Fear

Last week I was asked by one of my besties for my thoughts on fear, because she was giving a devotions to some ladies on that topic. I thought, "Hmmm, I got a lot of those!" (Probably why she asked me :)). Well, that night I woke up at 4am not able to sleep and couldn't help thinking about my fears, and so I got up, not believing how quiet it was :) and began to write...

Fear

Fear… such an intense word, and many of you might be thinking “I’m not fearful”. Well then, maybe this one will hit home a little bit more…. Anxious. Yup, thought so!! What makes you anxious or fearful? What gets your stomach all tied up in knots? I don’t think I’m alone when I say, A LOT OF THINGS! After all, this world ain’t pretty.

Hebrews 13:5b-6

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence,” The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

After reading this verse, I believe all it says, but do I say it with confidence? Maybe, with those fears that I kind of have a grip on, but the fears that are out of my control, I want to grasp on to, giving them to God more reluctantly. We are all control freaks when it comes to how we handle our fears because we think we know how to handle them best, and it’s usually not to face them head on; It’s to run from them like we just saw a ghost!!

What I have learned from my own personal experience, is that if you are ready to face those fears, hold on, cause girl, you will face them.  ( Even if you aren’t ready, hold on too, cause God might just see things differently) God knows that the best place to change you and make you more like Him is to put those things smack dab in the middle of your forehead!  We won’t be able to say with confidence that He is my helper unless we truly need His help.  Now I’m not trying to make you fearful of facing your fears, because I know how facing them can bring you so much peace and fulfillment with God.

Three months ago, God took my fears from just thoughts to reality. Move from Ohio to New Mexico? From all I have known and loved for 30 years? From my family and friends? My church? Wait, now I’m pregnant ? What ??? It took me a year to finally say yes to God and no to myself and selfish motives, and when I did a burden was lifted. Now that didn’t mean that all my fears were finally gone, oh no, now I had a whole new set of fears !! But God blesses those who are obedient to him, and my blessing was a peace about moving. I also knew that God’s plan was so much bigger than my fears, and to follow my fears instead of Him was ultimately sin. I believe that we don’t realize how big God is until we allow Him to remove us from our comforts, and truly seek Him cause that’s all we got, and see how much He can do with your willing heart.

The first part of Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” I love that !! I don’t know about you, but the one thing I am majorly lacking is WISDOM! God promises that if we have a reverential fear of Him, knowing who He is, then that is the beginning of wisdom. I pray that as we begin to see God as our Daddy in heaven who gave His only Son for us, that we would begin to give our fears over to Him; even if it is the fear of living in dirt covered, rattlesnake infested,  having a baby without your momma, sharp rusted metal filled land; that God would give us just even an ounce of His wisdom!!

2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God doesn’t give a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love, and of self discipline. This gives me chills all over !! That same power of the spirit that conquered death, sin and demons wants to conquer all our fears, we just have to release them. We can’t allow Satan to win and make our spirits timid. God I pray that you will give us all a spirit of power, confidence, and strength, so that we can overcome our fears, giving us the ability to love, serve, and minister as you have called us to.

Love,

Lauren