What if I make a fool out of myself? What if…I really am a fool? What if homeschooling was the wrong choice? Have I ruined my kids? Is my kid doing enough? Am I enough? What if we shouldn’t have bought that house? Did I offend that person? Am I offensive?
These are all questions that have popped into my head at some time. No, not all at once! Here and there, maybe even over the past year.
The initial question itself is not necessarily bad. Questions, doubts, and self-reflection can be instrumental in growth and also show us where our insecurities are. Where do these kinds of questions become a problem? For me, it goes wrong when the question sparks fear or is generated by fear, and when that fear goes unchecked.
Unchecked fear might paralyze me from doing something important. Another fear might tempt me to do the opposite; a knee-jerk reaction. I’ve come to realize that fear can either move me toward the Lord and others, or the exact opposite.
For the next four weeks, I’ll be focusing in on moving from fear to trust and Christ-centered courage. I’m not focusing on it because I have it figured out; quite the contrary! The Lord is showing me that I need to make this a focus over this next year because it’s a great need in my own life.
Do you sense that fear might be a problem in your life?
Join me in asking, “Am I choosing Christ-centered courage?”
What do I mean by Christ-centered courage?
Christ-centered courage isn’t focused on our own strong response to fear. It’s letting the truths about Christ and who we are in Him drive our courage.
Christ-centered courage is when we are aware of a problem, admit our need for the Lord’s help, and move forward as we ask for His help.
I’m reading an excellent gem of a book right now called The Christian In Complete Armour written over three hundred years ago by a puritan writer named William Gurnall. I’ll share with you one of many amazing nuggets from the book, particularly a passage from a chapter titled: The Christian’s Call to Courage:
“He lived and died for you; He will live and die with you. His mercy and tenderness to His soldiers is unmatched. Historians tell us Trajan tore his own clothes to bind up his soldiers’ wounds. The Bible tells us Christ poured out His very blood as balm to heal His sants’ wounds; His flesh was torn to bind them up.”
William Gurnall
When you asked yourself whether or not you are choosing Christ-centered courage, did you find, like me, that there are areas where you are not choosing Christ-centered courage?
If so, be encouraged! Jesus promised us a helper, the Holy Spirit. Let’s make our next step be turning toward Him, who is also called our Wonderful Counselor.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” -John 14:26
Here are a few things we can pray for and try to move toward in regards to fear.
-Awareness – We can ask the Holy Spirit to help us become more aware of our fears. I can usually spot my fears by paying attention to when I feel angry and when I sin because I’m angry. Anger is a secondary emotion to fear. Sin and anger in my life are alarm bells letting me know that I’m afraid of something. For example, there are times when I’ve gotten angry in the presence of my children and have discovered that underneath, the fuel for that fire was that I was actually fearing that I was not a good parent.
“…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7
-Honest admittance of fear to myself and the Lord – I seek to run (not walk) to the Lord and talk to Him when He has helped me to identify a fear. If we are trusting in Christ alone for our salvation, we have access to Him. We need not be ashamed or afraid to share our feelings with Him.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7
-Ask for help. We can’t just erase our fears. They come up in us for a reason, and we need help to heal from them or to move toward trusting and going forward in Christ-centered courage. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves.
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me!You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.”
Psalm 139:1-6
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Psalm 139:23-24
I pray the Lord will enCOURAGE you today in truths about who He is and who you are in Him.
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