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| Growing up with subtle fears |
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When I was a kid, I hatched a spiritually diabolical, yet ingenious, plan. I would spend all of my youthful years having fun, and only when I was old and life became a bore, would I surrender my life to the Lord. My parents, my examples of Christianity, did not appear to be having fun. I feared surrender to God would mean a dreary, unexciting life, like theirs.
Later, as a teen hanging around the church, yet still uncommitted, new fears took over. Now I feared that surrender might mean giving up things I enjoyed, and doing things I felt uncomfortable doing—like witnessing, praying with other people, and generally looking and sounding nerdy.
Later still, as a partially committed Christian, yet other fears seized me. I feared that surrender to God would mean giving up things I had accumulated, or interrupting my chosen pathway to success. I feared talking to or helping people I didn’t know. I feared taking on new challenges, like accepting leadership in church or speaking in front of groups of people…(gulp) scary!!
I am still afraid in some areas. But gradually, as faith continues to grow… as I increasingly discover the necessity of reliance on God for everything… as I continue to surge into new, uncharted spiritual territory, I’ve begun to detect a curious, and most refreshing, absence of fear.
34:4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Can’t he deliver us ALL? |
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| To add a comment to "Growing up with subtle fears" |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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He is still delivering me from my fears. Since I've been on this road to singleness, God has shown me that I had nothing to fear but fear it's self. I believe He put me on this road to conquer my fears because there were times I just knew I couldn't do it without him and God is showing me I can and I am. Now I know I can't do it without HIM. He needed me to see that and now I do....Amen
he delivered me from all my fears. |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| I pray so. |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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Mike you are a nerd! LOL "BUT A FEARLESS ONE" God bless you mike!
I am only playing when I say your a Nerd! |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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What a plan!!!!! hehehehehe
We do all have fears, but God didn't put that spirit there :) Still lettin' go of some of mine. Sometimes I think we cling to them, because they are comfortable, we know them well, so the real fear is in the uncharted territory of living without them.
Very good post! |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| When I was young I too planed a death bed conversion. But I eventually learned that in order to find my life I had to lose it and that perfect love casts out all fear. I enjoy my Christian walk and to know Christ and to have His peace is greater than anything else I have encountered! |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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YOU BETCHA!! 
Our God is an AWESOME God |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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I think we all had the same plan, thank God we smarten up,
as a Christian, I have come to learn, God does not give us
the Spirit of fear..but of Courage, and Meekness, and Meekness
is to only appear weak, but to be strong in Christ. Great blog.
I love you Mike..God Bless you and your Family. |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| Fear not for the Lord is our God and He likes a good party.Mike your said it true ! |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| I LOVE ALWAYS WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY .THINGS THAT I AM LEARNING AND TO BE WITH GOD ALWAYS TO GIVE ME THE COURAGE WITHIN ME. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH I LOVE YOU BOTH. |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| HMMMM...Thanks :) By the way great plan you had there! It's funny the only two blogs I've read today hit me right between the eyes! Thanks again I needed to be reminded that He can take away ALL my fears! |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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Word!
I love the quote: "Feed your faith and your doubts and fears will stave to death"
By the way, you should read this blog to your Sunday school class! |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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Angela, indeed he can! Misty, you're a lovely lady. Thanks for dropping by! Doyle, fear not! Let's party! :-) KC, so you had that plan too? (I see Todd did too.) How'd it work for you? LOL Love you too! Thanks Bubbles! Debora - he can, he can, he can! B'lieve hon! (that's a little Bawlmer-ese for ya) Todd, I learned that eventually too. Life as a committed Christian is really living! Keith, you may be joking but I fear it's still true, lol. Thanks CindyLou. Yes, I think you are right. Somehow being in a place of fear becomes comfortable. When I figure out exactly how that works, I'll BLOG it. (But don't hold your breathe!!) Terry, wonderful to see you are on the road to no more fear. I'm exceedingly happy for you! |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| Thanks Michael! Great quote too. Where'd you get that? (I'd love to quote them!) |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| Praise God Brother Mike I can relate to those fears that you had as well...I've always been a very shy...soft spoken person...LOL...You know just wanted to sit in the corner in the back...do the behind the scene stuff...Definately didn't want to be in the limelight..But God busted my bubble and pushed me to the front..after breaking me..and humbling me..LOL...He gave me the revelation that it wasn't about ME....but about HIM....He was going to do some things THROUGH me...He just needed a willing vessel...Well like I said..AFTER being humbled to the ground ...LOL..all my fears are GONE....and I am enjoying my walk with the Lord....every day is exciting..because there NEVER a DULL moment in THE KINGDOM...LOL.... |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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Singing praises to the Spirit of the Lord and Dancing before Him in appreciation for our victory over Fear...  
