I have this fear of starting something and failing, making me feel totally inadequate and dumb. So rather than start and find out what I can't do I'd rather just never start and imagine that if I tried I actually would be successful.
I have a fear of speaking. Speaking in crowds or speaking on a one-to-one level. I just know I'll fail at appearing to be the halfway intelligent person they might think I am if I just hadn't opened my mouth. Or I might offend someone or end up looking like a fool because maybe my ideas won't match the general run of popularity.
I have a fear of writing, fear that I won't be able to do it properly or that what I write won't make sense or that it will read just plain stupid.
As I was thinking about fear and what it can do to a person I realized- thats exactly what satan wants us to do! He wants us to fear failure so we never start, therefore thwarting any plans God might have for our lives, never fulfilling the dreams He has placed in our hearts.
I think sometimes 'If God would just speak audibly to me and tell me what to do I wouldn't be so afraid of failing'. Probably not true. Moses apparently felt fear and inadequacy even though God was speaking directly to him. When God spoke to him from the burning bush he argued with God and said (Exodus 3) "Who am I that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? and God told Him, "Certainly I will be with thee." Moses says, But who am I supposed to say sent me? God said, Tell them I AM THAT I AM sent you. (chapter 4) Moses says, But they won't believe me. They'll say 'The Lord didn't appear unto you'. God said (paraphrased), If they don't believe you start showing them these signs I just showed you. Moses says, But Lord I'm not eloquent, I'm slow of speech and slow of tongue. God said, who made mans mouth, or who made the dumb or deaf or the seeing or the blind? Didn't I? Now go and I'll be your mouth and teach you what to say.
After pondering over this I came to the conclusion that fear is the devils #1 tool and we so easily fall prey to it.
God didn't tell Joshua- 'Be very careful you don't fail in this important mission I have given you'. He said (Joshua 1:6 )"Be strong and of a good courage..." (v.7) "Only be thou strong and very courageous..." (v.9) Be strong and of a good courage;be not afraid neither be thou dismayed..."
God can't steer a ship that's not moving (well he can but He won't force us). If we never move off the spot because we're afraid we're not even giving Him the chance to show us the supernatural things He would do in our lives. Fear of failure and rejection paralizes! God gave us a vision bigger than we are so we have to grow to fulfill it but it takes Him to pull it off. If God put a dream in our heart than at some point it will require the supernatural to fulfill it. That's what satan does not want! He wants us to fear failure to the point that we just sit back and do nothing therefore not giving God the chance to work the supernatural.
So if there is something in your life you fear- embrace it! That is probably the very area that you will succeed in and satan wants to stop you.
There will be times when you will fail. But don't be defeated. God says, Be strong and couragous I will be with you.
Failure doesn't mean you done for- it just means you figured out what doesn't work. One less thing to figure out before success. God says you stand up and I'll stand with you!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
ANGEL BODYGUARDS
The following story was taken from the book - Angel Stories by Robert Strand.
The Christians in China during the internal uprising in 1927 were under all kinds of persecution. They were targets of looting, building burnings, executions, and more. Favorite targets of these vandals were mission compounds, hospitals, orphanages, and anything Christian.
A lady missionary is our source for this story.
"During a night of burning, looting, and shooting, when anarchists ran through the streets, our compound, which sheltered hundreds of women and girls who spent the time in prayer, went untouched."
But there's more to this story. The previous night, the missionary in charge of this particular mission, which was dedicated to sheltering homeless women and girls, had been laid low with a bad attack of malaria and a resulting high fever.
Some of the neighbors asked, " What are you planning to do when the looters attack your compound? What about all those promises of protection you have been preaching to us? Who will you be trusting when the fires and robberies begin on your compound?
Along with all the women and girls, this sick missionary spent much time in prayer. She pleaded, " Lord I have been teaching these people for many years to believe and trust in the promises of God. If You and Your promises fail in this time of disaster, I shall never again be able to open my mouth. Than I shall have to return home to America."
The next night when the anarchists came to the compound, she immediately was well enought to get up and walk among the frightened refugees in her care. She prayed with them and comforted them while disaster was taking place in the neighborhood all around them. But the mission compound and all who were inside were untouched.
The next morning, people from three different neighboring families asked, " Who were those four people- three were sitting and one was standing- who were quietly watching from the top of your house at the front of your compound?"
They answered " No one was on our housetop."
The neighbors refused to believe the missionaries. We saw them with our own eyes. These men were awesome! When the looters came to the compound, they turned and ran because they were afraid. We saw it happen!"
It was another teaching moment about the power of God that can send angelic gaurds for the prtection of His children in times of distress.
"Because he loves me," says the Lord. "I will rescue him; I will protect him for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him" Psalm 91:14-15
The Christians in China during the internal uprising in 1927 were under all kinds of persecution. They were targets of looting, building burnings, executions, and more. Favorite targets of these vandals were mission compounds, hospitals, orphanages, and anything Christian.
A lady missionary is our source for this story.
"During a night of burning, looting, and shooting, when anarchists ran through the streets, our compound, which sheltered hundreds of women and girls who spent the time in prayer, went untouched."
But there's more to this story. The previous night, the missionary in charge of this particular mission, which was dedicated to sheltering homeless women and girls, had been laid low with a bad attack of malaria and a resulting high fever.
Some of the neighbors asked, " What are you planning to do when the looters attack your compound? What about all those promises of protection you have been preaching to us? Who will you be trusting when the fires and robberies begin on your compound?
Along with all the women and girls, this sick missionary spent much time in prayer. She pleaded, " Lord I have been teaching these people for many years to believe and trust in the promises of God. If You and Your promises fail in this time of disaster, I shall never again be able to open my mouth. Than I shall have to return home to America."
The next night when the anarchists came to the compound, she immediately was well enought to get up and walk among the frightened refugees in her care. She prayed with them and comforted them while disaster was taking place in the neighborhood all around them. But the mission compound and all who were inside were untouched.
The next morning, people from three different neighboring families asked, " Who were those four people- three were sitting and one was standing- who were quietly watching from the top of your house at the front of your compound?"
They answered " No one was on our housetop."
The neighbors refused to believe the missionaries. We saw them with our own eyes. These men were awesome! When the looters came to the compound, they turned and ran because they were afraid. We saw it happen!"
It was another teaching moment about the power of God that can send angelic gaurds for the prtection of His children in times of distress.
"Because he loves me," says the Lord. "I will rescue him; I will protect him for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him" Psalm 91:14-15
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
