“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!””
— Romans 8:15 

As we grow in Christ, we will grow in spiritual discernment. “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.” Too many of us think our thoughts are just thoughts. But today’s verse says thoughts that produce fear are tied to a spirit. 

As believers in Yeshua, we have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear. Those thoughts that make you anxious are tied to a spirit, and you can reject them. And remember that you are not your thoughts. Having an anxious thought doesn’t mean you are afraid. God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of love and power and a sound mind—a spirit of freedom. 

As we grow in grace, we will recognize the thoughts that cripple us: thoughts that bring us down to operate in the realm of the flesh. They might be thoughts of anxiety, animosity, small-mindedness, fear, jealousy, accusation, and wanting to control. We have the authority to say no to those spirits. “No, I’m not going to receive that spirit. It has defeated me for too long, and I reject it today.” As we learn to do that, we see God’s truth, and we stay there.

Rabbi Kirt A. Schneider, Entering His Presence (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2023), Used by permission.