Fear is human primal fear. However, we should not be in denial of it neither should we in the harmful grip of it. Biblical approach is to pray our fears. Psalm 3 is all about the real fear David felt when facing the insurrection led by his own son Absalom. 1 Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”[b] 3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. 4 I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. 6 I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. 7 Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. (Psalm 3) There are two basic questions we are asking here: 1. What Can We Learn About Fear? 2. How Do We Deal With Fear? By praying our fears we best deal with it. However, what are we to do specifically when we pray our fears? First let's recognise that there are two levels into fear and four levels out of fear: Two Levels Down Into Fear First Level: “How many are my foes”? Second Level: "... many are saying of me, 'God will not deliver him." (3:1.2) The first level of fear is caused by physical danger. But the second one is caused by the attack on his There is a type of fear which makes you focused and which also prompts you to make good choices. However, there is an unhealthy type of fear which makes you restless, agitated, scared over {long} period of time. This is unhealthy type of fear. There are four steps out of the pit of fear suggested in Psalm 3: 1. Make Sure You Follow the Lead “But you O Lord, are a shield around me.” (vs. 3) What kinds of shields are there? There is There is . The shield David is talking about here is . When you use this shield, it takes you a danger rather than a danger. So, what is David saying here, 'I am scared, you are taking me into a danger, I will follow your lead as you shield me and you will protect me.' Arrows, spears boulders will come my way and may even injure me but you will still protect me. Why does God lead us into a danger? He allows us to experience a little hurt today so that we can avoid a disaster So, obedience is crucial. We either obey and follow the lead and go into danger or disobey and experience a disaster. 2. Reposition Your Glory “You are my glory and the lifter of my head.” David experienced depths of fear because, for a period of time, he built his phychological and mental security on his own glory. If we give glory or 'weight' to career, job, sport, ministry children, spouse so it effectively replaces God than we will live in fear. So, what David does here is reexamine where his personal glory rests. He or replaces where his glory lied before to glory in God alone. 3. Look at The Substitute David has a confidence that God will hear him and answer him. Why does he have this confidence? “I cried to the Lord and He answered me from His Holy Hill…” This Holy Hill refers to the sanctuary. So, sanctuary holds a key to David's and our confidence that God is going to grant us the deliverance from the pit of our fears. God said to Abraham, 'Don't be AFRAID. I am your SHIELD and your great reward.' In reply, Abraham asks, 'How do I know?' to which God replies, 'Take a goat, heifer, a ram and birds, Cut them in half' This was a covenant and oath making ritual done in ancient Near East. Typically, a vasal king or the one inferior in covenant making deal, would have to go through these cut pieces of animal,graphically declaring that if he does not keep his side of an oath than he would be cut like this animals. However, God was the one who in a smokey torch went through these cut pieces. In this way God guaranteed that he would keep the covenantal oath with us. So, we are to look at the substitute which is Jesus Christ on the Cross who is our garantor that He will see us through the greatest dangers of our lives, of which chief one is sin. 4. Have People in Mind “Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people.” (8) David knows that Absalom will not be a good king. So, David has to face his fears for the love of God and the love for people. So,are you afraid? Follow the lead and put up with adversity. Relocate your glory Focus on the substitue Have in mind