Every one of us has experienced starting to step out in faith and, even at the thought of it, fear rising up in us. We need to realize that the source of fear is Satan.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
(1 John 4:18 KJV)

Satan sends fear to try to torment us into being so doubtful and miserable, we will be prevented from doing what God wants us to do and receiving all that God has for us.

We can live without fear by building our faith on what God has said in His Word. For example:

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
( 2 Tim. 1:7)

Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.
(Deut. 31:6)

We need to learn and confess aloud Scriptures like the ones above...to drink them in like a glass of water when we are thirsty. Romans 10 tells us, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17 KJV).

When we open our mouth and confess what the Lord says to us and about us, God's Word will give us the power to overcome the fears that torment and prevent.

And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.

And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.
(1 John 5:14-15)

There is power in praying and confessing the Word of God, which is His revealed will. I am convinced that one of the most important things we can do in our prayer time is confessing the Word.

When we find ourselves trying to avoid confronting some issue in our life because of fear or dread or wondering or reasoning, what we should do is pray and ask God to do for us what He has promised in His Word - to go before us and pave the way for us.

James teaches us that we have not because we ask not (James 4:2).

Jesus tells us to ask, seek and knock (Matt. 7:7).

When we are facing a job interview, for example, instead of being afraid that we will make a bad impression and fail to get the position, we need to ask the Lord to be with us, to go before us to prepare the way for us so that we can present ourselves in the very best light.

Then we can trust that whatever happens, it will turn out for our good in accordance with God's perfect will and plan for us.

Source: Help Me, I'm Afraid! by Joyce Meyer
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers