Don't Be Paralyzed By Fear
PARALYZED BY FEAR
2 Timothy 1:7 - "For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control." (The Good News Translation)
Fear. It is the thing that keeps us from moving forward. It is the voice in the back of your mind that tells you not to pursue your dreams. It is the chain that keeps us bound to our past. By definition, it is, "a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid." (reference)
The commandment which occurs most frequently in the Hebrew Bible - the commandment that is repeated most is al tirah, "Be not afraid." Over 122 times in the Old Testament, God commands individuals and the whole Jewish people to not be afraid. God speaks "al tirah" to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses on several occasions, Joshua before the battle of Jericho; the Israelites at the Red Sea, and when the Israelites were preparing for their first battle. God commands it to Jeremiah and other prophets who seek to flee from their assignment; and again to Jeremiah when he is writing to the exile community in Babylon. At every point of danger or destiny in the Old Testament, God steps in and commands a person, a prophet or the people, "be not afraid."
And what God commanded to them then, God is commanding us now. It is not just a commandment, it is our secret weapon: Do not be afraid.
In commanding the children of Israel, and us as the children of God, to be not afraid, God does not say that there are no real dangers in life, no failures, no betrayals, no losses, no grief, no sin. There are real dangers, real enemies and real burdens facing us. What God is commanding is not a naïve turning away from real dangers. This is just foolishness. No, what God is commanding us is something much more difficult, but much more enduring. God is telling us, commanding us to face and not fear these dangers. God is telling us not to be paralyzed by them. God cannot make the journey or each of its battles easy, but God can help us to nurture and teach, to hold and to lift up a level of courage that alone will help us complete the journey and win the battles. And what is the source of this courage? The source of the courage to not be afraid is Jesus Christ. The source of the courage to face each day is Jesus Christ. Christ is our hope; and hope gives us courage, and courage kills fear. Courage trumps fear. Courage is more powerful than fear because Christ is more powerful than death.
Without faith in Jesus Chirst, without hope and courage the children of Israel would never have left Egypt; and if you live with faith in Christ, you will never access your divine destiny. Today, be obedient to the commandment of God for your life...Be Not Afraid!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Fear grows in darkness; if you think there's a bogeyman around, turn on the light."
~~Dorothy Thompson
Fearlessly,
Dr. Dionne Wood
LadyMinista Enteprises
www.DionneWood.org
2 Timothy 1:7 - "For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control." (The Good News Translation)
Fear. It is the thing that keeps us from moving forward. It is the voice in the back of your mind that tells you not to pursue your dreams. It is the chain that keeps us bound to our past. By definition, it is, "a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid." (reference)
The commandment which occurs most frequently in the Hebrew Bible - the commandment that is repeated most is al tirah, "Be not afraid." Over 122 times in the Old Testament, God commands individuals and the whole Jewish people to not be afraid. God speaks "al tirah" to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses on several occasions, Joshua before the battle of Jericho; the Israelites at the Red Sea, and when the Israelites were preparing for their first battle. God commands it to Jeremiah and other prophets who seek to flee from their assignment; and again to Jeremiah when he is writing to the exile community in Babylon. At every point of danger or destiny in the Old Testament, God steps in and commands a person, a prophet or the people, "be not afraid."
And what God commanded to them then, God is commanding us now. It is not just a commandment, it is our secret weapon: Do not be afraid.
In commanding the children of Israel, and us as the children of God, to be not afraid, God does not say that there are no real dangers in life, no failures, no betrayals, no losses, no grief, no sin. There are real dangers, real enemies and real burdens facing us. What God is commanding is not a naïve turning away from real dangers. This is just foolishness. No, what God is commanding us is something much more difficult, but much more enduring. God is telling us, commanding us to face and not fear these dangers. God is telling us not to be paralyzed by them. God cannot make the journey or each of its battles easy, but God can help us to nurture and teach, to hold and to lift up a level of courage that alone will help us complete the journey and win the battles. And what is the source of this courage? The source of the courage to not be afraid is Jesus Christ. The source of the courage to face each day is Jesus Christ. Christ is our hope; and hope gives us courage, and courage kills fear. Courage trumps fear. Courage is more powerful than fear because Christ is more powerful than death.
Without faith in Jesus Chirst, without hope and courage the children of Israel would never have left Egypt; and if you live with faith in Christ, you will never access your divine destiny. Today, be obedient to the commandment of God for your life...Be Not Afraid!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Fear grows in darkness; if you think there's a bogeyman around, turn on the light."
~~Dorothy Thompson
Fearlessly,
Dr. Dionne Wood
LadyMinista Enteprises
www.DionneWood.org
