You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm, and put their trust in You" Isaiah 26.3
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails". Proverbs 19.21
"Destiny" is one answer to "Why am I here?"
To understand "Destiny" from a Christian perspective, we have drawn on the excellent "Word for Today" series available from www.ucb.co.uk. These capture some of the many different facets of individual purpose, mission and destiny. They are thought provoking, challenging and encouraging.
If you are committed to living out your sense of purpose and destiny and would like a "safe space" to explore your ideas and thinking, then come along to a Workshop and be encouraged to move from your dreams into your destiny...
Do What You Love, Love What You Do
'I will give them an undivided heart...' Ezekiel 11:19
Successful people allow their God-given passion and talent to guide them in life. They have a single focus and an undivided heart. God doesn't create you to be talented in an area, then ask you to give yourself to some unrelated area. There's always a potential alignment of talent and passion, if you have the courage to pursue your life's purpose and take risks. Po Bronson, author of What Should I Do With My Life? writes, 'I'm convinced that business success in the future starts with the question, "What should I do with my life?" Yes, that's right...people don't succeed by migrating to a "hot" industry or by adopting a particular career-guiding mantra. They thrive by focusing on the question of who they really are and connecting to work they truly love (and, in so doing, unleashing a productive and creative power they never imagined).' Carly Fiorina said, 'Love what you do, or don't do it...Make the choice to do something because it engages your heart as well as your mind. Make the choice because it engages all of you.' Don't become a slave to someone else's dream because once you own a dream that dream will own you. Being a slave to someone else's dream quickly becomes a nightmare. Paul writes: '...But they are only comparing themselves with each other...How ignorant...We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us...' (2 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT). If you are confused, out of focus or going in circles, pray, 'Lord, give me a clear vision and an undivided heart.' That's a prayer God will answer.
The Right Focus
'You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm. Isaiah 26:3'
Your life is like a camera; you've got to focus it correctly to get the right results. Having the right focus can bring four results. First, it simplifies things. When you're not clear as to your purpose, you try to do too much - and that causes stress, inner conflict and confusion. You have only enough time and energy to do God's will. Not getting everything done may be an indicator that you're doing far more than God ever intended. Focus leads to a simpler lifestyle and a saner schedule. Only when you keep your focus can you keep your peace: 'You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm.' Second, it gives you direction. If you want your life to have impact, consult God, and then do what He tells you. Don't confuse activity with productivity. Diffused light has limited impact, but when light's focused like a laser it can cut through steel. Third, it energises you. It's meaningless work, not overwork, that wears you down. George Bernard Shaw wrote, 'This is the true joy of life: being used up for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a selfish little clot of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.' Finally, it determines your legacy. When people recall your name, what will they associate with it? 'A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold' (Proverbs 22:1 NIV). Ultimately, what matters isn't what others say about you, but what God says. So focus on the end game.
Do You Know Why You're Living?
'...for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world...' John 18:37
Jesus knew exactly why He lived: 'For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.' That's what He thought about, prayed about, planned for, worked towards, sacrificed for, died and rose again for, and finally accomplished. By fulfilling His destiny He changed the world for ever. So, do you know your destiny? What are you doing to achieve it? 'We are... created... to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do' (Ephesians 2:10 NIV). Does that sound like a life of aimless wandering with no known destination? The Bible says, 'A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps' (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV). Plan well, but always stay open to God's direction. '...All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be' (Psalm 139:16 NIV). God's plan for your life was set before you were a twinkle in your parents' eyes! If you fail to follow His path you'll miss His best for your life. The Bible is full of examples of people who crashed and burned at some point. King Saul is a great example. Recalling it, David, his successor, prayed, first, 'I desire to do your will...' (Psalm 40:8 NIV). Your desires are the driving force in life, so make sure they're in harmony with God. Second, he prayed, 'Teach me to do your will...' (Psalm 143:10 NIV). When it comes to doing God's will, the Psalmist acknowledged he needed God's help. You do too.
Give it All You've Got!
