Why Are You Still Afraid?

Why Are You Still Afraid?

This is the question that I've asked myself over the last week or so, since I came across this scripture . . .

They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe, and the people following behind were overwhelmed with fear. Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus once more began to describe everything that was about to happen to him."  ~ Mark 10:32/NLT

As I reflected on these words, I thought of two reasons why I shouldn't be afraid:

1. Jesus (God) is walking ahead of me.
2. Jesus (God) has explained everything that is about to happen.

As I continued to read verses 33 and 34, I took notice at the level of detail Jesus lays out the events that were to come. And as I reflected on that, I couldn't help but direct my thoughts back to my own life. I truly believe the promises of God in Jeremiah 29:11. And I know for sure that there are several things that God has spoken to me directly and spoken over me through others about my future. However, because of what I've experienced in the past and the situations that I face daily, it can prove difficult at times to consistently wrap my faith around those promises. And if you are honest with yourself, you can identify times where you've found your faith wavering. Not because you didn't believe in God or His promises for your life, but simply because what you've been experiencing, with your five senses, somehow has made a bigger impression on your faith in that moment.

Just like these verses in Mark 10, God has laid out the specifics of our futures in elaborate detail. There is nothing that He has left to chance. There are divine connections and doors of destiny awaiting our arrival. So, I ask the question again . . . Why are you still afraid?

I'm in a season of my life where God is calling for my faith. He is calling for me to stand firmly on His promises. He is requiring me to consistently wrap my faith around those promises, set some mile markers and to keep pressing forward in my destiny. And if you will be honest with yourself again, God is calling for the same thing from you.

Photo Credit: Platinum Photography by Lorenzo

So I have another question . . . What is it going to take? What is it going to take for us to keep pressing forward, to not stand still out of fear, and to truly trust God's promises for our lives? What is it going to take for us to embrace the risk the first step into the unknown presents. It is time for each of us to rise up in faith, courage, and determination. It is time for us to press forward toward our destinies with reckless abandon. We have to know that as we move forward, lead by the Spirit of God, that every step is purposeful, that every detail has been well orchestrated by the Father, and that the only failure we'll experience is that of not pressing forward.

So I will continue to challenge you . . . . 

Why are you still afraid?

Be Brave - Press Forward - Be Great!

Intimacy

Be honest with me . . . . what did you think that this post was going to be about? Often times when we hear or see the word intimacy we think that it is referring to a sensual physical act. Well . . . that's not what I'm going to talk about. Sorry if I disappointed you, but what I want to share with you is so important and vital to our very existence.

Did you know that your soul and spirit craves intimacy? Intimacy is defined as a close familiarity or friendship. It can also be defined as a close observation or knowledge of a subject.

We have an innate desire to have an inexplicable closeness with another person.  We desire for this person to know who we are, at our core, without having to explain ourselves to them in detail. This desire is one that was planted by our Father when He created us.  God made us relational and we have to be connected to each other in order to fulfill our journeys in life. However; in order to fulfill the desire in our hearts for intimacy, we have to be willing to be vulnerable to someone else.

This in turn is where the challenge begins. Because of our experiences in life that have lead to hurts, disappointments, broken hearts, and shattered promises it is difficult for us to be vulnerable with those around us. It is unthinkable for us to share our inner most thoughts and feelings with someone else who might not cherish them and hold them in the highest regard.

But there is hope. I promise you there is hope! I've experienced my fair share of hurts, disappointments, broken hearts, and shattered promises. However; because I chose to allow God to step into my life and heal the scars those moments left behind, I was able to be made whole. I also learned during that healing process that although I desired to have a close familiarity and friendship with another person, God desired for me to have that level of intimacy with Him. He desired for me to be vulnerable with Him, to allow all of me to be exposed and uncovered, all the while knowing that He would cover me, protect me, and cherish me like the rarest of jewels. He wanted me to observe Him closely and have a knowledge of Him that would forever be tattooed on my heart. He wanted me to find the place where my level of intimacy with Him would transform my intimate interactions with other people.

