No Fear!

This week we are looking at things that hold you back from moving forward in God's plan for your life, or moving forward in making important life-decisions.  We start today with fear.


For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.  (2 Timothy 1:7)
 
Have you ever felt intimidated by someone who is smarter, more confident, or more talented than you?  Have you ever had big dreams that were blunted when fear came over you?   Have you ever allowed a careless comment from another put doubt and fear into your soul?

Now, sometimes fear can be a warning signal - perhaps you are not aligned with God's plan for your life.  Perhaps this is a decision that you should not be making or moving forward in.  But in this message, we are referring to fear when you know you are supposed to be moving forward;  when your fear is due to your own self-doubt.  Do you know where those feelings come from?  No - it is NOT God giving you a warning about your inadequacy!  Those tools - intimidation, fear, and doubt - are favorites of the enemy of your soul!  God's tools are power, love, and self-discipline!  He has put a dream in your heart and given you the skills to accomplish that dream.

Fear can paralyze you to the point that you either quit or never even begin something you know God has called you to.  Allowing people and things to intimidate you - even "well meaning" friends or family who are just "looking out for your best interests" - will stunt your effectiveness to do God's work.  An effective Christian will grab hold of God's tools of power, love and self-discipline, and press on in the face of doubt.

Remember, you have the Holy Spirit of God within you.  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  (Galatians 5: 22-23)

If you have fear, you don't have faith! You can't walk in both.  If those old feelings of fear and intimidation start to creep in, stop them in their tracks.  Make a decision to take your focus off of your feelings, and put your focus on God's truth.  What does God have to say about fear and faith?  Pick up your Bible!  It has a lot to say about fear and faith, and will give you some great weapons.  You can fight the enemy - who wants nothing more than to destroy you and the work God has created for you - with the sword of God's Word.