"Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." This quote is by far one of the most profound that I have heard.

Everyone deals with fear to some extent, whether it be something minor like being afraid of spiders, or more on the extreme side, such as being afraid of socializing or fearing death.

Fear has probably been the biggest issue I've dealt with growing up. Starting out with stupid, insignificant things such as being afraid of "The Bugs Life" 4-D movie in Disney World (in my defense I know a lot of people who were scared of that movie as kids), or significant things more recently such as family members passing away or failing in life.

No matter what it is that I'm afraid of, they all have a common denominator: lies from the Devil.

Even with me knowing that the majority of things I fear are a result of lies from the Devil, it is still a difficult thing to overcome. I definitely overanalyze more then your "average Joe"; in addition to that, the Devil speaks to us in our mind. Mix that with my overanalyzing nature, and you end up with me quoting scriptures about fear and talking to God constantly to combat it.

For anyone who deals with fear, let me just say you're not alone. Fear doesn't always necessarily come in the form of being deathly afraid of bugs or having anxiety about traumatizing life events. Insecurity is simply fear in disguise, and I think it's safe to say all of us deal with insecurity on some level.

Firstly, it's important to recognize truth about yourself and life situations. When we know what God says about us, the lies of the enemy are no match. "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." - II Corinthians 10:5.

Secondly, it's important to evaluate what you're afraid of and conclude its relevance. Whenever I am afraid or anxious about something, I make an effort to ask myself what value it really has. Sometimes in the heat of the moment we truly do make mountains out of molehills. A lot of the time what we think is such a big deal or worthy to be afraid of, really isn't that scary or a big deal at all. This goes for being insecure as well. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." –– Philippians 4:7.

Fear is something that you must pray against. It's important to not get discouraged, despite the war that may be going on in your head. God won't leave you defenseless, but will equip you with all that you need to stand against the lies of the Devil if you just ask.