"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Tim. 1:7)

During World War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in Sicily. When he praised Patton highly for his courage and bravery, the general replied, "Sir, I am not a brave man -- the truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn't so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands." Years later, when Patton's autobiography was published, it contained this significant statement by the general: "I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears." (From Bible Illustrator)

Fear resides with those who are habitually fearful. Let us not take counsel of our fears - dwelling on them continually - but wholly trust in the living God who replaces fear with power and love.