I haven't written a blog in quite some time, I decided that I would start writing again every once in a while.
Recently I have been coming back to something that I think so many of us struggle with: FEAR! We don't talk about it, we just live in it. I don't necessarily mean fear of the dark, fear of crime, fear of strangers, fear of bugs, etc. Even though we definitely all have fears of that nature. I am talking about fear of change, fear of the future, fear of what other people think, fear of feeling inadequate causing us to not live, fear of what God has called us to do, etc.
Fear binds us up and makes us feel like we can't do anything. It leaves us feeling like we are alone, crazy, not capable, not good enough, undeserving, and so many other emotions. Fear is from the Enemy. He creeps in and tells us these lies and it puts us in a place where we aren't trusting God and we are choosing to trust ourselves and let our own emotions control us. Fear doesn't make things happen, it just leaves us in a place of stress, worry, lies, hurt, and deceit from the Enemy. I think about Jonah in the Bible every time, he ran away from God wanting him to go to Ninevah. He had all kinds of fear. He ran away and the Lord caused a storm to happen and Jonah was swallowed by the whale. In the belly of the whale, Jonah prayed and asked God for forgiveness when he realized he was running in fear from what the Lord asked him to do. The Lord gave Jonah a second chance by asking him to go to Ninevah again and Jonah immediately went. If Jonah would've just trusted God's divine intervention in his life and chosen to trust Him and rely on Him for strength, it would've eased his fear. The Lord would've helped him get through the fear.
Here are some quotes from a Jonah study that Priscilla Shirer wrote:
"Most disobedience involves a simple choice to stay put."
"The decisions you are making today will impact your tomorrows. How you choose to respond to God's leading right now will determine how your future unfolds."
Here are some quotes from Christine Caine's book "Undaunted":
"If we stay focused on him, we will be able to go anywhere and do whatever is required of us."
"Fear and faith cannot coexist."
"When you allow fear to dictate how you spend your days, you allow life to pass you by."
Fear is of the Enemy and NOT of God. We are to trust God and all He has for us. John 10:10 says "The thief comes to steal, to kill, and destroy." Fear is a thief like that.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take."
Proverbs 3:5-6
"The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?"
Psalm 27:1
"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."
Deuteronomy 31:6
"Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
"Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love."
1 John 4:18
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."
1 Timothy 1:7
There are so many verses of truth in the Word that show us that the Lord is for us. He is there to help us. So our fear of change, fear of the future, fear of what other people think, fear of doing what God has called us to do, fear of feeling inadequate causing us to not live, or whatever other fear holds us can be let go. We have such a big God who is there to help us every step of the way. We have to not let the Enemy get in and speak lies that make us fear.
Remember...
You can make the change.
You can move into an unknown future.
You are good enough.
You deserve the best.
You have a God who loves you.
You have a God that you can trust.
You don't have to fear.
You are strong enough.
You don't have to listen to lies.
You are created for greatness.
Our faith should be greater than our fear!
