| PowerLife - Mar 27, 2009 |
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| Friday, 27 March 2009 00:00 |
By Dr. Chuck VancePastor, Calvary Baptist Church “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself …” Wow, what a timely statement. It was timely for our nation in WWII and it is again timely for our nation today. br> In WWII, the world started changing, and today our world is changing. The fact for you and I to face squarely today is that change creates fear. In times like today, we must guard against the paralysis of fear. How does this paralysis look and feel? How does it present itself? It doesn’t always look like fear, but we find several different ways fear masquerades itself. It can be seen as: “Overanalyzes” paralysis… “What will people think” paralysis… “What if I fail” paralysis… “What if…What if…What if" paralysis… “I can’t do that…” paralysis. All of these identified fear experiences I just listed are quite normal to be occurring in our lives today because change causes fear. The reality of change is that things change, and that is where some of us are today. As the Borg says to Captian Picard during an attack on the starship Enterprise, “Resistance is futile.” This is an absolute truth principle about change in life. Human life is an experience of change throughout all the life span. (Remember, change causes fear.) Some of us will have to make changes in our lives because things may not go back like they were. If that is you, then don’t look at it as a disaster but as an opportunity. To overcome the fear created by change, let me suggest a plan to help let this happen. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul shares a plan for success in life that will help you change and face life as it is, successfully. He says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (ESV) What I learn from this passage is fourfold: First, I must be proactive in life. Second, I must be disciplined. Third, I must be goal minded. Finally, I must find my source of strength. I have found that my personal relationship with God through his Son, Jesus, gives me all the strength I need to be proactive, disciplined, and goal-minded in life and the success He desires for me. He will also be your strength if you wish. Some of you have a lot to think through and a lot of changes to face. I am praying for you that you will be able to face it without fear. Keep on thinking!!!!! With Pen in Hand, Dr. Chuck This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