was  to see just how many fears there were I was led to face and walk through drawing upon HIS overcoming power within.
Am being put in mind of a Star Trek episode where the underlying message was fear was there to be overcome....  Thank You Father for Your overcoming power!!!!
As usual... good blog bro!!!  |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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Boy did I have a plan too...and it didn't work out...LOL I always have a plan for things though and they seldom work out....I just learned after being totally humbled it is not always about me...it is about Him...when I realize that I also realize there is nothing He won't see me through to get me throught, He goes before each of us!...God bless Mike, Great blog |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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YES !!!! He can deliver all of us, all we have to do is hand over the reins.....
As committed,dedicated, sanctified christians we still have our fears, but the good news is we are seasoned and mature enough(I pray) to KNOW that the fears will come and all we have to do is hand them over to our Father and let him have his way.... |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| This sounds just like me! |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| That sounds like you know how to control your fears and that is an awesome thing |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| Food for thought. Good post Mike. Pslm 27 always comforted me most at such times. |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| I think my life has progressed in a similar way to yours. There are still fears, but I feel that with my growing faith, I have made great strides in overcoming fear. |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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 ![http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3Ukg8_PFAk]()
Minus references to "stoagie n a nice cold beer" this could be an anthem for anyone dealing with fears. As it is, I think Ms. Clark sang it as an anthem for the Canadian paralymic team. I love the song and it helps remind me of a favorite scripture verse of mine "For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind" (2 Tim.1:7). ..When I am dealing with fears, subtle or otherwise, this verse has helped immensely.May God helpus all in dealing with our various fears as we grow in Him. Much love. |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| Mike, I can relate to every word you wrote.It is so funny but when you face your fears with faith your fears do begin to fall,and God uses you in ways you never even imagined.The public speaking is a HUGE fear for me.The more I do it, the more glory God gets,and other people notice & are encouraged in their walk with Christ.They are like if God can get such and such do that as scared as they are of whatever,surely God can help me over come my fear to do whatever for God. |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| In 1978, had a 19 year old ask me (when I was 20 not 51) if she could still except Jesus and smoke pot. I told her yes, He would take away the desire. I knew because he took away many desires from me right away. Today, She is 50 and still in love with Jesus. She raised two children to know the Lord and performs in jail ministry in Ohio. |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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| Bit, by bit, step, by step..... |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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Marjay, I never would have taken you for a shy person. But then, you probably wouldn't have taken me for one either! (I am pretty quiet in person too.) Juanita, that is quite a story of witnessing power. Your friend is a wonderful testimony for you! Sarah, I know what you mean. I just give God the results, whether I succeed or fail. That also helps the fears fade away. |
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| October 22, 2008 |
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Starr, The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? Amen!
Deb, you seem like a courageous woman to me! You just keep going, sometimes seemingly against the odds!
Megan, I am getting there. Tastes of success are exhiliarating!!
Ken, funny! I have a feeling we'd get along famously.
Penny, great scripture, I was waiting for someone to post that one.
Lori, our plans have a wonderful tendency to fail when they either don't involve God or try to factor him out of the equation. Glad your plan failed, as mine did too! :-)
Bren - your comments are so entertaining!!! (w/all those crazy smilies)
Mary, it seems easy to you, b/c you've been doing it a while now. I also know God's been growing your "faith muscles" by putting you to the test often. Trials will do much to force us to overcome fears! |
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| October 23, 2008 |
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| I have my moments. And they are MOMENTS !! |
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| October 30, 2008 |
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| Mike... God smiles down on you, because you are Mike. There is one Mike. Thank goodness! I just adore you. |
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