Fear vs. Opportunity

I sang in front of an audience for the first time at about age seven. My stomach was so filled with hyperactive butterflies that I thought I might fly right off into space, but I loved the feeling that came from knowing I had pleased the audience when I was done. And now all these years later, I still feel super nervous before (and sometimes during) a show. In fact, even though I have been teaching for 21 years, I still get jitters on the first day of school. My passions are often fueled by nervous energy.

The most outstanding of victories in my life have always had an uninvited show opener... Fear and his band Sabotage. I could let them take over the show, but then what?

Truth: when Opportunity knocks on your front door, Fear is knocking just as loudly at the back door. He loves to interrupt, to butt in, to invite himself to our party.

Great things are not accomplished without Fear. Great things are accomplished when we look Fear in the eye, grab him by the throat, and punch him right in the face!

We have to tell Fear to go right back to Hell where he came from. We have to say to that servant of the enemy that if he doesn’t move, we are about to plow him down or run him through. We need to remind ourselves that God said He would never leave us. In fact, He has given His angels charge over us. We don't have be afraid to race towards those opportunities, dreams, and goals. Instead we can let Fear's tricks empower and fuel us toward victory. If the Almighty God is for us, who does Fear think he is anyway? Is he REALLY big enough to go against our God?

I sure am glad that many mighty men and women before me did not give in to fear, that they charged towards the ideas and opportunities God gave them. Men like them give us freedom. They brought us God's Word. Men like them built our nation. They never let Fear upstage them.

As you greet your opportunities this week, remember that Fear will force his way in. Don't let him steal the show. God wants you to accomplish great things. Grace to you in your fight for greatness.