In my last blog, I exposed the three arch enemies of your purpose i.e., fear, doubt, and unbelief. In this blog and subsequent blogs, we are going to delve into strategies to defeat each one.
Regarding fear, I remember when I was younger; I allowed fear to rob me of opportunities. I was afraid to take risks. I truly missed some great opportunities! As I reflect, I realized that I had to “think about what I was thinking about” to borrow a quote from Joyce Myer, author of Battlefield of the Mind, I realized that my inner thoughts were fueled with quite a few “buts.” But is a good word; however, within the context of fear, it is like an accelerant; it fuels the fearful imagination and prevents you from taking purposeful risks.
I recall the story of Joshua and Caleb in the Book of Numbers. They were among the scouts that Moses sent out to survey the land of Canaan (The Promised Land). While most of the scouts saw an opportunity in the land, fear caused them to talk themselves out of wanting to pursue the opportunities (Numbers 13:28-31) so much so that fear overtook their imaginations and they perceived themselves to be like grasshoppers compared to the giants they claimed they saw (Numbers 13:33).
- Fear will distort the reality of what God has said in your life
- Fear will cause you to fit in the crowd even when the crowd is wrong
- Fear is false evidence appearing real!
- Fear will cause you to make unsound decisions and go back in bondage.
- Fear will cause you to live in the past (Numbers 14:3)
- Fear will cause you to rebel against God (Numbers 14:4)
Kick the BUT out of Fear
Joshua & Caleb kicked the “but” out of fear by putting their confidence in God’s ability and God’s presence. They knew God!
- They saw through the eyes of faith and believed what they could not see.
- They both knew God’s ways and character through relationship
- God honors fearlessness when it is done for His Glory (Numbers 14: 24).
- God’s presence is with us.
Are you ready to possess some territories for the Kingdom of God? Are you ready to become a change agent for the Kingdom of God? Are you ready to fulfill your purpose? Then go kick some “buts!”