I don’t usually drive like this on the ranch road, that will tear up the roads, but it was a celebration run of a fear that I no longer have. I was out checking calves, enjoying the mud that had collected in spots on the road. I put it into 4wheel drive and proceeded to track up to the next tank to check levels. I was reminded of a time that not all water was my friend, I was reminded of the time I was carried off in a flood.
I was in elementary school, riding with my sister to town when she began to cross a torrent of water that rushed over the road. We lost control as the flood water rose and carried off our vehicle. We both survived a very dangerous situation. But on that day I began to fear, not just a little fear but a huge unmanageable fear.
I laugh now at how I use to clutch the handle of the pickup, lift up my feet, and tense up my body every time I went through water. No longer a part of my life! I smile and say, “Lord, You are my deliverer!” I had to do this celebration run through this little puddle on the ranch, just a shout out to the Big Guy upstairs!
So maybe you have a fear that has followed you around for a while and you are ready to say, “Enough!”. It may not be a fear of being carried away in a flood, it could be anything like……being left alone, the dark, airplanes, getting on a new horse, it may be a fear of heights, or a number of things. It could be a fear that has taken you to a place you never intended on going. I’m not saying all fear is bad, some is perfectly healthy and is our warning signal. But if you know what I’m talking about then today is the day to say, “Enough!”, and start on your way to freedom.
- Recognize what it is you are afraid of and why: Did you have a bad experience? Were you in a situation that was out of your control? Recognize what it was and where that fear began.
- Make a declaration today to lay that fear down. Say it out loud if needed, write it down and record the date, because one day you will find it and say, “I can’t believe I was afraid of that.”
- Take it to the Father. God doesn’t want you to live in fear. He has this incredible freedom awaiting you. I can only describe it as a prisoner let out of jail. A triumphant acceleration through the ranch road on a muddy day. A day you laugh instead of running to hide.
- Take control of your thoughts. When I first began to get rid of this fear and many others, I taped the 91st Psalm on my refrigerator and read it out loud every day….several times. I also read a little book called From Faith To Faith, a daily devotion by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland. Another great book, Battle Field of the Mind, by Joyce Myers. These books transformed not only this particular area of fear but several others that were peering their ugly little heads! I haven’t read many books by these authors lately but they were definitely worth the read for this particular struggle.
- Have Faith that God will deliver you. When you begin this new walk of faith out of fear. When you begin to say “Enough!” to fear, you will experience times where you don’t feel delivered but hold fast! Hold on!!! Faith is being sure of what you hope for…. (Heb 11:1). You hope for a life of freedom, a life so much better than the mess of fear that you’ve been living with.
- Finally, do it afraid! “What?” but I thought you said….. “Enough!”, remember you have been practicing fear for a while. The first few times you experience that situation again you want to automatically resort to fear. Stop right there….Go through with it. Trust God and do that thing you fear! Go through that water if you see it’s reasonable. Step up on that new horse with confidence. Take that trip you’ve always wanted to go on by plane. And when you realize…Hey, I didn’t get carried off in the flood, I didn’t get bucked off, I can’t believe I took this amazing trip. Each time you practice, you will gain even more confidence until one day you forget you were even afraid.
It’s Friday and a great day to be alive! So go live! Do something that you’re afraid of and then give thanks to God for that amazing feeling of conquering something that has been hindering you.
Please let me know what it is that you did today that you were afraid of? I know your words may encourage someone else who might be struggling in this area.
Love God, love your family, and love your neighbor.
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