How to Reject Fear and Embrace Your Life

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“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love …” ~Marcus Aurelius

I want to LIVE until I die! 

I want to embrace today with joy and enthusiasm and boldly live it like the gift it is!

I think most of us want to live boldly, but for too many of us … there is a powerful force that gets in our way.

FEAR!

• Fear of failure.
• Fear of rejection.
• Fear of judgment.
• Fear of embarrassment.
• Fear of loss.
• Fear of change.
• Fear of ____________.

How do I know? Because I spent too much of my life allowing the power of fear to keep me from living the kind of life I believed and even said I wanted.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe fear is keeping you from trying something new or telling someone you love them.

Although it’s true that frightening things happen every day, the greater truth is that most of the things you and I are afraid of … never happen. And when we focus on what if and could be instead of on the God, we deny ourselves the bold strength and courage He want to give us.

God’s Word says when you and I focus on God and on His faithful presence we have nothing to fear.

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid,” John 14:27

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6

Maybe you’ve heard the question, “What would you do today if you knew you could not fail?”

But I want to ask it another way…

What would you do today if you really believed there is nothing to fear?

Would you:

• go back to school?
• ask for forgiveness?
• call an old friend?
• start a blog?
• profess your faith?
• try a hobby?
• become a foster parent or adopt a child?
• _________________?

I believe there are some things you and I can do today that will help us reject the fear that holds us back and find the freedom to live with joy and enthusiasm the plans and purposes God has planned for us.

How to Reject Fear and Embrace Your Life

♥ Identify Your Goals, Hopes, and Dreams

Make a list of the things you’ve always wanted to do but for whatever reason, you’ve shelved or given up. Write down everything and anything … no dream is too big and none too small.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

♥ Identify Your Fears 

Make a list of the things that frighten you. Be honest! Fear loses much of its power when you face it head-on.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

“Every battle you have to fight, is an opportunity for the glory of God to be revealed. The greater the obstacles, the greater the victory.” ~Lailah Gifty-Akita

♥ Ask – “Is this fear protecting me or limiting me?”

Some fear is wise … e.g. It’s wise to be afraid to jump off the roof of a building or to do something that would land you in jail!

But most fear is just limiting … e.g. Being afraid of rejection or failure or embarrassment.

Only one fear is essential to living a bold life…

Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm. Proverbs 19:23

♥ Write a Mission Statement 

Knowing my “mission” has helped me know what I believe and what’s most important to me. God says He has plans and purposes for us … writing a mission statement can help us know them and live them intentionally.

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28

“You have a purpose in life. You know in your heart what’s most important to you. In fact, your mission and values are expressed every day, by how you live–you just may not realize it.” ~Stephen Covey

♥ Live in the Present

Refuse to dwell on the past … you’ve asked for forgiveness and you can’t change it; so, embrace grace and embrace your life! And don’t worry about the future – God’s already there preparing the way for you.

The Lord says, “Forget what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. Isaiah 43:18–19a (NCV)

Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

♥ Surround Yourself with Wise Loving People

Talk about your hopes and dreams, and admit your fears … ask them for advice. I have been blessed by so many wise mentors who gently shared the ways God helped them reject fear and embrace life.

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

♥ Pray for Wisdom, Strength, and Courage

I love the fact that God invited us to take everything … every concern, fear, worry, hope, dream, and desire to Him in prayer.

There’s a quote that says, “Prayer changes things!”

I know … “Prayer changes me!”

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. James 1:5

♥ Refuse to Quit

Don’t give up! Refuse to lose hope! God knows you. He holds you in the palm of His hand. He knows your eternal future. In God’s presence, you and I have nothing to fear!

 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

♥ Give Gratitude Generously

Thank God for every blessing … big and small! Thank people profusely!

Being thankful takes our thoughts off what’s lacking and places them squarely on what we have. God will give you and me absolutely everything we need to accomplish His will in our lives … that’s a much better place to focus!

Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

♥ Live, Laugh, and Love! 

“Live every moment, laugh every day, love beyond words.”

Find reasons to celebrate! Big or small! Every victory you make over the fear that holding you back is a step toward embracing the life you’ve always wanted … toward the life the Lord wants for you.

I want to embrace life now.

Why? Because I’ve known people who have and those who haven’t. I’ve watched whole families start grieving the death of a loved one the day cancer was diagnosed; and others who have lived with love, hope, and joy to their last breath.

I want to LIVE until I die!

I want to live with love, hope, and joy up to my last breath.

Friend, today is a great day to embrace your life and LIVE.

Thomas Merton wrote : “If a man is to live, he must be all alive, body, soul, mind, heart, spirit.”

That sounds a lot like faith-filled living to me – loving the Lord heart, soul, mind, and strength.

And I can’t think of a better way to embrace your life! I can’t think of a better way to LIVE!

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