No Fear

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” – Hebrews 13:5-6

Has spring sprung where you live?  Are the trees blossoming pink and white? Are yellow, purple, and blue flowers pushing their way through the hard ground?  (Or is everything still under a blanket of snow?)  Isn’t spring such a wonderful, hopeful time of the year?

Where I live, in the mountains of Colorado, spring is when the elk migrate through the land surrounding my home.  I’ve witnessed their arrival now for more than a decade now, but each time I drive around the corner and see the herd grazing in front of me, I’m amazed by how massive they are.  

Years ago, the kids and I pulled into the driveway to find a massive bull elk with gigantic antlers standing on our front porch, blocking the door.  Instantly I was caught in a moment of helplessness, frozen in fear.  

He was too big to ignore and way too dangerous to approach.  Minutes ticked by with the two of us just silently staring at each other.  Then, like waking from a dream, it occurred to me to honk the car horn.  Startled by the obnoxious noise, the elk galloped off the porch, past the car, and down an embankment to rejoin the herd.   

Why had it taken me so long to arrive at this simple solution to our problem?  Fear. 

Fear has a way of clouding our minds, making a situation much more difficult than it actually is.  Fear also paralyzes, stunts our spiritual growth, and blocks us from living our best life now.  

God must have known fear would have too much power over us.  That’s why His word reminds us not to be afraid three hundred and sixty-five times (once for every day of the year, it turns out.)  God knows that the enemy would love to use fear to steal our joy, stop us in our tracks, and block God’s good path for our lives.  It’s time to lay on the horn and shout out, “I will not be afraid!” Claim it and live it!

This is a perfect week to put a few spiritual practices in place that will safeguard you from fear.  As we walk toward Easter Sunday, I challenge you to do these three things every day this week.

• Wake up 10-15 minutes earlier than usual to spend alone time with God. Talk to God honestly.  Hand over your fears and ask for His loving guidance to lead you through your day. Imagine yourself making a wonderful trade with God.  You give Him your fears and He gives you His courage and confidence, His strength and renewed faith.

• Then, thank God for never leaving you. Thank Him for always walking with you.  And thank Him for being your faithful helper.  Declare to God that you will not be afraid. (Heb. 13:4-5 – there is power when you pray scripture) 

• Lastly, write down a quick list of what you’re thankful for.  Remember every good gift you have received is from your Heavenly Father (James 1:17).  God is your loving and good dad.  He longs to give you the desires of your heart.  Writing down your gratitude helps your mind store God’s goodness. 

I encourage you to write down scripture and your list of thanks on a 3x5 card or on your phone, so later in your day when fear rears its ugly head, you can pull out your list and be reminded that God is with you and for you.  Like an alarm, fear can be a Wake Up Call to your soul to start thanking God for who He is.  

Don’t let fear freeze you.  Instead, let God’s perfect love drive out all fear so you can follow Him wherever He leads you next.  

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a Part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement