What do you FEAR most? Have you identified your FEAR? Can you imagine living just a short time without that FEAR? What would that freedom feel like? I just finished another of Thomas Nelson's books, FEARLESS, by Max Lucado. Fear to me, if unidentified, is like a thief that robs us of all the opportunities of living the victorious life that Christ would desire for us. We all have, or have had fear, and that fear will "always be at our door." Whether we want to admit it or not, as we observe and interact with individuals and their responses to situations, their fear(s) will soon surface. Lucado defines fear as "an emotional response to a threat that causes us to escape or avoid the threat." He goes on to say that "if fear is not dealt with, it can lead to a worse situation or unacceptable behaviors.” Over the years, I have seen how hard it is to react out of my faith rather than my fears. But this can be done. I haven't gotten it all perfected, but Lucado has certainly challenged me to continue my journey, combating fear by trusting God rather than myself. One way I try to keep myself in check is to ask/remind myself daily of the question, "Do I respond more out of fear of failure, rejection, calamity, or out of the power of the risen Christ in me?" God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control (2 Timothy 1: 7). WOW! Can you imagine your life without fear? Make sure you get a copy of Lucado's book Fearless. It is truly life changing. It is truly a tool to show you a life of freedom - free of our fears. Read it yourself, then share your copy with a friend.
I thought this book was time well spent. However, an older book by Lucado, A GENTLE THUNDER 'Hearing God through the storm' was much better. This book is easily broken into 2 halves. The first half, was like music to my ears. He nurtures a love for God by expressing how God walks with us in our daily lives; citing examples of His compassion and kindness. The second half, was an appeal to non-Christians, to hear the call to join us. Admittedly, the second half was not written for me; for the first half was without a doubt some of the finest writing I have ever enjoyed.
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