Life is full of choices that we must make and opportunities that we will be offered. For some that sounds exciting and for others, stressful. Maybe you have always made the right choices and never had second thoughts. OR maybe you and I are alike in that sometimes having too many options feels overwhelming and can bring on a fear of making the wrong decisions and fear of the unknown.
I believe that very thing (fear) is what often keeps us from being obedient to what God has instructed us to do. Of course fear isn't the only thing... But, that's what I'm going to focus on today. :-p
There's greatness on the other side of your fear. Every person who was ever great had to first face their fears...
Oprah had to face her fear of rejection before auditioning for a movie role. Michael Jordan had to face his fear of failure before become a basketball star. Soldiers must face their fear of dying before committing to serve on the battle field. DO NOT LET FEAR STOP YOU OR SLOW YOU DOWN!
There are three types of fear: (1) protecting, (2) paralyzing, and, (3) reverencing.
This first kind of fear can protect you from doing things that you feel could be dangerous or harmful. This feeling may keep someone from getting on roller coasters because they don't want to fall. This feeling may keep parents from allowing their child to go a certain place. Or it may keep a single woman on the defense against anyone who tries to change her routine. This feeling may keep a man from opening up to the woman who wants to know him in a deeper way. This feeling may keep a toddler from walking for fear of falling.
But, that fear can easily become paralyzing if unmanaged or unreasonable. If you never allow your children out of your sight, you may stunt their growth. If you as a single woman never open your mind or heart, who will be able to capture it? Sir, if you never open up to that woman how can you ever become her knight in shining armor? If a toddler remains afraid of falling, then he'll be crawling into adulthood. Imagine a world full of adults that never learned how to walk, crawling everywhere, asking others to pick them up when they're tired of crawling. Nonsense.
A reverential fear, though, is what we should all have. I love and respect my spiritual father. He's been like a dad to me since I started high school in 2007. I want to make him proud in every aspect of my life. I take his advice, no matter how harsh, to heart. Growing up, I avoided a lot of situations (not all) because I knew my daddy would not approve. That's the type of fear we should have with our Heavenly Father. A reverential fear of God moves you to listen when He speaks. It causes you to seek His face and seek His counsel and advice. It makes you consider His opinion before decision making. Lastly, it leads you to seek His validation. And if you have that, there's nothing more you need to move forward in your life.
Delayed obedience--for whatever reason--is still disobedience.
Scripture says quite a few things about fear:
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." -2 Timothy 1:7
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." -Romans 8:15
Obedience to God is better than bondage to fear. Imagine all that God has in store for you if you would just move when He says move. You'll never get to Step B without completing Step A. If you are afraid, please know that God hasn't given you that fear. So let's cast it back to the pits of hell! Write that book. Start that business. Go on that trip. Start that ministry. Do what God has given instructions for you to do! The enemy wants you to stay where you are. The devil is constantly trying to destroy you, your future, and your destiny... Don't let him! Everything you want is on the other side of your fear. But, more importantly, everything God wants for you is on the other side of that fear!
I overcame my fear of failure and rejection by stepping out on faith... Over the past week, I've done a couple cool things: (1) I have continued writing my first book which I haven't worked on in a couple months. That book is entitled "The Consignment Christian" which is specifically geared to encourage the heart of young women everywhere who struggle in the areas of faith and identity. And (2) I started my YouTube Channel! So check it out! If I can overcome MY fears, you can overcome yours! Keep me in your prayers.
Lord, help us today to not be controlled by fear when it is time to do what you've called us to do. Let us be fully convinced that the time is now to do that thing. Thank you for power, love, and a sound mind. Thank you for making us your own. Because we have your approval and validation we can run full speed into all you've called us to. In Jesus name, Amen.
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