The other day I was sitting on a plane with my husband when I began to have some chest pains. I have a fear of flying but usually the Lord helps me overcome this when I am on planes. So the chest pains surprised me since I was feeling peaceful at the moment. As I sat in my seat wondering what the best thing to do was, I began to pray.
In my moment of prayer, God reminded me to depend on my husband in these moments of fear. He is a levelheaded man and makes good decisions. Despite my feelings of desperation, I calmly told my husband, "I am having chest pains. They are about to close the door to the plane. Do you think we should get off?" He reached over to rub my head and said, "Honey, you are going to be fine. Lay your head back and rest for a while." I did not agree with him! I was sure I was going to die in the air! But it was the Lord's idea to ask my husband in the first place. As I realized I have been in this position before, I did what I was told even though everything in me said to get up and get out quickly! I have learned that sometimes things are not as they seem. Feelings of fear can be very deceptive! I trusted my prayer and my husband and my Father in heaven! So I closed my eyes, laid my head back, and surrendered!
Before take-off, I began working on a project I had brought in my bag. As I became distracted by this, my chest pains eased and I realized a few minutes later, I was actually enjoying the flight. The Lord had helped me to overcome the fear and I had become productive and filled with joy once again.
The thing about overcoming fear is the feelings are still there. The fear still lives in my feelings, but I do not let these feelings control my actions. I don't live in fear although sometimes I feel it. My actions are based on faith in a God who loves me and has done everything to save me from my fear! He has given it all so I can have faith in my weakest moments.
I write this today, because I have encountered several people with life-altering fear this week. I say life-altering because I know they are being inhibited from reaching their dreams because of fear! I am writing this to stand with them as a person with many fears, but a person who has not let fear stand in the way of my dreams! I have overcome these feelings and have walked through them. I am no longer ruled by fear! Yes, I do feel it, but when I feel it I do not let it stop me!
Revelation 12:11 says,"They overcame him (the enemy) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." I believe if I had not realized earlier in life that Jesus shed his blood to give me freedom, I would have essentially lived a life dead to my dreams and gifts. I would have been a person waiting for death instead of living in the fullness of life Jesus provided for me.
So today I am testifying. I have gone to the top of the Empire State building although I felt fear. I have confronted people I love although I felt fear. I have flown to China on a thirteen-hour flight although I felt fear. I have spoken in front of groups of 300 or more people although I have felt fear.
I have exchanged my fear for faith! I live today in victory over fear! And my life makes a difference even in all of my weaknesses and fears! Your life is important and your dreams can be realized! Please join me in trusting God to walk with you through your fears! When you feel fear, pray, and walk straight at it until you get to the other side! Your life is worth living! And living is a state that exists in faith not fear!
1 John 4:18- "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear..."
Friday, September 28, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Using Weakness to Gain Strength!
Lately, I have been feeling like my life is just a great big prayer list! As I go through life, I pray for many miracles! I ask God for help, and I trust Him to answer as I cry out to Him! My prayer list is added to as things are answered and it seems to stay in a balance of about 7 things in 8 categories. So I pray for about 56 things on a regular basis. My idle minutes are transformed into effective prayer time as I share my days in conversations with Jesus! I wonder if the last day of my life will be directly related to the list I have been praying. When the list is done and my time to pray is over I will go to my home in heaven and enjoy God's presence for all eternity!
As I was thinking about prayer and its huge part in my life, I began to ask the Lord to remind me of how He taught me to pray. It amazed me when I noticed the foundation of my prayer life is rooted in my two greatest weaknesses! When I first surrendered to the Lord, my life was filled with fear and anger! I was scared to death of even the most routine parts of life. I worried so much about everything and I thought that the worst things would happen to me and the people I loved! I also carried a deep well of anger from the things that happened in my life. I had anxiety and physical symptoms related to my anger and fear. And this is where the supernatural strength of my Abba, Father (Daddy) in heaven came to transform these weaknesses into powerful gifts and blessings to the world around me.
As I surrendered to God, He met me where I was! He worked with me in my weakness. He showed me a new way to live. He gave me "...a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair...!" (Isaiah 61:3) He "perfected His strength in my weaknesses!" God did things in my heart I did not think were possible! Now instead of worrying...I pray! When fear rises in my heart, I pray! I still have these weaknesses in my flesh but the result of them is for the kingdom purposes of God. Instead of being paralyzed by these weaknesses, I respond with prayer! Jesus has taught me to depend on Him in everything! I pray often because of my weakness and as I pray, I am convinced it is the most powerful thing I can do on earth! It changes everything! And so I spend my days watching with awestruck eyes, as the Almighty God who created everything we see answers my prayers! This is amazing! This has built a faith in me which has caused me to really believe, "NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!"
Jesus is the God of transformation! I have watched Him transform me and I believe Him to transform the situations and people around me! There is no limit to His power! There is no limit to His love! He is available to turn our weaknesses into strength! Thank you Lord for teaching me to pray!
As I was thinking about prayer and its huge part in my life, I began to ask the Lord to remind me of how He taught me to pray. It amazed me when I noticed the foundation of my prayer life is rooted in my two greatest weaknesses! When I first surrendered to the Lord, my life was filled with fear and anger! I was scared to death of even the most routine parts of life. I worried so much about everything and I thought that the worst things would happen to me and the people I loved! I also carried a deep well of anger from the things that happened in my life. I had anxiety and physical symptoms related to my anger and fear. And this is where the supernatural strength of my Abba, Father (Daddy) in heaven came to transform these weaknesses into powerful gifts and blessings to the world around me.
As I surrendered to God, He met me where I was! He worked with me in my weakness. He showed me a new way to live. He gave me "...a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair...!" (Isaiah 61:3) He "perfected His strength in my weaknesses!" God did things in my heart I did not think were possible! Now instead of worrying...I pray! When fear rises in my heart, I pray! I still have these weaknesses in my flesh but the result of them is for the kingdom purposes of God. Instead of being paralyzed by these weaknesses, I respond with prayer! Jesus has taught me to depend on Him in everything! I pray often because of my weakness and as I pray, I am convinced it is the most powerful thing I can do on earth! It changes everything! And so I spend my days watching with awestruck eyes, as the Almighty God who created everything we see answers my prayers! This is amazing! This has built a faith in me which has caused me to really believe, "NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!"
Jesus is the God of transformation! I have watched Him transform me and I believe Him to transform the situations and people around me! There is no limit to His power! There is no limit to His love! He is available to turn our weaknesses into strength! Thank you Lord for teaching me to pray!
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