'...this one thing I do...' Philippians 3:13
Ask yourself two questions. First, do I want God's best? It's not easy to rise up early while others sleep, and prepare for the challenge. Like Jesus in Gethsemane, you'll discover it's hard to find people who will stand with you while you're in preparation. But there can be no celebration without preparation. Not everybody can handle success. Some would rather have tranquillity; they don't like criticism and they can't take the pressure. But if you want God's best you can have it. If you've the passion, the price won't stop you! You'll be drawn and driven toward the goal. Second, ask yourself: how strong is my desire? If you don't have the passion for it, you'll never overcome the obstacles. Real power comes from desire kindled in the furnace of unfilled longing. Long-distance runners take steady strides and focus on endurance, not just speed. They run each lap, stretch to their limits and give themselves to one thing - winning. Perspiration pours out of them. The taste of exhaustion is in their mouths. As they near the finishing line a final burst of energy kicks in. It's the last lap. No excuses; it's now or never! At least one time before they lay you in your casket, you owe it to God and yourself to experience that last-lap feeling of giving it all you've got. Victory doesn't come cheap. Paul writes, 'Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet...' (Ephesians 6:13-15 TM).
Ask God to Give You a Dream
'...Your old men shall dream dreams...'Joel 2:28
The Bible says, 'Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.' When God gives you a dream, He gives you the resources and relationships needed to fulfil it. Not everybody will believe in your dream. Paul writes, 'What if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar...' (Romans 3:3-4 NKJV). If your dream is from God, disregard the naysayers and give yourself fully to it. Just be sure your dream is from God. It can't be born out of somebody else's wishes. Sometimes your dream is actually somebody else's desire for you. Parents do this. They want to relive some part of their life through you, so they push you to do something they themselves always wanted to do. That sets you up for a lifetime of trying to please your father and mother, to get their approval even though you're now an adult. Then one day you wake up and realise you're trying to live somebody else's dream. It may actually have been God's plan for your mother or father, but now you're stuck with it. Get unstuck! Ask God for your own dream! Your dream can't be born out of wrong motives such as pride, jealousy, anger, rejection or competitiveness. Are you trying to prove something to somebody? Are you trying to win their admiration and respect? Are you trying to make up for being rejected? Acknowledge your motives, ask God to heal your heart, then ask Him for a dream that He can back up!
What's Your Excuse?
'But they all...began to make excuses...' Luke 14:18
Let's look at some of the excuses we offer for not pursuing the dream God has given us: First - Dreams don't come true for ordinary people like me. The Wright brothers wanted to fly. Winston Churchill envisioned a free Europe. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of racial equality. But you don't have to be a world figure to have a dream. No, the pursuit of a dream is what makes the difference between ordinary and extraordinary people. Ordinary people live extraordinary lives when they follow their dream. Why do we say that? Because a God-given dream will motivate you to make important changes in your life. You won't just change who you are in order to live out your dream; you pursue your dream, and the process changes who you are and what you can accomplish. In other words, your dream is both your goal and your change-agent. Second - 'If the dream isn't big it's not worth pursuing.' Size doesn't determine significance. Your dream doesn't have to be big; it just has to be bigger than you. Mother Teresa said, 'We can't all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.' Third - 'Now is not the right time to pursue my dream.' Permission to pursue your dream comes from two sources: God and yourself. Novelist George Eliot said, 'It's never too late to become what you might have been.' The timing will never be perfect for you to pursue your dream so you might as well start now. If you don't, next year you'll be one year older and not a step closer to it.
Are You Just Beginning?
