I got an email from Shawn Lovejoy at Churchplanters.com. And while I didn't write it, I could have. every. word. of. it. So, I am taking his words and letting them speak what's on my heart. So glad to know I'm in good company!
"Do not be afraid."
It's the most common command in the Bible. Why would that be so? Because you and I are often so afraid!
We're afraid of not measuring up. We are afraid of failure.
We're afraid of bankruptcy. We're afraid of controversy.
We're afraid of being fired. We're afraid of not being liked.
We're afraid of criticism. We're afraid of REALLY being known.
We're afraid of asking for help.
We're afraid to DO what we know needs to be DONE.
I wish I could say that we are all FEARLES Leaders, but we aren't, are we?
But why is fear such a big deal? Because fear is often the number one reason we don't obey God. Fear is the number one reason we won't take that big step of faith.
Can you hear it? God's trying to tell you something: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
We're only afraid when we think we're alone. We're not alone. God is WITH US!
I am a bit of a skeptic ... so I did some quick checking of Scripture and while I don't know if "do not be afraid" is the most frequent commandment in Scripture, I know that afraid is used over 200 times in Scripture and fear over 300. So, it's at least a common theme.
So, today, my quest is to remember that He is with me and not to be afraid ... not of the little things, not of what I THINK people think about me, not about doing the wrong thing, not about the future, not about the present, not about what I can control. Not about what I can't.
I am taking this out of context, but it is still true:
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” - Jesus
(Mt. 14:27)
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