Monday, January 23, 2012

The Enemy of Greatness

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
- II Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)


Have you ever felt that life is a series of mediocre hours comprising a series of mediocre days adding up to a series of mediocre years equaling one mediocre existence that is your time on Earth so far?


What is the purpose of it all?


Where did your dreams go?


When you were sitting in class your senior year of high school were you day dreaming about the life you currently live?


What is your reason for being here?


What is keeping you from excelling to your potential?


If you have been pondering these questions, this post is for you.


Fear is the Enemy of Greatness!


Once you learn to start living a life outside of the shadow of fear you will begin reaching higher then you ever thought possible.


Fear acts like shackles chaining your feet to the ground.
It keeps you stagnate as time marches past you at a feverish pace.


At times it feels like a vice grip enslaving you to a life filled with dull numbness as you forget the plans for your future that God placed in your heart.


How do you break free from fear and rekindle the flame that once ignited excitement about your life?


First, recognize exactly what fear is:




Fear is the Opposite of Faith!


Fear tells us that we cannot accomplish anything great.


Faith says, "I can do ALL Things through Christ who Strengthens me!" 
-Phil 4:13 (NKJV)


Fear tells us that our past is too horrible to live the future that God has called us to.  We've already blown it.  Just give up.


Faith says, "...forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." 
-Phil 3:13, 14 (NKJV)


Fear tells us that we will be crushed by the weight and stresses of this life.


Faith says, "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us who can be against us?" 
-Romans 8:31 (NIV)


Fear tells us we are too worthless to be Christians.


Faith says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes in Him should not parish but have Everlasting life. For God did not send His Son to the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." 
-John 3:16-17 (NKJV)


Fear tells us our problems are too huge to overcome.


Faith says, "...if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move.  NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU!" -Matthew 17:20 (NIV)


That last verse was said by Jesus himself!


Next, Realize the different ways fear shows itself!


Did you know that worry is a type of fear?


When you worry about your future you are taking the power out of God's hands and placing it back in your hands.
Essentially, worrying is like telling God, "I don't trust you to handle this situation for me.  I want to control it, fix it, make it better in my own strength, not yours."


In Luke 12, Jesus says to His disciples, "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body,  what you will wear...Consider the Ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.  And how much more valuable you are then birds!"


Doubt is another form of fear.


Believe that God has a purpose for you!
Believe that He created you and loves you!
Believe that our Daddy God knows what is best for you and He desires for good things to happen to you.


Romans 8:28: And we know that ALL THINGS work together for GOOD to those who love God...


See, even the hurts, pains, disappointments; even the mistakes you have made will be used by God to Your Good!


That is a Promise for You directly from God!


By standing in His promises and believing them, you are casting away doubt, which is fear, from your life.


This brings us to our last key to destroying the chains of fear in our lives.




Surrender your fears to God!


The ultimate act of Faith is to give up control of your life to God and His plans for you.


Take a stand against fear and pray this prayer out loud:


Father God, through you I will not allow fear to control me any longer!  
In my own strength I do not have the power to break this fear that holds me back but I know that you have more then enough power to destroy it.  
I surrender to you every area of my life.  
Father God, I give you all of my fears, all of my worries, and all of my doubts.  
I choose to walk in victory, through the blood of Jesus, by allowing you to lead and guide my every step.  
You hold my future and I trust it to you.  
I stand in the promises of your word and claim them for my own life.  
Thank you for your Son Jesus who has already defeated the enemy.  
I choose to walk in that power today.  
It's in your Holy name that I pray, Heavenly Father,


John  (Say your name)




Now that you have prayed this prayer start asking God what His plans are for your life.


Begin to dream again.


Lose yourself in your thoughts and allow that fire of excitement about God's plans for you to burn bright again!


When the enemy starts to send fearful thoughts your way surrender them to God and continue to stand in His promises.


Remember that God's plans are to prosper you and for you to be in good health!


You really can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens you!


Shake off those chains of fear and run toward the calling that God has for you!


Through faith you can live each day in victory over the enemy of Greatness!


As always remember,


God Loves You!
God Created You!
God Accepts You!


Until Next Time,


SavedByGrace