DON'T BE AFRAID

What are you afraid of? What are your deepest fears that you never even talk about?
I used to be afraid of going to jail. I know it sounds funny - but I was terrified I would do something or screw up in some major way and end up doing time. Silly I know, but there it is. I don't fear that anymore, lol. I do have a terrible fear of confrontation. This one I am still working on, it's a very difficult one to beat - trust me. I am so afraid of confrontation that when I have to confront somebody on something my mouth gets dry, my heart beats so hard and so fast, my mind races, I cannot get my thoughts or words to make any sense and I get the shakes. It is crippling, and confrontation is actually such an important thing to be able to do. But God is working me through it, and I know I am getting better. The other day one lady at work was very rude to me and put the phone down in my ear. So I phoned her back and told her - nicely, but firmly - that there was no reason to be so rude, and she hung up again. Lemme tell you, phoning her back that one time was a HUGE accomplishment for me. Huge. I didn't phone her again, but I know God was testing me to see how far I would take it. Well I wimped out. But I know I will get on top of this thing one day, and then I will be a force to be reckoned with.

Any way, the point I actually trying to make here is that in Christ we don't need to fear anything. You see the enemy (satan) uses fear to trick us into believing we are powerless. I mean I used to be so afraid of spiders that even if there were pictures of them in a book or magazine I wouldn't be able to read any further. I would just freeze up or freak out. But when I had the revelation one day that God put us on earth in control of EVERYTHING I realised how silly my fear was. I mean how much more scarier am I to that poor lil spider??
And so God removed my fear - without my even realising it. I only realised I wasn't scared anymore the next tme I came across a spider. I was fine. Now, I don't go around picking them up or "loving" them - that's Angels favourite thing to do, but I don't freak out the way I used to. And it's wonderful to have that kind of revelation. If you read Psalm 91, you will see it is Psalm of protection, and that God will give His angels charge over you. When we live in Christ we need not fear anything. Go and read that Psalm - it is actually so amazing.

Fear can come between us and God's plan for us if we allow it too. I know how it feels when God suddenly has a message that He wants me to share - or a song He wants me to sing - if I am too afraid to go up or speak up and do it, then He cannot use me, and He will use someone else. But if I am bold and I obedient and I share what He has layed on my heart - then someone who needed to hear what I am sharing will be blessed by it, and I will be used more and more effectively by God.

I know that all my fears will soon be gone from me, my fear of confrontaion especially - and when it is, then I will be able to do God's will far more effectively than I have been able to up until now. Ask God to show you what yor fears are - and then ask Him to help you get over it and become stronger, He gave us the holy Spirit to do all these things through, lets take hold of the power He has given to us and lets advance God's kingdom. Without any fear.

So, don't be afraid. Be bold and be strong, for the Lord thy God is with you!!