'Who [with reason] despises the day of small things?... ' Zechariah 4:10
Everything big begins with something small, and your attitude in the beginning often determines your success in the end. The Bible says, 'Who [with reason] despises the day of small things?' Delight in what God gives you to start with, because He does! Thank Him for your small beginnings. Before the drought ended and the rains came, Elijah saw a cloud the size of a man's hand (1 Kings 18:44). That's pretty small, but he rejoiced over it because it was a sign of bigger things to come. Don't destroy your seed by doubting its potential. God gives you a seed of hope, something small - but something is better than nothing. Take that seed and plant it, praying over it and believing God for increase. A lot of us throw our seed away. When we 'despise' something we diminish its potential; we take no notice of it, we don't care for it. When we don't take care of what God gives us, we lose it. And if we lose our seed we never get to enjoy our harvest. Hebrews 13:5 tells us to be content with what we have, then goes on to say, 'For He [God] Himself has said, "'I will not in any way... let [you] down"' (AMP). That's why you can be content during your small beginnings. You know that what God commences, He completes. So be patient, be expectant, and keep moving forward. 'Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise' (Hebrews 10:35-36 NKJV).
Commit Yourself!
...all men forsook me... Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me... 2 Timothy 4:16-17
Read these words slowly and carefully: 'Until I am committed there is a hesitancy, a chance to draw back. But the moment I definitely commit myself, then God moves also and a whole stream of events begin. All manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, people, and material assistance of which I never dreamed, begin to move towards me.' So commit yourself! When others refuse to go with you, commitment means going on alone. Daniel dined and prayed alone. Elijah sacrificed and witnessed alone. Jeremiah prophesied and wept alone. Paul said, 'No man stood with me, but all men forsook me... Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me... and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.' It's at the point of commitment, and not before, that God intervenes on our behalf. When the three Hebrew children made a commitment not to bow to the king's idols, God brought them out of the fiery furnace without even the smell of smoke. Indeed, King Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed that he said, '...there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way' (Daniel 3:29 NAS). What do you believe God has called you to do with your life? Obey Him. Step out in faith and do it. If you're afraid, read these words: 'I'd rather be ashes than dust. I'd rather my spark burn out than that it should be stifled by dry rot. The proper function of my life is to live, not exist. So I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use every moment.'
Don't Worry About It
'Casting all your care upon Him, for he cares for you.' 1 Peter 5:7
Jesus said, 'Do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For [non-believers] run after all these things' (Matthew 6:31-32 NIV). One author writes: 'The other day I was worrying about something when I heard a minister say, "Worry is a lack of trust in God." So then I began to worry over the fact that I was worrying. Then someone else said, "Just don't worry about it." Sounds simple enough, but I come from a line of people who speak faith, but act out of fear. Then a friend came up with this novel idea: "Why don't you try this worry coupon. It entitles you to worry as much as you like, but only if: a) it will feed and clothe you; b) it will add to your life instead of taking from it; c) it will make tomorrow better; d) you don't mind acting like a non-believer!" Then he said, "If that doesn't work make a list of all the things you're worrying about, place it in a box and put it up on a shelf where you can't see it. If God is either unwilling or unable to take care of it, you can always go get the box and start worrying again but at least give Him a chance. And while you are waiting for Him to answer, pray, stand on His Word and don't give your worries a voice.' ' The Amplified Bible says: 'Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you.'
Confront Your Fears
'God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.' 2 Timothy 1:7
A tourist was driving through the countryside when he saw an old farmer sitting in a rocking chair on his porch. Behind his farmhouse was seventy-five acres of land. The tourist asked, 'Is that your land?' 'Yep,' he replied. 'Well, what are you doing with it? Thinking of growing cotton?' the tourist asked. 'Nope, I'm afraid the boll weevils will get it,' said the farmer. 'What about corn?' the tourist asked. 'No, I'm afraid the locusts will eat it,' he replied. 'Well,' the tourist asked, 'What about raising cattle?' The farmer said, 'I'm afraid the price of beef might go down.' 'So, what are you going to do with all that prime farmland?' the tourist asked. 'Nothing. I'm just going to play it safe.' Is that how you feel? When you choose to play it safe in life, your potential for success is like that barren wasteland. As long as fear rules your life you won't step out in faith and fulfil your destiny. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Isn't it better to risk failure and do what God wants, than risk displeasing Him? We've all experienced the fear that makes us want to pull back. Only those who overcome it go far in life. '..."Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant"' (Psalm 35:27). Conquering the fear of failure begins with believing, 'God wants me to succeed.' Undergirded by that truth you cannot only defy your fears but defeat them.
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails". Proverbs 19.21
"Destiny" is one answer to "Why am I here?"
To understand "Destiny" from a Christian perspective, we have drawn on the excellent "Word for Today" series available from www.ucb.co.uk. These capture some of the many different facets of individual purpose, mission and destiny. They are thought provoking, challenging and encouraging.
If you are committed to living out your sense of purpose and destiny and would like a "safe space" to explore your ideas and thinking, then come along to a Workshop and be encouraged to move from your dreams into your destiny...
Do What You Love, Love What You Do
'I will give them an undivided heart...' Ezekiel 11:19
Successful people allow their God-given passion and talent to guide them in life. They have a single focus and an undivided heart. God doesn't create you to be talented in an area, then ask you to give yourself to some unrelated area. There's always a potential alignment of talent and passion, if you have the courage to pursue your life's purpose and take risks. Po Bronson, author of What Should I Do With My Life? writes, 'I'm convinced that business success in the future starts with the question, "What should I do with my life?" Yes, that's right...people don't succeed by migrating to a "hot" industry or by adopting a particular career-guiding mantra. They thrive by focusing on the question of who they really are and connecting to work they truly love (and, in so doing, unleashing a productive and creative power they never imagined).' Carly Fiorina said, 'Love what you do, or don't do it...Make the choice to do something because it engages your heart as well as your mind. Make the choice because it engages all of you.' Don't become a slave to someone else's dream because once you own a dream that dream will own you. Being a slave to someone else's dream quickly becomes a nightmare. Paul writes: '...But they are only comparing themselves with each other...How ignorant...We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us...' (2 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT). If you are confused, out of focus or going in circles, pray, 'Lord, give me a clear vision and an undivided heart.' That's a prayer God will answer.
The Right Focus
'You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm. Isaiah 26:3'
Your life is like a camera; you've got to focus it correctly to get the right results. Having the right focus can bring four results. First, it simplifies things. When you're not clear as to your purpose, you try to do too much - and that causes stress, inner conflict and confusion. You have only enough time and energy to do God's will. Not getting everything done may be an indicator that you're doing far more than God ever intended. Focus leads to a simpler lifestyle and a saner schedule. Only when you keep your focus can you keep your peace: 'You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm.' Second, it gives you direction. If you want your life to have impact, consult God, and then do what He tells you. Don't confuse activity with productivity. Diffused light has limited impact, but when light's focused like a laser it can cut through steel. Third, it energises you. It's meaningless work, not overwork, that wears you down. George Bernard Shaw wrote, 'This is the true joy of life: being used up for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a selfish little clot of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.' Finally, it determines your legacy. When people recall your name, what will they associate with it? 'A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold' (Proverbs 22:1 NIV). Ultimately, what matters isn't what others say about you, but what God says. So focus on the end game.
Do You Know Why You're Living?
'...for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world...' John 18:37
Jesus knew exactly why He lived: 'For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.' That's what He thought about, prayed about, planned for, worked towards, sacrificed for, died and rose again for, and finally accomplished. By fulfilling His destiny He changed the world for ever. So, do you know your destiny? What are you doing to achieve it? 'We are... created... to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do' (Ephesians 2:10 NIV). Does that sound like a life of aimless wandering with no known destination? The Bible says, 'A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps' (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV). Plan well, but always stay open to God's direction. '...All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be' (Psalm 139:16 NIV). God's plan for your life was set before you were a twinkle in your parents' eyes! If you fail to follow His path you'll miss His best for your life. The Bible is full of examples of people who crashed and burned at some point. King Saul is a great example. Recalling it, David, his successor, prayed, first, 'I desire to do your will...' (Psalm 40:8 NIV). Your desires are the driving force in life, so make sure they're in harmony with God. Second, he prayed, 'Teach me to do your will...' (Psalm 143:10 NIV). When it comes to doing God's will, the Psalmist acknowledged he needed God's help. You do too.
Give it All You've Got!
