Free At LastSýnishorn

Be Free From Fear 

Fear is one of the most common, debilitating emotions I have ever seen as a therapist. Would you like to be free from all fear? Do you want to experience fearless living?

I recently traveled to Madagascar to try help a broken nation. It’s the fifth poorest country in the world, crippled by a sex trafficking epidemic. God has opened a huge door, but we are asking for people and resources to accomplish it. The Apostle Paul also recorded a similar situation in 1 Corinthians 16:9 : “because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.” 

I must admit I was a little intimidated by all of the problems, corruption, poverty, diseases, perversions and desperation. But there was one thing that terrified me: snakes. 

Is there one thing that terrorizes you? 

Our team spent the last few hours in this country with a few locals who brought us to see the lemurs. Have you ever seen the Madagascar movies created by Disney Studios? Okay, forget everything you saw because that’s not Madagascar. But the lemurs are real and cute. There are so many species of lemurs native to this little island. Then we stumbled upon a snake pit. That’s right, a real snake pit. Not the Jungle Book version, but one with real, scary, slithery snakes with venom and malice. Well, I’m not sure they have malice, but that’s my point: they terrify me. I don't know why, but it’s the truth, and it’s overwhelming.

What can we do when we are terrified? What did I do?

1. I stopped walking towards the snakes.
2. I took a few deep breaths.
3. I spoke to myself rational words, like “It’s okay, Paul; breathe. They can’t jump the two-foot wall that corralled them into place.”
4. I prayed, “God, help me overcome my fear.”
5. I started to slowly approach the enclosure, until I was just a few feet from their slithery frames. 

Fears are so real, but with God’s help, we can overcome them. Face your fears, bring a friend and ask God for His Spirit: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” ll Timothy 1:7

You are a miracle!

P.S. The texts of this reading plan come from the daily email A Miracle Every Day. If you want to receive an encouraging email every day, I invite you to subscribe to A Miracle Every Day  . By subscribing, you will receive an E-book!