I’m so peeved at myself right now. Every time I think I’m made huge improvements in the area of self-esteem and confidence, another area is always uncovered. Let me explain. Lately, I’ve been trying to lose weight. Thirty pounds to be exact. Those who know me think I’m crazy for trying to do so, but I’m at the point where I want to be healthy (and yes, I know weight does not dictate the measurement of physical wholeness, but it is a component for some, including me). So in order for me to lose weight and focus on being healthy, that includes working out and being active. Naturally, I’m not athletic and could care less about being active. But because I want to be a good steward over the physical body I’ve been given while inhabiting the earth, exercise has to be included in my lifestyle.
Hence, the 5k. Yep, most people know 5k is 3.1 miles. This is what I will be running on May 14th of this year. I’m going to be honest with you. I’m so plagued with fear wondering if I’ll actually be able to run that distance, although I have more than 9 weeks to train; although I never mastered the skill of jogging/running in the past, I overcame that fear; although I have pushed myself physically before to lose the first 30 pounds; although I am surrounded by people who have run the 10k, and a full marathon, I am at the point of questioning whether I can really do this or not. Now, I know this isn’t of God and my logic continues to tell me it is ridiculous to be this fearful of this feat. Of course, the actual root cause of this whole thing for me is fear of failure, which again isn’t of God.
Why do I continue to see things that don’t measure up to my idea of success to be failure? Why do I keep using my own limited mindset as the rubric for what is success and failure? Why do I continue to let the whispers of fear in various area of my life speak to me instead of allowing the Living Word to soak me and leave me so drenched that fear has no place in my life? Why do I continue to allow myself to be limited in what and I can should achieve in life instead of believing that if I have an idea that sounds outrageous in my mind to believe that it must be God speaking to me and if it is so, then He has made provisions for me to achieve that task?
So for those of you struggling with fear, doubt, uncertainty, your assignment (as well as mine) will be to meditate (meaning constantly keep your mind on, study, ponder, digest) these scriptures, as well as other scriptures you may come across in dealing with overcoming fear.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love cases out fear, because fear involved torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love”. – 1 John 4:18
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15
“God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength” Philippians 4:13
Whenever fear of whatever it is you are going through begins to rise up, cast them down ASAP. The longer it takes for you cast them down, the harder it will be to get rid of that thought. I recently heard that if a thought stays on mind longer than 30 seconds, then you have already given it too much time. I have found that statement to be very true. If you feel that it is a true stronghold, then you it may be something you need to fast through in addition to soaking yourself with the Word. For me personally, there was one instance, where I was fearful of driving on overpasses, especially narrow ones. I would just be extremely nervous even in perfect weather conditions. It was one night I was driving home during an ice storm that really worked my nerves and all I could do was speak in unknown tongues (Acts 2:4) for almost the entire drive home. It was about a few weeks after that incident I noticed I no longer got that panicked feeling when driving on the overpass.
So leave you with this scripture, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”. – Philippians 3:14
Until next time…