The scriptures tell us:

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you . . . " James 4:8/NLT

In our coming close to God, He is able to have the opportunity to observe us closely and share His knowledge with us of who we really are.  In that place of closeness, God is able to heal us and mold us into our true selves. And when we've been through the process of developing an intimacy with the Father that can't be shaken, then and only then are we able to begin to truly develop healthy intimate relationships and friendships with those around us. Then and only then are we able to embrace someone else and cherish them on the level that will satisfy their desire for the intimate care of another person.

If you find yourself in a place where you have a deep longing for a close intimate relationship, be courageous enough to stand before the Father exposed. Stand there knowing that He loves you beyond measure, that He wants the very best of everything for you, and that in Him you will find an intimate satisfaction that no other human on Earth can provide. Once you've found this place, know that God will bring the right friendships into your life that will allow you to experience the unexplainable closeness of a divine connection, in His perfect timing.

The Edge of Life

This past fall I had the opportunity to be part of an amazing project.  This project was lead by an even more amazing Woman of God who I really respect, love and cherish. As part of this project I lent my voice to the topic - "The Edge of Life". Given that today is the day that the relaunch of the Rebirth Arts blog is happening and it also happens to be my birthday . . . I figured it is only fitting that the first post be on this topic.

Each and every one of us has a destiny. And our hearts and spirits are constantly longing to experience and manifest that destiny daily. However, more often than not, we find ourselves standing at the edge of life. Standing at the very point where we can either turn back and be complacent or leap and experience all the joy, peace, and freedom that our loving Father has afforded us. We stand at that edge contemplating our fears and at the same time encouraging others to leap to their destinies. We push so hard for others at times that we tend to lose focus on the very thing that we have a heart's desire to accomplish.

Throughout my life, I can remember very distinctly moments where I found myself at the edge of life. And if I'm really honest, I found myself to be anxious, afraid, uncertain, and at times even paralyzed. But I also remember realizing in those moments, when I found myself to be a little less than the faith-filled Christian that I purported to be, that I wasn't looking to the Father to guide, help, assist, provide, cover, protect . . . and the list could go on. I was only looking at my own ability, resources, connections, bank accounts, etc. However I'm thankful that somehow, even in my moments of awkward nervousness, the little faith I had left rose up inside of me and literally pushed me over the edge.  I'm grateful that I had sense enough to trust the promptings of the Holy Spirit in my life and let go and let God take over.

Now don't get me wrong, I still have moments where fear tries to paralyze me and keep me from pushing hard after my destiny. But what I've come to know and understand is that fear can only try to stop me. As long as I trust God and I'm obedient to move when He says move, I know I will always find victory on the other side of fear. And I want you to know that the same is true for you.  If you can muster up enough courage to jump off the edge of life, to stop waiting for the perfect moment, and reach just a little bit further than where you are comfortable, you'll find a passion that will burn so deeply within you that it will fuel you even in the face of fear.

Know that there are no perfect moments. The timing will never be just right, the finances won't accumulate quick enough, and the stars will always be slightly out of alignment. All we have is NOW. So why not leap. Why not take God at His word. Why not allow God to prove that His promises are true in your life, for all those watching. Why not be on the receiving end of God's goodness, love, mercy, grace, abundance, favour, and miracles. God is waiting for you. He is waiting for you to push past your fear and take the first step. He is waiting for your mustard seed of faith to peak through the fog of your thoughts, so that He can set in motion your next divine appointment.

So know that you aren't standing alone at the edge of life, but be encouraged not to stay there. I pray that you will put your hand in God's hand, throw your head back, and leap off the edge. That you will embrace God's thoughts towards you, knowing it is ok for you to have everything God has promised you. And I pray that as you venture out into the unknown that you will find everything that your spirit has been searching for.