PROGRAM SUCCESS – NOVEMBER 2008 PAGE 21
Conquering the Spirit of Fear in Tough Economic Times
By : Reverend Dr . Robert M . Spooney Executive Director of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida
I like to study people and one thing I have concluded in the last two months is that many people today are living in fear . The human race is gripped by the bondage of fear and most of us live with some type of apprehension , anxiety , tension , terror or dread .
Some of us fear failure , some of us fear success , some of us fear embarrassment , some of us fear death and most of us fear change . The last few months have been devastating to our economy and as a result , the financial status of many individuals and small businesses has changed . On top of that fact , we are facing a change in national leadership . People are afraid and that indicates that anyway you look at it , the spirit of fear is one which all men and women are familiar .
I ’ ve found that most people fear anything they think will in some way threaten to harm or destroy them . More often than not we will also allow fear to permeate our being and occupy most of our thoughts . We focus on it in such a way that we can not avoid being obsessed with it . Now , if this is a working definition of fear , it is easy to understand that by drawing our attention away from God , fear can very much be the essence of sin . This type of fear is an unholy fear – a fear that can arise when someone thinks they have no hope . The spirit of unholy fear is so powerful that it can father hate and discord . My favorite book has a passage in the Third Chapter of 1st John that tells us that “ Whoever hates his brother is a murderer .” Consequently , unholy fear can sometimes lead to murder .
I believe it was unholy fear , fueled by greed that drove the financial gurus on Wall Street to murder this country ’ s economy . Now I fully understand that a financial instrument called Credit Default Swaps is at the center of this debacle but I also know that fear of not succeeding drove certain financial leaders to allow CDSs to be sold in an unregulated environment . I believe it is unholy fear that has driven so many of the political candidates to run advertisements that they know are full of mistruths about their opponents . In both of those situations , the spirit of fear caused individuals to feel hopeless , helpless and without options and they reacted in a selfish , self serving manner .
It is different , however , when you have the proper focus in your life . In 1932 , Franklin D . Roosevelt defeated Herbert Hoover , the Republican candidate in the Presidential election . And for good reason — by 1933 the depression had reached its depth . Roosevelt ’ s first inaugural address outlined in broad terms how he hoped to govern and reminded Americans that the nation ’ s “ common difficulties ” concerned “ only material things .” In his speech he said , “ This great Nation will endure as it has endured , will revive and will prosper .
So , first of all , let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless , unreasoning , unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert Dr . Robert M . Spooney retreat into advance . In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory . I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days .”
President Roosevelt knew , as I know , as you should know and as my favorite book says , “ God has not given us a spirit of fear , but of power and of love and a sound mind .” As a Christian , I believe when we are conferred into the body of Christ , the Holy Spirit should eliminate any and all excessive fear . As an American I believe we should be able to cope with and deal with any situation we encounter .
Unfortunately , most people don ’ t realize that they have an antidote to unholy fear readily available for their use . The antidote is the power that our Creator has put into us . My favorite book , which is the Bible , says , “ Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding and abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us .” In other words , the power to overcome and survive is part of our DNA . The next time you feel fear rising up in you , just remember that you have been given the power to control it and overcome your situation .
AfricanAmericanChamberofComme rce Central Florida Robert Spooney Conquering Fear Economic Times Orlando , Florida November 2008