Are you existing or living?

Is fear paralyzingly you from fulfilling God's call on your life?

You are created in the image of God. You have been created on purpose for a purpose. You are God's workmanship. You are filled with God given dignity and God given purpose. There is so much more to you than you realize as a daughter of the King. When you know who you belong to you begin to act like the person you belong to. When you know that you were created on purpose for a purpose you are going to treasure the gift called life a whole lot more. You were not created to just exist, but to leave a passion, purpose driven life.  John 10:10 said that Jesus came so that you might have life and life more abundant... not a boring, predictable existence. So many people fight to hang on to their routines and are just existing as opposed to living the life that God has called us to live.

God called us to live wild, untamed, undomesticated lives. We get into our cages, our Christian legalism and end up with these nice, safe, boring, comfortable lives. Jesus Christ did not come from Heaven to Earth, die on a cross, shed His blood at Calvary, be separated from the Father for three days and rise from the dead just to give you a nice, comfortable safe life... to give you a white picket fence, 2.2 kids and a mortgage. Jesus did not come to make us "safe." He came to make us "dangerous" to the kingdom of darkness. To bring His life, His light, His liberty, His justice, His truth and His mercy to a lost and broken world. We are to plunder Hell and build Heaven! This is what it's all about!

What is holding us back from stepping out? From fulfilling our God given destinies? 2 Timothy 1:7 says that "God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control." Our FEARS are the cages that hold us back. If God has not sent us a spirit of fear then where did it come from? Why is it so rampant in the world today? If you were the enemy and you wanted to cripple and immobilize the body of Christ what would you send? You would send the very thing that God did not send... the one thing that would take Christians out. So we need to stop allowing fear to control our lives. God doesn't want us locked in, caged in like lions in a zoo. So many people are just paralyzed by their fears instead of living the abundant life that Jesus Christ has called us to live.

One of the biggest fears is being paralyzed by what other people think. The truth is that it doesn't matter what other people think. What does God think? Trying to please people will cause you to settle. How many destinies have been put on hold trying to impress friends? So many of us have a fear of not being good enough. Let me put you out of your misery right now. The truth is that you alone aren't good enough to do what God has called you to do. What God has called us to is a supernatural destiny. You cannot fill a supernatural destiny with natural ability. So your best natural ability is not good enough to do what God has called you to do. The gap between what God has called you to do and where you are is called the "God Gap". "I need God"... that's the Faith Gap. This is where God takes me into doing what I can't do. His strength is made perfect in my weakness. The Grace Gap is where God shows up and equips you to do things outside of your skill set. Therefore, get this truth settled in your mind…”without God you are not good enough to fulfill His destiny for you...but with Him you will scale mountains and achieve far above and beyond anything you can dream or imagine."

Fear of failure is another big one. Rather than asking..."What if I fail" ask "what if I succeed?" Failure is highly overrated. Why are we all so scared of failing? Big deal. Get back up and have another go at it. You haven't failed until you give up. Perseverance will always win the race.

Another fear that keeps people in bondage is the fear of danger or harm. They refuse to step out for fear of getting hurt. Let go and trust God. You must have faith in God to protect you. Before stepping on a plane I cover that plane and the pilot with Psalm 91 and trust God to keep me safe.

Another fear is the fear of the unknown. The truth is that when we're walking in faith we're always walking in the unknown. Abraham went forth not knowing where he went... to a land that he would recognize when he got there. When was the last time you didn't know where you were going?

Fear tells us we must have it all mapped out with our 5 year plan, our 10 year plan. We're gonna be married by this age, have a baby by that age and have this much money in our account. We have a box for everything. We have an app for everything. What happens if the app breaks? Yes, we need a basic plan but we must realize that's it ALL His. Get up everyday with the attitude "Jesus I don't know where you're going today but I'm coming with you." You're not here to fit into the world's box... you're here to obey Jesus as He walks forth.

Most things that are bearing fruit in our lives are out of our comfort zones. To become who God wants you to become, to do what God has called you to do it's always going to take risk, personally, emotionally, relationally and physically. In light of eternity life is just a vapor. Most of the things you've been stressing out about are not going to happen. Things that we've been obsessing about really don't matter. How big your house is, the kind of car you have, the status you achieve, the money you make... none of it lasts. It's all temporal. You take none of it with you. Are the unrealistic demands that you're putting on yourself and others keeping you from living and enjoying life? Are you living for the approval of others, trying to impress people who don't really care?  Who cares what people think?  We don’t run our lives by what people think. We run it by what we think they think. You were not created to be a people pleaser. You are a God pleaser. People pleasing is a waste of time. Go into every situation with an attitude of confidence. You were created on purpose for a purpose. Ephesians 2:10 says we are God's workmanship. You were created BY God for a relationship WITH God and it's Jesus that connects us to God.

For a generation our public schools have taught us that through evolution you came from nothing, you live for no reason and you're going nowhere. If you tell a generation this long enough don't be surprised when they start living like they came from nothing. Are you living your life with purpose? Have you bought into the lie that you are worth nothing? You are created in the image of God. Step out of the boat. Take a leap of faith and do what God has called you to do. What is impossible with man is possible with God. Our God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond anything that you could ever ask, hope or think. (Ephesians 3:20). I know that with my God I can advance against a troop, climb any wall. I know that I can do all through things through Christ who strengthens me. I do not have to bow down to fear. Self doubt will kill more dreams than failure ever will. You're gonna have to press through your limitations. You're gonna have to work with what you got. Start where you are. We need tenacity, resilience, patience and boldness. We need to take risks!

God told Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:6-8 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” TWICE here the Lord promises He will never leave you. God will never forsake you. It is God calling you to step up, step out in faith, take a risk and become who God has called you to be. Don't let the naysayers negativity keep you trapped. It's time to advance and TAKE the promises of God!

You are created in the image of God. You have the DNA of a winner!  You were not created to just exist, you were called to live a passionate, purpose driven life. You are wearing the crown of favor. Royal blood runs through your veins. You are the head, never the tail, above and not beneath. God wants you to live with purpose, passion and praise, knowing that you are destined to live in victory.Speak it, believe it and receive it!

God Bless You,

In Christ, Sherry :-)

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