"I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back."
Matthew 25:25
Matthew 25:25
Fear. Fear can keep us from many things. Fear can keep us from going for the promotion at work. Fear can keep us from saying yes to God. Fear can keep us from righting a wrong. Fear can keep us from living out God's plan. Fear can..... you finish the sentence.
The word fear jumped out at me today. Not because I am particularly fearful of anything right now but because I never noticed the third servant was afraid. What was he afraid of? He was afraid he would "mess-up" what his master had entrusted to him. In fear he hid the money and in humility he gave it back.
The picture my mind painted was of me bowing before my Holy Lord giving back exactly what He trusted to me, nothing more. I questioned, "Am I responding to my Master as this servant responded to his master? Have I fully used or am I fully using, even developing the gifts and talents He has entrusted to me to grow His Kingdom? Am I hiding them out of fear of "messing-up"?"
What about you? Are you trapped in the fear factor, hiding what the Lord gave you to use for His glory? Let's commit to asking Him to supply the answer to that question and move from fearful to fearless in developing all the Lord entrusted to us.
12 Comments:
Wendy,
Your comments hit home today. Fear has paralyzed me in my serving God for a long time. I find myself focusing on how much suffering for Christ was a mark of the truly faithful servants. I shied away from that. I was always grateful for then suffering OF Christ, but I was not certain I wanted to suffer FOR Him. Even as I write these words, I am ashamed.
This year has really stretched me. I believe when He says He only gives us what we can bear, that all things are possible through Him, that His will WILL be done on Earth as in Heaven (with us or without us) and He wants our participation.
Psalm 91:9-16 was a memory passage of mine and it has given me assurance that I will not fail in my service to Him. I need to keep repeating it; write it on my heart!
Now if I only knew what my gifts were! :)
"Be strong and courageous for the Lord thy God is with thee"
Karen, Basel
Wow, Wendy these words hit my heart on this morning. I am in such a fearful place right now. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord will make things right. It is taking that final step of courage.
He has blessed me so much. Yet my heart is so burdened wanting to share all He has done. I feel guilty for suppressing His goodness and mercies. Yet by the world standards, if I share I might hurt the entire situation.
Sticky stuff, because I know that nothing can be hurt when it is truth and made clear through Jesus.
Thank you for starting a new day with great thoughts. I have had a sleepless night and been with the Lord for hours.
Love and blessings
Diane
My prayers are with you Diane, whatever the situation!
Karen
Thank you dear Wendy for once again opening up the passage in a new light to me! karen & diane your honesty makes me love the two of you even more-if that is possible! Because there are so many "fear nots," in the Bible, I do believe this is one issue most of us deal with, in one form or anther. I tend to be more fearful of "those around me, specifically, my children," rather than fearful myself. My mother is such a worrier, that I've spent most of my life trying to get her not to worry. I have realized the past several years tho, that I can't do it, but now i pray, and I try to listen to her. God will use this for His Glory. Karen, I'm going to share those verses with my mom. 91:11 is a verse I've prayed many times over my children.
I do strongly believe that surrounding ourselves by encouraging, Christ followers helps to keep us not only on His path, but also, to point us back to His Truths.
Today, I was drawn to the end of our reading. How do we make sure we are ready for His return? We are told to be on guard! To stay alert! To watch for Him! ---For the Son of Man will come when we least expect it. He tells us to love. Can we see the evidence in our day-to-day living?
You fed me
You gave me a drink
You invited me into your home
You gave me clothing
You cared for me
You visited me
As I think about just how much I love my children…and then I think about God creating me, and the love he offers me morning after morning! Oh, today, I want to seek to love, I mean…Jesus love, from the bottom of my heart-passionately! Oh, to one day…sit at His right hand side-the side where the sheep will be. Eternity. That’s forever and ever! Abiding in you, dear LORD Jesus, all day long! Walking along with You. Seeking and loving You with all of my heart, all of my soul, and all of my body! Lori - AZ
Thanks for your insight Wendy - I'm going to give this some thought.
