Hi Friends!
I’m curious…what is it you are most afraid of?
For me, I join the millions of people in the world with a fear of public speaking.
When I was little, I wet my pants at school all the time because I was too afraid to raise my hand in class. (I’m not kidding, you can even ask my mom).
The thought of everyone looking at me was just too much for this shy, insecure, red haired little girl. My face would turn “beet red” when all eyes were on me (still does!) ~ and I dreaded ever being the center of attention in class. Ugh.
After I came to know Jesus, I sensed God wanted me to share my testimony for His Kingdom purposes. I was terrified.
However, after years of living in rebellion, I was more terrified of not obeying Him than people looking at me.
I would go with fear and trembling whenever a church would ask me to share – but trust me, I never went out seeking opportunities.
In 1999 I was hired to work as a ministry leader at a Grand Rapids area mega-church. Only the Lord would provide opportunities for this shy girl to share ministry updates in front of 10,000 people on Sunday’s.
Did you notice I said TEN THOUSAND people!
Only God.
Since that time, God has been stretching me in this area. Thankfully I no longer wet my pants when people look at me (whew!) ~ but not one time do I head somewhere to speak where it comes “naturally”.
My stomach is always in knots, I usally can’t sleep the night before, and not only do I “pray like crazy” ~ I have a whole team of prayer warriors who pray me through each and every event.
So you’ll never believe what God is asking me to do this week. Once again, only God.
I’ll give you a hint ~ it has to do with me, five video cameras, lights, a team of people, and an audience of women. Yes, it’s the Red Hot Faith video teaching. You can read more about it here
Can you feel my face getting blotchy already?
However, God’s Word is clear…
The Lord has not given us a spirit of timidity or fear, but of POWER, LOVE, and SELF-DISCIPLINE (2 Timothy 1:7).
And I refuse to bring my old fears into this new day!
I will be there this week ready to face my biggest lifetime fear….and hopefully, Lord willing, I won’t wet my pants 🙂
How about for you…what are you most afraid of??
What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
Are you allowing “old fears” to creep into your “new days”?
May we keep our eyes fixed on Him and watch Him work ~ He is a God who can make the impossible possible!! And as Beth Moore says, “Let’s do it afraid!”
Have a wonderful, joy-filled week, my dear bloggy friend! I treasure you!
In His Sweet Love,
P.S. You can check here for behind-the-scenes footage from the Red Hot Faith filming next week! I’d love to share this experience with you. 🙂
Cindy !!!!!! Wow!! I too (HONEST) wet my pants giving a speech in the 5th grade on how to play marbles !!! My shoes squeaked the whole way down to the office where my Mom brought me clean clothes and made me go back to class !! I am not kidding !! Anyway , when I first started to speak in front of others about five years ago, I remember how afraid I was that I would disappoint myself but bigger still that I would let God down. Such lies from the enemy !! I have never ever been disappointed and I know I have not let Him down. His reassurance is wonderful. Recently I had been begging God to heal me !! Take this fear away from me !! And He told me NO, I will not remove it. If you remember, that was part of the closing of my speech that I really didn’t
have enough time to explain. When God said, NO, that’s when He reminded me that His grace is sufficient for me. And, He is !! He then asked me if I would embrace all my fears and watch what He wants to do through them in me to give Him Glory. Wow !! I said YES, I CAN DO THAT !! Ever since I have embraced it I am now filled with excitement to be His messenger and watch what amazing things He can now accomplish in me and through me. Truly, I say yes, take steps to be faithful to what He asks and He shows up to take over:) He is so wonderful!! What an awesome God we serve. May He freshly anoint and baptize you with the Holy Spirit during this time. Christ in you !! The Hope of Glory !! love and prayers for you, Pam Nelson
Cindy! Bless you for your faithfulness and generous heart to keep going! Thank you for all your gifts shared with so many! Thank you for the invitation to contemplate myself!
Oh, Cindy, what a blessing you are being and how amazing at how The Lord is using this once shy girl. May He continue to bless you as you bless others in His name. Happy new week!
love that phrase, “do it afraid.” i awakened this morning afraid. and i;m not even sure of what! this happens sometimes, a spirit of fear descends and i WANT to go to bed and avoid all. but i make myself go ahead with you know, the living. so this phrase? great for today!
Do it afraid…..love that statement. And what a great question to ponder “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” One of them might be skydiving. Ha! But seriously I would so love to do that but if anyone could not jump out of the plane the right way, pull the right cord, etc. etc it would be me. Another is public speaking – still paralyzed with fear from a speaking engagement gone horribly bad. So happy for you and can’t wait to get your bible study.