The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. –Proverbs 29:25 (MSG)
The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high. –Proverbs 29:25 (AMP)
Good Morning Friend!
Has your fear(s) disabled you?
F-e-a-r…fear is defined by the Webster's dictionary as a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Have you been so afraid of something (or someone) that the thought of it (or them) literally freezes you? I remember when I was younger my eldest brother told me that there was a ghost living under the stairs that led to the basement of our parents house. Me being the smart individual that I am (even at 6 years old…SMILE!) responded back with assuredly "no there isn't." One day I went in the basement to get my bike so that I could go outside and play with my friends. As I walked down the stairs I felt a hand grab one leg and another hand rub the other leg. Needless to say this caught me off guard (even with my brothers warning still in the back of my head) and scared me so that I ran back up the stairs, through the house, darted upstairs and locked myself in the bathroom. I was now so scared that I couldn't even explain to my mom what had happened to me or what I was running from. (Don't laugh…I was just a baby then.) I was so scared (even months later) that I couldn't push myself to go into the basement to get my bike, play with any of my toys, etc. Fear kept me away from and situated its self right in-between myself and those things I loved to do so much. This is what happens when we allow the opinions, thoughts and emotions of others to control us. When we fear what others will say, do, think, how they will respond and act towards us— we stifle our individual growth, exposure and progress.
The bible warns us that the fear of our fellow man in the sense of their opinion and judgment will immobilize, hinder, render us inoperative and yes DISABLE us. Isn't it odd that we will allow what people think to stop us right in the middle of what GOD SAID? When we allow the opinions of others to halt us from doing the will of God we say loud and clear "what others think matters more to me than what God said." (Oh that was good…imma give myself an offering for that one.) However, scripture gives the remedy to this quandary in the B-clause of Proverbs chapter 29 verse 25. It declares "but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high." Trusting in God always secures you and gives you the courage needed to go on. You may be a little nervous at first (that's always my indication that it's not "I" but the Christ who lives in me that is about to perform the work needed), but once you begin to work you will "feel your help coming on" as the preachers used to say back in the day. Meaning you will begin to feel the supernatural power of God flow through you, empowering you to go forth—removing all doubt and fear.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6) When we trust in God we take ourselves and what we "think" others are going to say about us out of the equation. Trusting God simply says to God that you have total confidence in Him. Moreover when we move in the flow of the Lord we are in return saying "thank you" to God for choosing us to work through (what a privilege). May it be in ministry or our secular involvements, when we keep our eyes on God, as well as the promise and destiny He has pronounced over us, we won't fall prey to the opinions of man. Keep your focus and trust in the Lord my friend…you're almost there!
Love and Life,
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