TargetPoint Volume 5 of 32
Todays Verse/Thought: Pick Your Fear and Toss It!
Psalm 91:5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor fear the dangers of the day . . .
Life Implication:
A British model once said, I don't mind flying. I always pass out before the plane leaves the ground. A feminist writer put it like this, By the time we are women, fear is as familiar to us as air. It is our element. We live in it, we inhale it, we exhale it, and most of the time we do not even notice it. Instead of I am afraid, we say, I don't want to, or I don't know how, or I can't. Perhaps men put it in other ways: That pursuit doesn't interest me, or I'm too busy to take that on right now.
WE LEARN IN LIFE TO COPE WITH OUR FEARS. We learn to use socially acceptable phrases, but we never, never want to admit to anyone that we are just plain afraid.
Our fears often manifest in uncontrollable anger, or in various phobias; perhaps we are always feeling stressed, or we try to control everything and everyone around us. What is your attitude in life? Do you feel like you live inside a glass half full, or half empty? Are you afraid to be alone? Are you afraid that your hurting memories of the past will repeat? Do you feel inadequate to meet life's opportunities? Are you afraid of the future? Of death? Of the opinions and judgments of others? Does fear cripple you in any way?
Do you try to numb your fears with alcohol, drugs or pornography? A recent ad, speaking of a particular natural vitamin, spoke to our culture: Natural Valium Nourishes Fears and Anxiety Away. What are your fears and what are the methods you may have unwittingly developed to cope with those fears?
Life Application:
IMAGINE a huge basket in the sky. Imagine God's hands holding that basket and lowering it down to you. Now, think of each fear you have. Visualize writing that fear out on a little piece of paper. In you mind's eye, see yourself tossing each of those little pieces of paper into God's huge basket. Ask Him to take each of those fears away from you. REMEMBER, as our scripture for today says, He wants you to live trusting in Him, and free from the bonds of fear!
As we move ahead, we will go deeper into what particular fears look like and how we can overcome them in Christ.
Tomorrow In TargetPoint:
Ostriches and Alligators