Climbing over walls

There is nothing more frustrating than waking up in the morning and realizing you have yet another wall to climb, another hurdle to jump.

What do you find yourself staring at in the mornings?  Is it your job, or stress?  Maybe it's anxiety. Maybe, if you are anything like me, it's fear.

Fear.  It stops us dead in our tracks.  It distracts us, and holds us hostage and tricks us into thinking we are at (what feels like) arms length from our Creator.  Fear.  It binds us up, sometimes unable to remember the goodness and greatness of our God. Fear, it can make us slaves.

The good news here, we are not bound up.  We are not slaves.  That is a lie.

Christ came to set us free! Of this truth, I am so certain.  For that freedom I am thankful. 

Here is why I love God's word and what He says about fear:

 Psalm 27:1

 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?

This tells me that He owns me.  My Father has got my back.  He bought me for a price I could never repay.  Therefore, I can stand confident that fear does not belong in me (or you).

 2 Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,

 but a spirit of power, of love,

and of self discipline.

Ah-ha!  I shall not be timid because I have Jesus Christ my Savior in me!  He has gifted me, and YOU, a spirit of power to walk in Him, confident and sure!  We have the power in us to rebuke fear, to sucker punch the enemy right outta our lives.  Thank you Jesus!

 Isaiah 41:10

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.

This is, by far, one of my favs.  However, I am in love with the book of Isaiah.  His promises are true, always.  He commands us not to be fearful.  To trust in Him at all times.  Easier said than done, of this I am sure.  If we - I -  hide these promises He's given me in His word, deep down in my life and my heart, I can use these tools to fight back.

It's no accident that yesterday, after I started typing this blog, I got a text from a friend (whom I love dearly) wrestling with fear.  It's no accident that I was even more inspired to remind my friends of the power within us from Jesus to fight fear.  It's no accident that last night at prayer night, at my home church, a major focus was on spiritual warfare.  I know that my connection to the body of Christ is of NO accident.  The fact that he planted within me a seed to want to tackle this topic is no accident, either.

I have a responsibility to follow His lead and speak out in truth where there is deception.  I have an obligation to fight fear with those who need help fighting.  I have a deep desire to stand with those who need it.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be Strong and Courageous.

Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,

for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

" When you step out in tenacious courage to attack the walls in your life you will make the devil nervous.  When you bring an extravagant offering of worship to God, when you give a mighty victory cry of praise, the devil gets nervous because he knows the Power of our God to pull down strong holds that keep us bound.  The enemy knows we will be free as soon as we shout to the Lord in worship!"

- Darlene Zschech

Extravagant Worship

I couldn't have said better myself.

A tenacious, explosive cry of Praise.  I want my life to be a continual explosion of praise.  I do not want the enemy to gather a single foothold in my life.  I don't know about you, but nothing gives me more pleasure than knowing my Savior makes the enemy tremble.  It brings me great joy knowing that I have someone, a King, fighting for me (for me!! wow...).  It gives me courage to stand firm in the One who already won the war.  Jesus battled so that I may live.

I want my life to be an example of worship.  I want my life to be a testimony of standing firm and shouting out the Victory of the one who saves us.  I owe it all to Him, the keeper of my heart, the one who knows me inside and out.  The one who loves me. I refuse (from this day forward) to live my life in Fear, when I know full well that it has no power over me.  My deepest prayer is that the body of Christ has an ache to remind eachother of this truth.  I am far too guilty of allowing and validating fear, but no more.  I am standing in a victory cry of praise for, and with, my family. I hope you stand too.


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And because it's Friday:

 

 

It would bring out the inner 5 year old in me to see this plane in person, let alone fly in it.

Congrats Hello Kitty on making your Air time debut! I am shamelessly proud! To see more silly pictures click here.