Day 4: The Faith Of Courage

What happens when you know you have to do something,

but you procrastinate because the

FEAR

is so great

that

ANXIETY

becomes your best friend

in the wee hours of the night.

But then the sun rises

and

FEAR & ANXIETY

begin to subside,

but

as the clock ticks and night starts to come

the

FEAR

returns

that births

ANXIETY

all

because

you don't want to do what you know what you have to do.

It could be making a call to the doctor~

but you don't want to hear what you FEAR what you are going to hear.

It could be confronting a loved one~

but you don't want to hear what you FEAR what you are going to hear.

It could be just stopping and being still~

but you don't want to hear what you FEAR what you are going to hear.

Oh the FEAR to hear

what is on your beating heart

that is keeping you up at night.

But no matter what,

"IT" isn't going away.

Is FEAR & ANXIETY keeping you from facing

a something or a someone

that you don't want to face?

You can't

FEAR something away.

You can't

ANXIETY something away

So what do you do when

FEAR & ANXIETY become your best friends?

Listen to

GOD

as HE is constantly telling us to

NOT BE AFRAID.

Easy for HIM to say,

but because

HE knows what we feel

that is why HE says it

so that

HE can

take

the FEAR

and its companion of

ANXIETY

away

so that

you & I are able to

face what we don't want to face

with the

FAITH OF COURAGE.

Just like Joshua

Oh he had it. Oh he had to have it.

The book of Joshua begins with GOD commissioning Joshua as Moses’ successor.

FEAR enters in

as they are to enter the promised land,

unknown territory,

without their leader Moses.

But then

GOD

commands them

to not be afraid,

to not be terrified,

to not be discouraged.

face FEAR in its face.

It sounds crazy

as you have to face

FEAR

in order for it to be removed,

but we are told many times,

just as GOD spoke to Joshua~

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,

for the LORD your GOD will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).

To have

THE FAITH OF COURAGE~

to face

FEAR

&

do it afraid

because

GOD is with you.

So what difference does it make if GOD is with me

in the midst of the

FEAR

that is so paralyzing

that

ANXIETY

is kicking in to relieve the pressure~

is what I have asked myself a gazillion times

and

what I am hearing from others

who are right now

so

FEARFUL

to face what they know that they have to face,

but are instead

allowing

ANXIETY

to

consume them.

Facing the

FEAR of Loneliness with HIM~

you are not alone.

Facing the FEAR of Rejection with HIM~

you are accepted.

Facing the FEAR of shame with HIM~

you are forgiven.

Oh when you

face FEAR right in the face

with

HIM

you are released

from the bondage

of living

ANXIETY ridden

because

HIS PEACE

overwhelms you so that you

face what you don't want to face when you don't want to face it.

Easier said then done,

but just try it

and invite

GOD into your FEAR

and

do it afraid

For

"GOD gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7).

Therefore,

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your GOD. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with MY righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)

Because

"The LORD is

my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life--

of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)

Oh the gift of

THE FAITH OF COURAGE

to

face what you don't want to face

so that

His

PEACE

that transcends all understanding

will

guard your precious heart

because of

JESUS

who is your

PEACE~

"Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid" (Matthew 14:27).

Oh

let's practice

THE FAITH OF COURAGE

and live

"FEARLESS" (listen to the song below)