"Don't do it! Don't do it! They are going to laugh at you!" "Are you kidding me? You actually think you are gonna be able to pull that off?? Do you remember the last time you tried something like this? You don't really think you can do it, do you?" "You failed it once, you'll fail it again." "You reputation is on the line here... when you screw it up, you're gonna be a screw up." "You're going to fail God, you know that right? You'll make such a mistake, He'll abandon you and never ask anything of you again." Is this the same voice you have in your head when God asks you to step out in faith and do something for Him? It might be sharing the gospel. It might be to ask someone how you can pray for them. It might mean taking the job. It might mean breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend. It might mean opening your home up for a Bible study. It might mean leading one. It might mean joining or starting a ministry. Whatever the thing is that God asks you to do, it seems that there is always a concerning voice speaking against it. That, my friend, is not the voice of a Friend, but rather of an enemy. An enemy who wants to thwart the plans of God. And just like he challenged Eve in the garden of Eden about what God said, he will do the same to you. Do you remember the story of Eve and her disobedience? God commanded that one tree would not be eaten from, and if Adam or Eve ate from it, they would die. Fast forward a bit, and here's Eve hangin' out in the garden, and a talking snake comes up to her and says, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?'" Remember it now? Satan twisted what God had commanded them. God never said that they couldn't eat from any tree, but only from one tree could they not eat. After Eve responded to the serpent, Satan also told her that God lied.
When God asks us to do something, often times Satan tries to challenge you on what you heard. Did God actually say to start a Bible study? Did God actually say to break up with that guy? Did God actually say to take that job? Are you relating to this yet? The second part of the voice is the, "They're going to laugh!" "You're gonna be a loser!" "You're going to fail!" These are fear of man issues, and we all have them. The problem here, is being more submissive to the one who laughs, calls you a loser, or judges you if it fails, then submitting to the One who called you to do it in the first place! We have to remember who God is! When we take a step of faith- it's just that, a step of faith. It's not about what we're gonna do or can do for God, but what God is going to do in and through us! When God asks us to take a step of faith, it often results in blessing.
As some of you know, God asked me to break off a relationship in college that meant a lot to me and was 7 years deep. Definitely a step of faith- and it resulted in me meeting my husband Joey two weeks later.
As most of you don't know, I have started a women's ministry in my town of Barronett. It was a step of faith in that I was scared nobody would come, that it would fail and my leadership skills would be terrible. My step of obedience has resulted in three meetings so far, with some dedicated and godly women with the Spirit of God noticeably present. Again, it's not about me, and what I can do for God, but rather what He is going to do in and through me!
Most of us struggle with fear of man. What if I ask someone how I can pray for them, and they laugh at me? What are they going to think of me if this fails? What are they going to think of me if I tell them I'm a Christian? How about you change your thinking. What if you do ask someone how you can pray for them and because of your faith and step of obedience, they ask about Jesus and you get to lead them to Him? What if you're fear of failing man results in disobedience to God? And because of your disobedience you become insecure and just like Adam and Eve did, you try to hide from God. What if you don't tell them you're a Christian, and instead of standing firm in your faith- you become weak and submit to their sinful deeds.
PEOPLE we should have much more fear in God than fear of man. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) And whatever the purpose of God is, it will prevail- even if that means using someone else.
I don't know about you, but I want God to see me as a honorable vessel. I want to see fruit in my life because of obedience and faith. I want to care more about what God thinks of me than my friends, coworkers, boss or family. My friends, coworkers, boss or family can't save me from death- only God can through Christ. The person you fear is the one you serve the most.
Who do you fear? Whom do you serve?
~Leanne~
As some of you know, God asked me to break off a relationship in college that meant a lot to me and was 7 years deep. Definitely a step of faith- and it resulted in me meeting my husband Joey two weeks later.
As most of you don't know, I have started a women's ministry in my town of Barronett. It was a step of faith in that I was scared nobody would come, that it would fail and my leadership skills would be terrible. My step of obedience has resulted in three meetings so far, with some dedicated and godly women with the Spirit of God noticeably present. Again, it's not about me, and what I can do for God, but rather what He is going to do in and through me!
Most of us struggle with fear of man. What if I ask someone how I can pray for them, and they laugh at me? What are they going to think of me if this fails? What are they going to think of me if I tell them I'm a Christian? How about you change your thinking. What if you do ask someone how you can pray for them and because of your faith and step of obedience, they ask about Jesus and you get to lead them to Him? What if you're fear of failing man results in disobedience to God? And because of your disobedience you become insecure and just like Adam and Eve did, you try to hide from God. What if you don't tell them you're a Christian, and instead of standing firm in your faith- you become weak and submit to their sinful deeds.
PEOPLE we should have much more fear in God than fear of man. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) And whatever the purpose of God is, it will prevail- even if that means using someone else.
I don't know about you, but I want God to see me as a honorable vessel. I want to see fruit in my life because of obedience and faith. I want to care more about what God thinks of me than my friends, coworkers, boss or family. My friends, coworkers, boss or family can't save me from death- only God can through Christ. The person you fear is the one you serve the most.
Who do you fear? Whom do you serve?
~Leanne~
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