Dread

Have you ever felt dread? Perhaps you have, perhaps you have not or you may not be sure if you have or have not. Regardless your situation, this teaching is one of the most important to helping you get your life back! To live in peace,without guilt or shame, without frustration, anxiety, or worry, without fear and irritation, or most of all "feeling" overwhelmed.

I believe we can all agree that we know what it feels to be "overwhelmed." When we have twenty thousand things to get done in a day, or you just got a job that just seems way over your head, or you are doing things for others that just seems pipe up more and more. You started out meaning well, you want to do these things, but before long, there is a pile of things to do.

Many church goers find themselves overwhelmed and it leads to burn out. They simply quit, sometimes even leave the church and take several years to recooperate. I know, I was one of them. It seems I start out OK but things just get to hard to handle, so I quit and move on. Sound familiar?

Well I didn't know what my problem was. It was the "Spirit of Dread."

When I would start to feel heavy or overwhelmed or get confused because there was just too much going on in my head to accomplish, that's when I discerned the "Spirit of Dread" behind it all. See, I can do all those things through Christ who strengthens me. Dread says, "It's too hard, and I can't do it." Here are some other statements that Dread says:

"I don't feel like it."

"I don't want to."

"It's too hard."

"I am too tired to even think about it."

"I wish I didn't have to go."

"How long is this going to take?"

"What about............"

"I'm just doing too much, I can't do another thing."

"I want to run away from home."

"I need to get away from here."

"I'm so confused."

"I'm so overwhelmed."

"I'm so frustrated."

"I'll do that later."

"I dread the kids coming home from school."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

Does any sound familiar? Then you are subject to the "Spirit of Dread" playing you like a fiddle.

When (not "if") you experience these thoughts again, you have the power to cast out that spirit of dread! Each and every time! I don't care how many times you have to do it, keep doing it.

As I was preparing for this teaching, I had dread try to stop me from writing this teaching. I wasn't "feeling" like doing it. I had other things I needed to do, so I was thinking of putting this off even longer. I wasn't feeling good. I was feeling low. You get the picture? When I said, "Wait a minute, those are manifestations of the spirit of dread." So immediately I told the spirit of dread to leave. IMMEDIATELY the overwhleming feeling went. I was focused again, I felt a new day began (even though it was mid afternoon) and was filled with excitement of what I'm doing in this ministry. It was no longer a "dread" to me, it was an enjoyment.

This is a lesson to you too. No matter how real the feeling is, it's not you! It's that spirit of dread using you as a puppet to act out its character. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about. What will you lose by stepping out in faith and addressing that spirit? It's not what you will lose it's what you will gain. Peace, stability and your joy!

Take a moment now and identify any area in your life that you dread doing. List them out. Then pray this prayer:

Father, I recognize that I have been in dread in these areas _______________________(name them). I ask you to forgive me for not recognizing it was the spirit of dread. So I cast out the spirit of dread now in Jesus name. Restore me Lord God with your peace, love and joy. In Jesus name. amen."

Each and every time you face "dread" you toss Him out! You do that through identifying it and telling it to Go. As you do that, be sure to seek more of God's love. Because Dread is really "fear" in another form. And the Bible says that perfect love casts out fear!

I find myself in dread when I'm trying to do things myself, in my own abilities and power. Figuring things out, scheduling my time, and all along forgetting to bring God into the picture, acknowledging Him in every decision I make. Dread wouldn't be an issue if I kept my mind on Jesus. Hmmm.... an indicator to me that I have a long way to go! But Praise God, I'm growing.

Life Application Ministries commission is to help people find peace, healing, and restoration through the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. We minister to those with broken hearts, wounded spirits, emotional, physical and spiritual problems. By accessing the LAM home page, you will be provided with many teachings dealing with these very topics: How to know God really loves me? How to forgive? Why am I not blessed? Why am I not healed? Why did this happen to me? And much more. We offer personal ministry, as well by contacting us at truthfrees@mindsync.com.