Happy New Year!! Feels like we just did this not too long ago, the days and years keep flying by. At the beginning of a new year people like to set a goal they'd like to achieve, a desire to improve at something or just have a plan for the year. As I thought about the start of this new year I heard “a new year without fear”. Yess!!
Fear is a roadblock preventing you from getting to where you are called & desire to be.
I walked in fear most of my life. Fear of people & what they might think or say about me. I was always quiet and shy, I carried shame from my past and didn’t feel good enough or qualified to do anything. I let the fear of people dictate my life. I was hard on myself if I messed up even a little and over analyzed everything I did when I was around others. But, that is not where I wanted to stay for the rest of my life.
That did change, and I’m so thankful it did. But it started with facing fear head on when I was asked to lead worship for church one Sunday. Yes I sang with everyone else but I didn’t TALK in front of people. The thought of having to speak and pray in front of everyone was terrifying. Although I knew it was something I was supposed to do, I didn’t want to do it. I cried everyday for a week! No joke! But God got me through it. The situation caused me to become completely dependent on Him to do the thing I knew He wanted me to do. That Sunday morning was a very powerful and memorable day for me. Although I was scared I pushed through that morning knowing I was doing what I was supposed to do. I could feel that it was the start of all those years of fear breaking off of me. I knew I wasn’t alone and I was doing it all for an audience of One, which was God. (There is more that God revealed to me through this situation but I’m sure I’ll be able to share in later blogs)
That was a little over 4 years ago and ever since then God has been moving me further out of my comfort zone. Each new thing God has called me to do has helped me break through fear that I carried from my past. Realizing that all this time I was carrying something that Jesus set me free from the day I invited Him into my heart. It has brought so much freedom. I always say “I feel FREER”.... Ha, it’s a word. Now when fear tries to rise up, even though in a moment I feel afraid I know I am not alone and fear has No place and it cannot stay.
My husband and I are doing things that we never thought we would be doing. But now when God puts something on our heart and gives us a vision & direction for it, we do it. We pursue it with a passion we never knew we had, but God knew all along. He’s the one that put it there. After all it’s not about us, it’s about the Father and what He can and will do through us, (through you) to reach the hearts of others dealing with similar situations God gets all the glory!
Over the years we have had a lot of support in the ministries God has directed us to do. We have also had some that were not afraid to tell us that they think we might have missed it. But honestly I grew tired of not doing what God had asked me to do because I was afraid. We know that even if we did or do miss it at some point, God is still right there with us and will redirect us back onto the course He has for us. Don’t let fear stop you from walking in the freedom you have through Christ!
John 8:36 (AMP) So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.
I encourage you to step out this year without fear, step out in Faith! Do the things that have been on your heart to do, because if God has given you a desire to do something that means He has equipped you to do it. Fear has no place in you! If Jesus, who is perfect love lives in you, then there is no room for fear.
1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear
Be the light of love in this world, you was always meant to shine!
Matthew 5:14-16 (Message) Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
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