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I hope God never asks me to do that!

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FEAR!  I’m pretty sure we all struggle with it from time to time.  We are fearful of many things:  public speaking, being diagnosed with a terminal illness, losing a loved one, financial hardship, spiders, snakes, and the list goes on.

What about you?  What are you afraid of?

I wonder if in your walk with God, you also have fears.  I wonder if you ever feel afraid that God may call you to do something you do not want to do.

How would you complete this sentence?

I hope God never asks me to do ___________________ because I’m not sure I would do it.

Fear is a normal emotion.  We all feel afraid from time to time.  Some fear is good and some fear is bad.

There is a healthy fear that prevents us from jumping off a 10 story building, or driving 90 miles an hour down the highway.  This type of fear can help us make wise decisions about things that may cause us harm, but not all fear is good.

There is also a paralyzing fear that can prevent us from taking steps of faith.  The Bible refers to this type of fear as “living with a spirit of fear.”  Living with a spirit of fear means we are too afraid to do what God is leading us to do.  Living with a spirit of fear discounts the Holy Spirit’s power, and it diminishes our boldness of faith!  This type of fear does not come from God!

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”  – 2 Timothy 1:7

Today, my friend, I want to remind you that Satan is the father of lies and he will use fear to place you and me in a state of bondage.  He wants us to doubt God and he wants fear to drive us to being an ineffective Christian.  Satan will use fear to deceive you!

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  -John 8:44

When you feel God urging you to do something, and you begin to feel afraid, I want you to remember God’s Truth.  I want you to remember that if you are a child of God, then you have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of you!  The Holy Spirit’s power raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11) and that same power lives inside of those who are saved through Jesus Christ!

You and I are called to be people of COURAGE!  Over and over again in God’s Word, He tells His children to be STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!

Think about that!  You are called to be COURAGEOUS, not a coward!

When you feel afraid of what you believe God is calling you to do, remind yourself that you serve a God that desires to be known!  (Jeremiah 9:23-24, John 17:3)

He loves you and He wants an intimate relationship with you!  (John 1:10-13, John 15:5, Jeremiah 31:3, John 3:16)

As you spend time with God, alone, in prayer and through reading your Bible, He WILL speak to you. (John 10:27)

As you listen for His voice, He will direct you on what He is calling you to do.

It is your job to respond to God’s call.  You have only two choices….obey or disobey.  Often, it’s then that the enemy jumps in to bring fear to your soul.

When a spirit of fear hovers over you, you need to respond with courage!  First, acknowledge that this fear is not from God.  Next, go to your knees in prayer and open the Word of God for clarification on how God is leading you.  Last, trust God by taking the next step of faith.  (Psalm 62:8,Nahum 1:7Proverbs 30:5)

Remember that blank you filled in at the beginning of this post?

I hope God never asks me to do ___________________ because I’m not sure I would do it.

What if God asks you to do that very thing?

Will you trust Him and have courage to take the next step of faith, or will you live in a spirit of fear?

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?  Psalm 56:3-4

Let us stand firm on God’s Truth!  Let us be strong and courageous!

Let our faith always be bigger than our fear!

Grateful for you!

-Joy

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2 Comments

  • Reply
    Wilma
    at

    Right on the money! Fear holds me back from serving God. Thx for this post Joy. I want to have courage. I pray God will help me.

  • Reply
    Hazel Whitley
    at

    Just what I needed to hear.Perfect timing!God bless you Joy as you serve Him.

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