as I try, I can’t overcome these fears in my own strength. Recently I sat down and processed my thoughts on fear, and what I do to step into freedom in those areas.
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God has said that I’m a queen not a pawn. Before, I really felt like I was just part of some big game and I was insignificant. But we’re actually royalty. We’re queens on the chessboard. We can go wherever we like. And to be honest, it’s a bit scary putting it out there. The fear of failure comes into that one for sure. One of the things that I know God has been journeying me on is in the area of fear. Fear in me didn’t look like me being afraid but actually looks more like anger or frustration and more often than not it’s fear of failing. And so, I can get frustrated with myself or frustrated with a situation or with a person. It’s a mask for this fear in me that I don’t want to fail, I don’t want to get it wrong. And there’s this fear of disappointing people around me.
I know that fear is a normal emotion. Everyone experiences it. I get that. I don’t think it’s something that we ever stop experiencing. Even though I experience fear, I’m not driven by it. And that’s the question for me. Is it possible to live life in a way where I experience fear and then I decide to do things anyway? I guess I’ve come to a point of really journeying with God in love because 1 John 4 talks about how perfect love casts out fear and I’ve come to the point of realizing that I don’t overcome my fear by simply trying harder, by somehow trying to work out courage and bravery in myself, but rather if I want to overcome fear, I need to spend time with God understanding His heart for me. Any fear that is impacting me to the point that it is changing my decisions or motivating my decisions, that fear is an indicator that I haven’t come to grips fully with the affection of God for me.
And so if you’re someone in that space grappling with fear and being motivated by fear, I want to encourage you, just stop. Close your eyes. Rest your head and lean in on the one who loves you. It’s His affection that undoes and uproots the grip of fear in our lives, and the more we encounter His love and tenderness for us, then we can truly walk free from fear. We’ll still feel it but we won’t be driven by it. He just loves us and I’m coming to grips with the fact that He’s not afraid to love me over the top.
If you want to grow in the prophetic, it doesn’t begin with what you say. It begins with what you see. The prophetic is rooted in perception. Not just natural insight, but spiritual awareness—what Scripture calls “the eyes of your heart.” Paul prayed that the church in Ephesus would have their hearts enlightened so they could truly see what God was doing. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you…” (Ephesians 1:18) God isn’t distant or withholding. But if we’re going to hear Him clearly, we have to see differently. We need Heaven’s perspective. And that means learning to quiet the noise, tune into His voice, and let Him train our inner vision. You don’t need to wait for a dramatic vision or audible voice. Often, God speaks through a nudge. A mental picture. A scripture that lingers. A sense of burden or joy that feels holy. These are the first signs that your spiritual eyesight is awakening. But it takes time. It takes attention. It takes trust. Just like physical muscles grow with use, your spiritual senses grow as you spend time with Him—not just talking, but listening. Not just asking for answers, but asking for His perspective. You were never meant to live according to what the world says is true. You were meant to live by every word that flows from the mouth of God. A Prayer for This Week: “Lord, open the eyes of my heart. Teach me to see what You see—not just in others, but in myself, in my circumstances, in the world around me. Give me clarity and confidence to trust Your perspective more than my own. Amen.” This week, pay attention to what you notice. The way you see is often the way He speaks.
In this live session, Sean Smith and Julian Adams share their prophetic perspectives on 2025, offering honest reflections on what they sense God is doing across the earth. With hope and expectancy, they discuss the spiritual landscape ahead and how we can prepare for what’s to come.
We are living in a world of dramatic change. The relentless pace of development often leaves us breathless and exhausted. The demand for innovative ways of communicating, inventing, and staying ahead of cultural trends can feel daunting and demoralizing. It can push us into a space where we find ourselves trying to copy rather than be authentic, to imitate rather than create. This pressure can lead us to believe that we need to be more creative, and that our individual stories do not matter. But nothing could be further from the truth. Your story, no matter how small, matters and is powerful. One of the remarkable aspects of ancient manuscripts, like the Bible, is that they tell the stories of individuals whose lives may seem small and insignificant. Yet, God chose to make their lives a memorial of what He could do with a life that the world deems insignificant. The incredible power of the gospel is that it changes lives one at a time. God is as interested in the individual story as He is in redeeming the cosmos. The aim of the gospel is not just dealing with personal sin; it is about restoring individuals to a relationship with a kind Father. In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis beautifully said, "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God." Justification addresses our standing before God, but our adoption invites us into a relationship with the Father. It allows us to partake of who He is and to live in a place of deep joy from who He is. Romans 3:23 reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Many of us forget that the work of salvation has turned this verse around. Through Jesus, we have been restored to the glory of God. One description of the word "glory" refers to the divine quality, the unspoken manifestation of God, and splendor. It is the revelation of God's intrinsic worth and beauty. Do you see that? We have been restored to His divine quality, splendor, and beauty. In a world where it can be easy to feel like just another face in the crowd, remember that your story is significant. Your experiences, your journey, and your voice matter. Embrace the unique narrative God has given you and let it shine. You are not just a spectator; you are a vital participant in God's grand story. Your authenticity, creativity, and individuality are valuable. As you navigate the rapid changes of our world, hold on to the truth that your story has power and purpose. God sees you, knows you, and has a plan for your life that is uniquely yours. Let us celebrate the beauty and significance of each individual story, knowing that together, we contribute to a tapestry of divine splendor and glory.