Most of us can say we have experienced fear at least one time in our lives.  This statement is probably true for all of us if we are to be real and honest.  Truth be told, we experience fear more times than we like to admit.  I don't know about you but I have to recite the Word continually and ask the Lord to renew my mind daily, so I won't be overtaken by fear.  Can I just pause for a moment to ask God to forgive me for the many times I reacted out of fear and for the many times I operated out of fear instead of faith... Please forgive me Lord! It's okay if you need to take a moment to ask give for forgiveness too... 

Fear is such a powerful emotion that it can stop us like a deer in headlights.  Knowing a little about deer after hitting 4 of them, I realize that the eyes of a deer are geared for night vision and when its eyes are suddenly struck by the headlights of a car the animal becomes blinded.  This blindness will cause the deer to just stand there and wait until its eyes adjust to the bright light.  Even if the car continues to approach, the deer will not move until its vision is clear again.  But, this waiting can prove to be very fatal for the animal not having the ability to move without clear vision. 

I believe the fear we experience is similar to the lack of vision the deer experiences when it becomes blinded by the headlights.  We become blinded and stuck in our fear and we cannot move. However, unlike the deer we do have the ability to move without clear vision.  We can move out of our faith!!! Thank you Jesus, we do not have to stand mercilessly in fear because God has given every one of us a measure of faith.  I am reminded of Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. When our physical eyes encounter blinding lights (distractions) we have to allow our spiritual eyes to take over and we have to see ourselves progressing to the other side. 

Faith is so much more productive than fear yet, we struggle in our fear way too long.  For example, we have the hardest time overcoming the fear of other people's opinions.  My God, how many can say it wasn't actually the people who stopped us but it was the fear of what they may think about us?  Fear says we are not good enough, we are too old or too young, we don't deserve to be successful, we don't have enough and whatever else you can negatively think of.  However, our faith in God should kick in and cast down those thoughts because they go against the Word which is the "truth."  Faith says we are good enough because we are still His children, age is nothing but a number and it is never too late or too early for God to use whomever He desires, because of Jesus we deserve every good and perfect gift from God, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, and we know God shall supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory.  Take your physical eyes off the blinding lights and allow your spiritual eyes to focus on the truth so you can get out of harms way and keep moving. 

You can no longer allow fear to block, stop or even kill your progress. No matter what you face or no matter what you have been afraid of, you must move and activate your faith right in the midst of your fears.  You can and you will overcome fear as long as you walk by faith and not by sight.  I don't know about you but this is a good time to ask the Lord to increase our faith.  I know without a shadow of doubt that in our own strength we will stay stuck but if we trust our faith in God, we CAN and we SHALL do ALL things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us.  

In conclusion, let faith not fear drive your decisions...

Lady J