Take Courage, Do Not Fear

 







"But now take courage, Zerubbabel," declares the Lord, "take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage," declares the Lord, "and work; for I am with you," says the Lord of hosts.  "As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!"  Haggai 2:4-5

Fear.  Fear is something I dare say we all deal with.  Fear of rejection.  Fear of words that people are saying or may not say.  Fear is the enemy's greatest weapon to keep us stuck and paralyzed to move or live alive. 

I identify with fear, especially when it comes relationships and the daily living with the very people that matter to God.  The people of Israel also felt it.  

You see, years ago they started to rebuild the temple as a result of the vision of several men.  They worked and the opposition began until finally they were decreed to stop and they did.  The project laid silent for many years.

And then the prophet Haggai spoke words of the Lord to the people; words to pick up courage and to pick up the work of rebuilding again.  Some of the words Haggai spoke to the people were the words and it is the message God had for the people..."Take courage AND do not fear."  

These words for the people of ages ago are words for you and I today.  I know I have my own set of fears and I'm sure you do too.  For the enemy delights to taunt us with fear for it keeps us on the ground, cowering to take a step.  Cowering in the fear of what others will say if I do...  It keeps us paralyzed to move into action and then nothing is done or spoken.

Words my mentor spoke that stopped me in my tracks as I shared the cost of living alive and being myself are in part, "It is a gift you give Jesus, to live in who you are called to be, to live alive." 

Yes, who we are is a gift to Jesus and really, Satan is out to destroy God in us and His breath of life within us and when we cower in fear, staying rooted to the spot - Satan wins in that moment.

One of the steps and the first one is to look at what we are fearing right in its face.  And then looking to God for the direction and validation we need.  I have found that in moments like this I am also my own 'enemy' instead of believing in myself because of God in me and who He knows me to be.  

We tend to be our own worst critic instead of championing on in the power and words of God's truth - "Take courage, do not fear, I am with you and My Spirit abides in your midst."

Here's to taking courage and stepping forward in the belief that God is with me and in the midst, so I don't need to give in to fear.

Will you join me in facing your fear and choosing courage because of God in your midst?

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