Fear turns best of friends against each other. Fear limits the possibilities for one to achieve greater things in life. Fear changes who we are, what we are about and what we do. And, when someone prays, the responses God gives induce in us a bravery like no other. When the Apostles were threaten and harassed, the bible teaches us that after they had prayed; the earth shook, and they were filled with boldness (Acts 4:31). Prayer is a key component to defeating our enemies, it releases in us powers that for many they have never experienced before; such as boldness( Heb13:6), strength, trust, faith (Mk11:25). In Genesis Chapter 20 we find Abraham because of fear of Abimelech allowing the same to taking his wife Sarah away, and God shutting the wombs of every women in that town as a result. So, after Abimelech returns Sara Abraham prays for the women’s wombs to be reopen, and God does just that (Ge20:17-18). It is through prayer that we see results in life.
1 Samuel 23: 2-4
2 Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. 3 And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines? 4 Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
Now, the city of Keilah was being attacked by the philistines and it was being looted, and while David was trying to stay away from king Saul; who was after him to slay him. It came to David’s ear that this city of Keilah was being rampaged. David prayed unto God to grant him passage to go and defend this city; of which he did. When David brought this to his men fear was their response; they were soar afraid. In fact, the fear was such that David had to go and inquire from God again to make sure that God was going to deliver the enemy unto him. Fear will cause us to not trust God and question his judgement. But, when we pray we find assurance in God’s response (v4). God does answer prayer (ps65:5).
A key component of fear is that it will cause us to go against the very people that help us (1Sam23:10-12). David’s intuition said to him that he was going to be betrayed by the very people he had helped, because he understood that that is how fear works. But, he knew that God knows all things, and that if he prayed he; God, was going to reveal the response to his fear. In God there is no fear (1Jhn4:18). David was able to do what God had put in his heart because he prayed and to conquered fear. How many times have we shied away from something that God has put into our hearts because of fear?