Friends, I'm going to be out for a while as I undergo radiation therapy. I will be doing an aggressive treatment twice a day for five days beginning on Monday. I have the port put in tomorrow, so I ask your continued prayers.
I'm also asking prayer for my son-in-law, a FL firefighter who was severly burned in the call of duty last Sunday. He remains in the hospital, and is in a lot of pain. My daughter does not want me to delay my own treatment, but I must admit my heart is in FL right now. They are receiving a tremendous amount of support, and I thank God for protecting him.
During long absences I wish I had a laptop with internet access, but I do not. I will use my time to just rest in His word, and poke around for a few nuggets to add to my treasure chest :) God has been faithful...
Susna
Do I have problems with fear even as a Christian??? I'm AFRAID so!
(pun intended! ha) Seriously, fear is one of my biggest issues. I don't want to be, I don't like to be, but yet so much of the time, I AM! I know God is "bigger than all my problems, bigger than all my fears" but sometimes it's just hard to trust like I should.
I long to be a fear-LESS child of God. I feel like such a failure much of the time because I do let fear dictate what I do or don't do.
Thank you for parsing the Scriptures for us and helping us to be able to digest it a little bit at a time! Believe me...it helps!
God bless!
Marilyn...in Mississippi
Watching for Him with sweet anticipation!
Prayers for you Susan. Be brave and bold. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Morgen - MN
Susan,
My heart is with you and if I could give you my laptop I would. Where are you located?
My email is dapple1984@yahoo.com would you please send me your address so that I may send you some cards by mail. At least you can have some sisterhood that way.
Father, it seems that all of us are fearful at times in our lives. I pray when I am fearful that my first source of strenght is in you. I thank you for my sisters in Christ who gather round me and prayer and support. Lord, I stand with Susan tonight. She is facing a hard physical road. Her heart knows she needs to tend to her own care, yet hurts for her son-in-law and daughter. You know the needs, fears and desires Father. Meet them as only you can. Place a healing hand on this family in their time of pain.Thank you for all you have done and what you will do.
Amen,
Susan lean hard on the Father and He will sustain you.
Hugs dear sister,
Fear is nothing more than Satan's whispers.
Do not be afraid says the Lord.
Love you sisters,
Diane
Hi ladies,
Wow it feels like forever since I have been able to get on to read and connect with you all. Was flicking through some of the older posts - so happy to read about Joy and Susan's good news...Susan, I pray for God's continued protection and healing as you journey this week. The poem footprints comes to mind...where the author questions why God abandonned him during times of great stress and God tells the author, he was not abandonned but that God carried Him at those times. Rest in His arms my friend, He will carry you the distance.
Today's reading about fear really hit home. Lord, how often do I not use my gifts and talents for Your honour and glory because I am afraid to mess up, to look stupid and if I am brutally honest - to have others persecute me for being Christian. Please give me a bold heart, esp where my little son is concerned.
Getting ready for Elliot's baptism in a few weeks. Praying for boldness and courage in the face of much family disunity. Help me to honour You Lord on this most special day. Thank you for the gift of my son.
Take care ladies, be back when i can
Jodie
Praying...Susan for you and your SIL.
Hugs, Lori - AZ
Wendy, no subject grabs me more than 'fear'. Fear is my daily enemy. The thing that holds me captive far too many times. I know I've written about it often on my blog as well as commented here. I honestly don't think a day ever goes by without it raising it's ugly head.
Now, in saying that, recognizing it's hold on me has helped greatly. Although I often remain fearful in a situation, the Lord enables me to move forward in that fear, but it's hard. I have to actively, intentionally fill my mind with truth, and with trembling, sweaty palms make decisions based on that truth. Do I always? No. But, there has been some progress. I often wish the Lord would just heal me of all fear, but it's only through my weakness that He is strong.
Praying for you especially, Diane and Susan.
Hugs,
Joy
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