IT’S TIME to FLY a 7-Day Devotion by Joy A. WilliamsSample

Live Fearlessly

The more I seek to live in the will of God, eventually, I have to put fearless living to the test. There is always some scenario daring me to trust Him. It often comes as I’m reminded of a past failure, a lingering hurt, or an overwhelming obstacle. But with God, there is always a new opportunity.

And yet, considering what feels threatening or sounds alarming, it may be hard not to flinch. As adrenaline rushes in, it’s our signal to fight against undesired outcomes or flee from the threats we perceive.

But from a spiritual perspective, when it comes to fight or flight, prayer does both. Spiritual warfare (the fight) is won as we wear God’s armor and believe His promises (Ephesians 6:10-18). Praying in faith elevates our thinking (the flight). Prayer aligns our perspectives with who God is and who we are by His grace in Christ.

This truth rallied the biblical heroes of faith (Hebrews 11:1-35). They chose obedience to God in the face of opposition. They rose up and took on tasks that took more than their strength. They were real people with real fears. Yet they prayed to God, trusted in His power and lived accordingly.

However, living by faith requires growing in His grace. It’s God’s provision for our needs and His strength in our weakness. The enemy of our soul loves to exploit our weaknesses, so our fears and failures can suck all the oxygen out of our faith.

But God gives more grace. “Therefore, it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:6-7 ESV). Friend, if you’re thinking it’s time to abandon hope or adapt to being less than God intends. It’s a sign. Breathe like grace is your oxygen. It’s time to FLY (2 Timothy 1:7).

With God, all things are possible. As we live open to His possibilities, we leave the outcome of every situation in His hands. Even if events unfold in ways we don’t understand, we can be confident God’s purpose will be fulfilled (Psalms 33:11).

FLY: Name your fear and submit yourself (and everything related to your fear) to God.

PRAY: Dear God, Nothing is too hard for You. In every situation you have the final say. I release every fear and concern into Your Almighty Hands. I humbly submit myself to You. I resist the devil and his attempt to exploit my weaknesses and fears. Thank You Lord for Your victory. In Jesus’ name, amen.