"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
"The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?"
I have been given the privilege of speaking in front of several people at my church tomorrow night for a couple minutes about fear and how God has helped me in my fight against it. I decided it would be good to just write out some stuff about it on here, to brainstorm if you will, or just think some about it.
Fear has been something I've struggled with for a while. It's mainly been fear of other people, not that I'd be hurt by them or anything, but I've been afraid of their perception of me. I don't want to be looked down upon. I don't want to be judged. I don't want to mess up. I fear making mistakes. I fear speaking up and speaking out. In terms of perception, I've never really cared how people view me outwardly-how I dress or how my hair looks, that hasn't really bothered me much. What I care about is what others think of me as a person, and this has caused fear to rise up in me.
If I mess up-what will people say? Will they want to speak to me anymore? Will they value my opinions? If I stumble over my words, will they listen to what I have to say? If I say the wrong thing, something they don't agree with, will they argue with me and push me down?
I've feared being a leader in that I might lead in the wrong direction. That I might think God is saying one thing but He's really saying another. That I might misinterpret something.
So mainly, I fear messing up and making mistakes. But you know what I've realized? God is bigger than my mistakes. If I don't step out, how can He use me? I am not more powerful than Him-I can never do anything that could mess something up so bad that He couldn't fix it. As I trust in Him and follow Him and lean on His strength, I'll learn to hear His voice more clearly and follow His direction more closely. As I follow Him, He is with me. He's not going to leave me or forsake me. He is my strength when I am weak. He is my light when I cannot see. He is my Deliverer, my Stronghold, my Protection. He knows every detail about me, yet He loves me anyway. And not only does He love me, but He wants to use me. He wants to help me. He pushes me out of my comfort zone so that the only option is to trust in Him for strength.
Even in the past week, He has challenged me with just praying in front of people I respect. And now He's challenging me with speaking in front of a ton of people. He's breaking off the power that fear has had in my life. As I put more faith in Him, the fear melts away, replaced with boldness. But I must never let my guard down, I must never just slip into complacency, for then the enemy attacks me with more fear yet again. I must remain grounded in the Word and spend time with Him daily. I must constantly be reminded of what He has done for me. I must not forget.
God, I give tomorrow to you. Use me as You will. I wish to be an empty vessel through which You work, not so that I may have any glory, but so that the people who listen are strengthened and encouraged. I want others to know how amazing You are. I want them to know that You are my Rock and Fortress. I want them to know that I can do nothing without You. Thank You for Your never-ending love. Thank You for this opportunity to speak. Thank You for Your encouragement and peace. I love You, my Father.
May God bless you and keep you as you go about your day.
Brianna
:)†<3U
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Encouraging Scriptures
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55:22
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
The Lord is my Light and my Salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.
Psalm 28:7
The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.
Psalm 29:11
No, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.
John 14:1
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, and by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way an the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Psalm 46:1-3
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46:11
I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3
Isaiah 41:10
Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.
Psalm 55:22
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
The Lord is my Light and my Salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.
Psalm 28:7
The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.
Psalm 29:11
No, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me.
John 14:1
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, and by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way an the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Psalm 46:1-3
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46:11
I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Freedom
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
I felt the desire to write something, even if no one is going to read it. Who knows? Maybe someone will read, maybe someone won't, but I will write anyway.
This past weekend, I went on a prayer summit with my church. I was the youngest there from my church, and one of only four youth. I felt honored to be invited and am so glad that I went. I am blessed, so blessed. I have a family who loves me and is excited for me to go to things like this and even comes with me. I have friends who are on fire for God and who challenge me daily. And most of all, I have a loving Father who gave His only Son to rescue me from my own failures. He gives me strength, in Him alone do I put my trust. I know He will never fail me. I know He is always with me, and I will praise Him for the rest of my life.
The reason this post is titled "freedom" is that in this last week I have a new level of freedom. I am an introvert and pretty shy, especially around people I don't know or those I consider more spiritually mature than I am. I have become comfortable enough praying with my group of friends, but beyond that I struggle.
This weekend, we split into groups during prayer time, and my three friends and me followed our youth pastor because he was in charge of a group. An elder in our church that we all really love came too. After we started to pray in the first session, someone came and sat in a seat, joining our circle. My eyes were closed, so I didn't know who it was initially, but when he started to pray, I recognized his voice immediately: the senior pastor of my church.
I definitely sensed breakthrough this week for me. In the midst of this group, initially I did feel uncomfortable praying, yet by the last session there was a comfort and a peace I felt about it. I realize now that it is God who has placed this "shyness" in me: as a result, I am reliant on Him for courage to speak out. And He does give me courage and strength, and as I grow closer to Him I realize how much He loves me and truly is with me. He is a God of truth, and He keeps His promises-and He has promised to never leave me or forsake me.
I am free to worship. I am free to pray. I am free to live a life on fire for God. And I have this freedom through Christ Jesus, my Friend, my Savior, my Brother. Praise be to God forever and ever! Hallelujah(-weh)!
God is good all the time, and all the time He is good.
God Bless!
Bria(nna)
:)†<3U
Smile, Jesus Loves You!
I felt the desire to write something, even if no one is going to read it. Who knows? Maybe someone will read, maybe someone won't, but I will write anyway.
This past weekend, I went on a prayer summit with my church. I was the youngest there from my church, and one of only four youth. I felt honored to be invited and am so glad that I went. I am blessed, so blessed. I have a family who loves me and is excited for me to go to things like this and even comes with me. I have friends who are on fire for God and who challenge me daily. And most of all, I have a loving Father who gave His only Son to rescue me from my own failures. He gives me strength, in Him alone do I put my trust. I know He will never fail me. I know He is always with me, and I will praise Him for the rest of my life.
The reason this post is titled "freedom" is that in this last week I have a new level of freedom. I am an introvert and pretty shy, especially around people I don't know or those I consider more spiritually mature than I am. I have become comfortable enough praying with my group of friends, but beyond that I struggle.
This weekend, we split into groups during prayer time, and my three friends and me followed our youth pastor because he was in charge of a group. An elder in our church that we all really love came too. After we started to pray in the first session, someone came and sat in a seat, joining our circle. My eyes were closed, so I didn't know who it was initially, but when he started to pray, I recognized his voice immediately: the senior pastor of my church.
I definitely sensed breakthrough this week for me. In the midst of this group, initially I did feel uncomfortable praying, yet by the last session there was a comfort and a peace I felt about it. I realize now that it is God who has placed this "shyness" in me: as a result, I am reliant on Him for courage to speak out. And He does give me courage and strength, and as I grow closer to Him I realize how much He loves me and truly is with me. He is a God of truth, and He keeps His promises-and He has promised to never leave me or forsake me.
I am free to worship. I am free to pray. I am free to live a life on fire for God. And I have this freedom through Christ Jesus, my Friend, my Savior, my Brother. Praise be to God forever and ever! Hallelujah(-weh)!
God is good all the time, and all the time He is good.
God Bless!
Bria(nna)
:)†<3U
Smile, Jesus Loves You!
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