Well friends, I am sitting in the Atlanta airport, passport and boarding pass to South Africa in hand, mind churning with dreams, heart wild with anticipation. ITS FINALLY HERE!!! Can you believe it? WE MADE IT!!!! I am finally, finally on my way to Africa!!
I cannot WAIT to share countless stories of how we experience God while befriending HIS friends – the poor; I am desperate to explore and learn every inch of who He is by spending time in His presence; I am itching to bring the Kingdom wherever my feet take me!
But, as I am only a few hours away from officially embarking on this journey, there’s something I need to announce….
I hereby proclaim a Holy Spirit restraining order on fear.
A few days ago, fear had me. It had me trembling, crying in front of my parents, fixated on every thing that could go wrong. I found myself legitimately wondering if I could actually live this dream; if I could actually abandon the comfortable Christianity I’ve nestled into, to follow Jesus the way He commands in His Word. I was scared.
No, let me rephrase that. I was terrified. Paralyzed. Panicked. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
And then I remembered something. A few months ago, as I was spending time reading God’s Word and in prayer, His Spirit began counseling me a lot about fear. I was really excited about what I was learning, but lacked a personal connection to it. I was not fearful at all about the World Race, just overly excited.
But as I was huddled on the floor a few days ago, sobs wracking my body, I began to remember the verses God had been illuminating to me:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. 2 Tim. 1:7
Perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:18
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ Romans 8:15
And then of course, last night as all the squads about to launch were worshiping, we sang my all-time favorite song, which proclaims:
I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God.
God has literally been preparing me for WEEKS for the spiritual attack I endured a few days ago. He equipped me with truth (even through a dear friend, who unknowingly gave me a bracelet that says 2 Tim. 1:7 on it… my power verse right now), and has been gently reminding me as I’ve been seeking Him that I do not at all have to accept fear. When fear comes knocking on my door, I do not have to invite him into my home to stay as a guest. I do not have to politely sit and watch him kick his shoes off and make himself at home. NO.
I am allowed, even expected, to say to fear, “You are NOT welcome here. I do not invite you in. You have to leave. The only presence welcome in my heart is the Spirit of peace, faith, and love.”
And so, I proclaim for all to see and hear, that I have issued a restraining order against fear in the power and strength of the Spirit. He will be my body guard against it. I know the enemy is aware of and intimidated by my deep desire to develop an UNSHAKABLE faith in my God this year. He is not okay with it.
But it doesn’t matter. “For I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:2)
I would appreciate it if you would join me in praying against fear this year. I also encourage you to look at your life, and if you see that you have invited fear to take up residency in your heart, KICK HIM OUT in the name of JESUS!
I’ll talk to you soon, in Africa. 🙂
