Fear can be crippling.
And, if you let it, it can steal your destiny.
This plundering thief, if given the power, has the potential to disable your spiritual authority, take your vision, prevent you from speaking/writing/singing or whatever it is that you are supposed to be doing, and bind your feet together, prohibiting any progression toward fulfilling your purpose.
Scripture assures us that fear does not come from God.
For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ~2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
and the same scripture in the Amplified Bible:
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.
So if not from God, then from the enemy of our soul. From the one who hates every fiber of our being and wants nothing more than to prevent us from doing our part to further or increase the Kingdom of Heaven.
It's the voice that says you can't do it. The voice lurking in your thoughts trying to convince you that you aren't good enough and God isn't big enough. The voice that says if you try, you will fail. The voice that laughs and says you'll never make it, they won't accept you, you're not smart enough, pretty enough, thin enough, rich enough, you will only get hurt ...
Truth is, some of those things may be true, but they do not matter.
Ever heard the phrase "Do it afraid"?
All throughout scripture we find many examples of ordinary people, like ourselves, who were called to do extraordinary things. Just like us, they had a destiny, a little (or sometimes a lot of) fear, and a choice.
Open the pages of your bible and listen as God encourages Abram over and over to be not afraid. Walk with Joshua and hear the Lord say "Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid..." "Do not fear them..." "Do not be afraid" over and over and over....
These mighty men needed to be encouraged and reassured that they needed not be afraid because the Lord their God would be with them. This tells me that they were afraid. And more than once they pushed through the wall of fear and stepped into the freedom of trust and fearlessness to obtain the victory that was already theirs.
They didn't wait until they were not afraid. They stepped out with knees knocking and trusted that God would do what He said He would do. And He did.
We are not offered the luxury of unending days, but with each new dawn we are are drawn closer to the end of our seasons on this earth. Life as we know it, is short. There is not enough time to wait until we are not afraid to do that thing which God has been telling us to do.
"Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." Psalm 90:12 NLT
As I write this, I gain strength and can feel courage rising from inside. By faith, I declare that I will FEAR NOT. For my God is with me. I have a destiny and I choose to move forward, not waiting but pushing through whatever fear may try to hold me back. I am behind because I have allowed fear of man, fear of failure, fear that all my messy places will show - because they will - to keep me stationary and render me immobile. But man's opinion is of no value to me. Without the risk of failure, there can be no success. And God can and wants to work even in my messy places.
So for the New Year, 2011, my word is FEARLESS. God has given me a spirit of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. And I chose to walk in it.
And even when fear is present, I will do it afraid and trust and watch God do what He said He would do.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 ESV
I pray that you will find the courage to step out and answer the call that you have heard, probably more than once. And hear God whisper to your soul, "Do not be afraid. For I am with you."
FEARLESS. That's my word. And that is how I will take one step at a time closer to my destiny this year, hand in hand with my Father.
What is your word for 2011?
Posts
3 friends had this to say:
Hmmm...
Fearless would be a good word for me - but I don't want to copy! And, in some ways, 2010 was a year when I stepped out and did some things that I was quite afraid to do. However, I think that I will always be battling fear in some way or other. Trust would be a good word, and it's tied into my fear. My fear keeps me from total trust in God. And I'm so tired of that.
Maybe I could use the word DETERMINED. To me that implies that I will NOT be deterred from standing firm in the Lord, that I will boldly pursue His purposes for me, and that I will NOT let fear deter me. I will resist the enemy and his defeating words - DETERMINED to follow the pathway God sets before me!
Hope you have a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!
GOD BLESS!
I love that you are approaching 2011 without fear! My word is "Constant". I posted about it on my blog if you would like to read.
I had never heard the phrase "Do it afraid," but it certainly makes sense because we wouldn't need Him to go with us is we we're afraid, right? I am so with you... "I am behind because I have allowed fear of man, fear of failure, fear that all my messy places will show - because they will - to keep me stationary and render me immobile." Satan loves this about us! Fearless, that's about perfect for me too. Thank you, wonderful post!
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