“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Easy words for God. After all, He’s God. Not so easy for me all the time.

You would think a suspense writer wouldn’t be afraid of much, but that’s not always the case. It’s not that I’m so much afraid, it’s more like…well, maybe it is fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear the words will desert me. Or the plot won’t come together. Or, since it’s just me, what if I don’t have enough money to pay the bills.

Those are all fears that I face one time of another. And when I’m not staring one of them in the face, I almost laugh at myself. Has God ever not come through for me? When I ask for the words, aren’t they there? Or money for the bills? Or new ideas?

What is it about us that makes us so fearful? We listen to Satan, for one thing. Or his minions. He can’t read our minds, but he surely can put those fears in there. And he doesn’t always wait until we’re already down. Sometimes Always when we have a mountaintop experience, he can’t stand it and he attacks.

So how do I combat his attacks? First I make sure I haven’t given him a foothold in my life. You know, disobedience to what God wants me to do. Then I start reciting the alphabet. No, not ABC…well, yes, ABC, but instead of just reciting the letters, I recite them this way:

A is for Almighty God

B is for Beloved

C is for Christ, my Creator

D is for my Deliverer…

You get the idea. I go through the alphabet and find a letter that either describes or glorifies Him. By the time I get to Z, most of the time my fear is gone. If it isn’t, I start over. I keep reciting the alphabet until peace reins in my heart. This simple act of obedience has never failed me.

Obedience? Yes. Paul tells us in Philippians these words:

^“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8.

Next time worry or fear has you by the throat, try my alphabet praise.