'...this one thing I do...' Philippians 3:13
Ask yourself two questions. First, do I want God's best? It's not easy to rise up early while others sleep, and prepare for the challenge. Like Jesus in Gethsemane, you'll discover it's hard to find people who will stand with you while you're in preparation. But there can be no celebration without preparation. Not everybody can handle success. Some would rather have tranquillity; they don't like criticism and they can't take the pressure. But if you want God's best you can have it. If you've the passion, the price won't stop you! You'll be drawn and driven toward the goal. Second, ask yourself: how strong is my desire? If you don't have the passion for it, you'll never overcome the obstacles. Real power comes from desire kindled in the furnace of unfilled longing. Long-distance runners take steady strides and focus on endurance, not just speed. They run each lap, stretch to their limits and give themselves to one thing - winning. Perspiration pours out of them. The taste of exhaustion is in their mouths. As they near the finishing line a final burst of energy kicks in. It's the last lap. No excuses; it's now or never! At least one time before they lay you in your casket, you owe it to God and yourself to experience that last-lap feeling of giving it all you've got. Victory doesn't come cheap. Paul writes, 'Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet...' (Ephesians 6:13-15 TM).
Ask God to Give You a Dream
'...Your old men shall dream dreams...'Joel 2:28
The Bible says, 'Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.' When God gives you a dream, He gives you the resources and relationships needed to fulfil it. Not everybody will believe in your dream. Paul writes, 'What if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar...' (Romans 3:3-4 NKJV). If your dream is from God, disregard the naysayers and give yourself fully to it. Just be sure your dream is from God. It can't be born out of somebody else's wishes. Sometimes your dream is actually somebody else's desire for you. Parents do this. They want to relive some part of their life through you, so they push you to do something they themselves always wanted to do. That sets you up for a lifetime of trying to please your father and mother, to get their approval even though you're now an adult. Then one day you wake up and realise you're trying to live somebody else's dream. It may actually have been God's plan for your mother or father, but now you're stuck with it. Get unstuck! Ask God for your own dream! Your dream can't be born out of wrong motives such as pride, jealousy, anger, rejection or competitiveness. Are you trying to prove something to somebody? Are you trying to win their admiration and respect? Are you trying to make up for being rejected? Acknowledge your motives, ask God to heal your heart, then ask Him for a dream that He can back up!
What's Your Excuse?
'But they all...began to make excuses...' Luke 14:18
Let's look at some of the excuses we offer for not pursuing the dream God has given us: First - Dreams don't come true for ordinary people like me. The Wright brothers wanted to fly. Winston Churchill envisioned a free Europe. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of racial equality. But you don't have to be a world figure to have a dream. No, the pursuit of a dream is what makes the difference between ordinary and extraordinary people. Ordinary people live extraordinary lives when they follow their dream. Why do we say that? Because a God-given dream will motivate you to make important changes in your life. You won't just change who you are in order to live out your dream; you pursue your dream, and the process changes who you are and what you can accomplish. In other words, your dream is both your goal and your change-agent. Second - 'If the dream isn't big it's not worth pursuing.' Size doesn't determine significance. Your dream doesn't have to be big; it just has to be bigger than you. Mother Teresa said, 'We can't all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love.' Third - 'Now is not the right time to pursue my dream.' Permission to pursue your dream comes from two sources: God and yourself. Novelist George Eliot said, 'It's never too late to become what you might have been.' The timing will never be perfect for you to pursue your dream so you might as well start now. If you don't, next year you'll be one year older and not a step closer to it.
Are You Just Beginning?
'Who [with reason] despises the day of small things?... ' Zechariah 4:10
Everything big begins with something small, and your attitude in the beginning often determines your success in the end. The Bible says, 'Who [with reason] despises the day of small things?' Delight in what God gives you to start with, because He does! Thank Him for your small beginnings. Before the drought ended and the rains came, Elijah saw a cloud the size of a man's hand (1 Kings 18:44). That's pretty small, but he rejoiced over it because it was a sign of bigger things to come. Don't destroy your seed by doubting its potential. God gives you a seed of hope, something small - but something is better than nothing. Take that seed and plant it, praying over it and believing God for increase. A lot of us throw our seed away. When we 'despise' something we diminish its potential; we take no notice of it, we don't care for it. When we don't take care of what God gives us, we lose it. And if we lose our seed we never get to enjoy our harvest. Hebrews 13:5 tells us to be content with what we have, then goes on to say, 'For He [God] Himself has said, "'I will not in any way... let [you] down"' (AMP). That's why you can be content during your small beginnings. You know that what God commences, He completes. So be patient, be expectant, and keep moving forward. 'Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise' (Hebrews 10:35-36 NKJV).
