From Captive to Captor
Breaking Free from Fear and Anxiety
by
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Learning to fight rather than flee the battle is the greatest lesson I have learned thus far in my walk with the Lord. It gave me God-confidence; I know that whatever may come, He will embolden and strengthen me to fight through it. Does that mean I never feel fear anymore? Absolutely not. Fear will always attack the children of God, hoping to stop them from doing what He has called them to do. But it does mean that I no longer make fear-based decisions.
When I feel fear and anxiety raise their weapons at me, I no longer turn and flee. I stand my ground. I hold my shield of faith and my sword of the Word, and I fight. When fear tries to tell me which step to take next, I turn to the Spirit and ask Him where to go. My emotions are an addition to my life; they help me feel love, happiness, sadness, and excitement, whenever those are necessary. But my emotions do not have a say in which way I go in life because they are fickle and cannot always be trusted. No, my life is guided by the Spirit, who can be fully trusted.
I encourage you to ponder on your life. How many decisions do you make on a daily basis that are fear-based? How many times have you fled situations in fear when you should have stayed in the fight? Are you tired of letting fear have the final say? It’s time to take steps of faith and follow the direction of the Spirit. I used to be confused by the scripture that says, “Seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14 NIV). I thought that meant if peace wasn’t present, then I shouldn’t continue forward. If that was true, then Christ would not have continued to the cross, and we all would be without salvation. In the garden, before the cross, Jesus did not have peace. He was so afraid that he sweated blood, but He prayed, “Not my will, Lord, but Yours.”
Sometimes, we will not have peace, but that does not mean it isn’t the Lord’s will. What we pursue, then, is not outward, fleshly peace but peace in the Lord, and we know that if we follow His will, we will be OK. Jesus did not have peace in His flesh because He knew of the suffering that was to come, but He trusted and had peace in His Father. I did not have peace in pursuing my husband because the many fears of getting hurt and the unknown tried to derail the Father’s plan. But I had peace in knowing that God’s will would unfold in my life, as long as I trusted Him and continued forward.
In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]. (Proverbs 3:6 AMP)
I want you to truly be led by the Spirit in your life and not be led by fear. Continuously let your mind be filtered in the Word, and let your decisions be based on your faith and the truth in the Word, rather than on your own understanding or your emotions.
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About the Book
For years, author Katie Richards was on a seemingly never-ending ride of fear, worry, anxiety, doubt, and depression. A journey that, though she hated the destination, she seemed to continuously return to. It wasn’t until she realized the root of her fears, worries, and doubts that she was able to find freedom. She discovered the root of everything with which she struggled stemmed from the words: “What if?”
In From Captive to Captor, she narrates a personal testimony of freedom from fear and anxiety as well as presents a strategic battle plan for those who currently find themselves captive. From a perspective of someone who was once helpless and without hope in the battle with fear, this guide is a tool for those who want freedom but have no idea where to begin.
From Captive to Captor was born from a place of wanting to provide not only hope to those currently in battle with fear and anxiety, but also the desire to give practical answers of “how to” that sometimes cannot be found. With powerful scriptures, personal testimonies, and counseling techniques combined, Richards offers a light in the darkness and a beacon of hope
About the Author
Katie Richards is a Christian, wife, and mother who is passionate about bringing freedom to others who have experienced brokenness in their lives from fear and anxiety to sexual abuse and broken identity. Her background in psychology and counseling, along with her personal battles of brokenness in many areas, helps her to have a unique perspective on finding freedom in the midst of a world sold on staying broken.