It’s FUN!

Really? People try to explain it to me, but I don’t get it. This whole fear factor element behind the way some folks celebrate Halloween.They defend their enjoyment with “It’s fun! It’s an adrenal rush!”   My daughter echoed my sentiments when she shared the stark terror one little boy encountered at one of the local Halloween events. I’m not bashing folks that enjoy???? that sorta thing.   I love a good prank. Yes, it’s funny to see what people do when they get startled. OK! if you like that kinda thing, have at it.    

But I don’t want to hang out with anything that even resembles fear. Tweet!

This is where you see me climb onto my soap box. My index finger isn’t pointing outward at you, if you look close, you’ll notice, it’s curved back toward me. Just this week I was asked by a wise friend, “Why?” I stopped to ponder the pointed question. I squirmed. They repeated the same question, “Why?” My answer was painful…”Fear.” I can make excuses. I can package it with an attractive ribbon, but it’s still fear. And I’ve been blogging on peace recently. Boy, do I need to take a dose of my own medicine.

Fear is a thief!

Fear cripples.

Fear immobilizes.

Fear lies.

Fear can make you dance around with indecision until you miss an important date with opportunity.

Fear intimates and isolates.

Fear will locks you in the prison of regret and un-fulfillment. In its climate you will recoil, hoard your giftings and your resources, instead of investing them in a life that is well spent. Tweet this!

 Fear questions sound something like this:

• What if I make a mistake?
• What if I fail?
• What if this is the wrong decision?
• What if I look stupid?
• What will people think?

Fear questions will leave you frozen in place.

Hope asks you, what if you are right? What if you succeed? What if this choice IS a step in the right decision? What if this step makes you look really, really wise, instead of stupid?

You’ll never know until you try.

You’ll never know until you take a step out of your comfort zone and toward your dream.

Hold everything!

I’m not encouraging you to go ice fishing on a lake if you don’t know whether or not the thing is frozen solid enough to walk on. And I’m certainly not encouraging you to violate common sense or healthy fear that keeps you from doing stupid things. But I am encouraging you to stop, think and decide. “Is this a good fear or a bad fear”, should be your first consideration.

Good fear.

Fear of God. Proverbs 14:27 NIV “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.” Tweet this! Fear that prevents me from sinning. Exodus 20:20 NIV “Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” Fear that keeps me safe. Proverbs 14:16 NLT “The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with great confidence.”

Bad Fear

Fear of people. Proverbs 29:25 NIV “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” Tweet this! Any Fear that:

• debilitates
• torments
• robs you of joy
• makes you cower
• accuses
• intimidates
• freezes you in place.

 Frozen?

Maybe you’ve allowed fear to do to you what cold weather does to me–stop you from living life to the fullest. Fear gives new meaning to the word frozen. And would I be exaggerating to say that every little girl in America knows how to respond to “Frozen”? Let it go. (Singing.) LET IT GO!

And the reason why you can let it go.

Isaiah 41:13 NIV “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you” There’s no room in your hand for God’s hand and fear. So let fear go! Let it go! Tweet this!

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