Commit Yourself!
...all men forsook me... Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me... 2 Timothy 4:16-17
Read these words slowly and carefully: 'Until I am committed there is a hesitancy, a chance to draw back. But the moment I definitely commit myself, then God moves also and a whole stream of events begin. All manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, people, and material assistance of which I never dreamed, begin to move towards me.' So commit yourself! When others refuse to go with you, commitment means going on alone. Daniel dined and prayed alone. Elijah sacrificed and witnessed alone. Jeremiah prophesied and wept alone. Paul said, 'No man stood with me, but all men forsook me... Notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me... and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.' It's at the point of commitment, and not before, that God intervenes on our behalf. When the three Hebrew children made a commitment not to bow to the king's idols, God brought them out of the fiery furnace without even the smell of smoke. Indeed, King Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed that he said, '...there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way' (Daniel 3:29 NAS). What do you believe God has called you to do with your life? Obey Him. Step out in faith and do it. If you're afraid, read these words: 'I'd rather be ashes than dust. I'd rather my spark burn out than that it should be stifled by dry rot. The proper function of my life is to live, not exist. So I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use every moment.'
Don't Worry About It
'Casting all your care upon Him, for he cares for you.' 1 Peter 5:7
Jesus said, 'Do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For [non-believers] run after all these things' (Matthew 6:31-32 NIV). One author writes: 'The other day I was worrying about something when I heard a minister say, "Worry is a lack of trust in God." So then I began to worry over the fact that I was worrying. Then someone else said, "Just don't worry about it." Sounds simple enough, but I come from a line of people who speak faith, but act out of fear. Then a friend came up with this novel idea: "Why don't you try this worry coupon. It entitles you to worry as much as you like, but only if: a) it will feed and clothe you; b) it will add to your life instead of taking from it; c) it will make tomorrow better; d) you don't mind acting like a non-believer!" Then he said, "If that doesn't work make a list of all the things you're worrying about, place it in a box and put it up on a shelf where you can't see it. If God is either unwilling or unable to take care of it, you can always go get the box and start worrying again but at least give Him a chance. And while you are waiting for Him to answer, pray, stand on His Word and don't give your worries a voice.' ' The Amplified Bible says: 'Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you.'
Confront Your Fears
'God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.' 2 Timothy 1:7
A tourist was driving through the countryside when he saw an old farmer sitting in a rocking chair on his porch. Behind his farmhouse was seventy-five acres of land. The tourist asked, 'Is that your land?' 'Yep,' he replied. 'Well, what are you doing with it? Thinking of growing cotton?' the tourist asked. 'Nope, I'm afraid the boll weevils will get it,' said the farmer. 'What about corn?' the tourist asked. 'No, I'm afraid the locusts will eat it,' he replied. 'Well,' the tourist asked, 'What about raising cattle?' The farmer said, 'I'm afraid the price of beef might go down.' 'So, what are you going to do with all that prime farmland?' the tourist asked. 'Nothing. I'm just going to play it safe.' Is that how you feel? When you choose to play it safe in life, your potential for success is like that barren wasteland. As long as fear rules your life you won't step out in faith and fulfil your destiny. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Isn't it better to risk failure and do what God wants, than risk displeasing Him? We've all experienced the fear that makes us want to pull back. Only those who overcome it go far in life. '..."Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant"' (Psalm 35:27). Conquering the fear of failure begins with believing, 'God wants me to succeed.' Undergirded by that truth you cannot only defy your fears but defeat them.
