AFRAID- 5 MINUTE FRIDAY
It's Friday (YAY!) and I'm linking up with LisaJo Baker for 5 Minute Fridays.
It's a wonderful writing exercise and an even better community! Come join us and be blessed!
This weeks word is "AFRAID."
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community.
Afraid. Boy this is a tough one. I'd rather not admit that I've lived most of my life afraid.
Afraid people won't like me.
Afraid I won't be "good enough."
Afraid of disease.
Afraid of trying new things.
Afraid of failure.
Afraid of success.
Afraid of relationships.
......Afraid of God.
It chokes me up just to type the words. It's no coincidence that this weeks word is afraid. Just this week as I was doing a discipleship study with a dear friend, God brought this fear to my attention.
We were studying the Holy Spirit. Our memory verse was:
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Sumaria and to the ends of the earth."
~Acts 1:8
As we were talking it through, my difficulty in relating to the Holy Spirit, God gave me the revelation that I have been scared of the power that comes with the Holy Spirit.
Ouch. That one stung a bit, I have to admit. Scared of letting God do His good work in and through me.
But, knowing is half the battle. Now my prayer is that I will be released from this fear so that I can fully embrace all that He has for me.
"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
~Romans 8:15
P.s....I was really afraid to write this post. All week I was thinking about how I could share this. Apparently God really wanted me to share this since He had LisaJo pick "Afraid" as this weeks topic. :)
Even if I don't know it, I wonder if deep down I'm tentative of how powerful the Spirit is, and that the Holy Spirit is willing to empower me to become more like Christ... because that might mean radical change, not just living apathetically anymore. Am I willing to allow God, through the Spirit, to make me more like Him, to make me bold for Him, to make me who I really am in Christ and enable me to do good works He has planned in advance for me to do? Thank you for your honesty that has challenged others. You are not alone, and we are all learning and figuring out what it means to follow Christ in this life. I am so thankful we are now children of God, and He is such a good Dad, full of grace and so patient. When I really focus on Him, and His attributes, and His presence, fears and shortcomings are overpowered by His power!
ReplyDeleteAMEN!!!!! Radical change is a scary thing....it is what He is bringing about in my life. He is bringing me to a place of all for Him and He is so gentle and loving about it.
DeleteThank you for sharing with me. It is nice to know I am not alone!
I love how God has worked in you this week - with this word and your study. He does that, doesn't he?
ReplyDeleteI love what you wrote:
"Ouch. That one stung a bit, I have to admit. Scared of letting God do His good work in and through me."
Praying that you will learn to trust Him enough to allow His Holy Spirit to penetrate deeply into your soul. Praying that you will be freed of this fear and able to march out with head held high and the spirit of God working powerfully in you.
Blessings,
Janis
He does do that and I am so thankful. I am always really geared up about a revelation and then I let it kind of fade away. Lately, He has really been doing this alot, confirming what He really wants me to concentrate on. I am so grateful!
DeleteThank you for your prayers and encouragement!
Ahhh...good stuff. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete:) Ironically I take the power of the Holy Spirit for granted. So much, that He pulled back from me for a moment to help me remember that it's not mine. It's His. I love this honesty. God is amazing to call us out and pull us along in His love and mercy. To give us an abundant life.
ReplyDeleteHoping you feel His Spirit at work through you this week and revel in His acceptance of you. Blessings!
His Spirit is definitely at work.....never letting me go! I'm so looking forward to this next step of my faith journey.
DeleteThank you for your encouragement.
Not afraid to reference GI Joe in the midst of it all though...a good start. :) May God continue to bring peace and confidence of His Spirit...
ReplyDeleteGI Joe? Any reference was accidental....although maybe it was in my subconscious....I do have a 9 year old boy. :) Thank you for the encouragement!
DeleteThank you for sharing so honestly here. I think we all struggle with fear in our own ways but admitting it and releasing it to God is definitely a step in the right direction. Have you ever read Jessica, who writes at Hand Me Down Grace? She is another five minute Friday gal and she wrote a #31 days to fearless which will soon be an ebook. It is phenomenal stuff. Here's a link to her blog, if you haven't checked it out yet. http://www.handmedowngrace.com/
ReplyDeleteThank you! I will definitely check it out. I think I've seen her at the FMFParty. :)
ReplyDelete