When fear knocks at your door let faith answer.

I cannot understand why it is that so many people let fear rule over their lives! I count myself in this thought. For so long I have made decisions based on what others will think or probability of success. Failure or judgement are not in control of my life any longer!

The only person whose opinion I care about is the Lord. Easier said than done, I know. It is a conscious choice though, made every second of every day. I will not doubt and I will not acknowledge fear. To acknowledge fear is to let it get it's foot in the door and once you give fear an opening it can come down on you and consume your light. It will shut out your glory and cloud your vision. Choose to see upwards and choose to believe.

I believe in myself and nothing else matters.

I was wondering the other day why people don't practice more "radical honesty". Why do people hold back what they feel or think? Because they are afraid of rejection? Because they are happy with the way things are and don't want them to change? That isn't to say that we should be tactless and just say whatever we want whenever we want but so many times I think we hold back on what needs to be said because we have let fear get the best of us.

Now, don't get me wrong, there might be pain. The reason fear is such a powerful master is because there will be times of rejection and loss. Picking yourself back up from a fall can be difficult and may take time but how much stronger will you be if you put yourself out there and take risks and get right back up when fear knocks you down.

There are people who love you and support you. The Lord, friends, family. You are not alone and so why should you fear. If you are doing what the Lord has asked and if you truly believe in yourself fear will never be able to hold on to you. This week be brave and tell someone how much you love them or introduce yourself to a neighbor you don't know. Serve a coworker or apologize for an old hurt. Be brave. Hold your head up and brake the chains of fear.