Conquer Your Fears

I cringed lower into the seat of my grey metal desk, yearning for the faded yellow floor to swallow me into oblivion. A crimson heat spread from my forehead to my neck; my legs trembled uncontrollably. I struggled to bring my lurching stomach under control - vomiting all over my classmates was about the only thing that could worsen this nightmare.

My panic attack was provoked by my fifth grade teacher's request that I come to the front of the class and recite a few lines from Emily Dickinson's "A Slash of Blue." I knew the verses - that wasn't the problem. Just the night before I had recited the poem to my three-year old sister, Dianne. But an adoring baby sister is one thing - a classroom full of peers was entirely another matter.

I finally dragged myself to the front of the class and managed to avoid crying while I laboriously choked out each word.

My terror of public speaking worsened over the years, driving me to Herculean efforts to avoid situations that posed even a remote risk of having to say a few words to a group. At university, I refused to sign up for courses that required oral presentations.

You can imagine my surprise and dismay, years later, when God spoke to my heart during prayer that He was preparing me to speak to women's groups.

The first time I accepted an invitation to speak at a women's conference will be forever branded in my memory. From that moment until the conference six weeks later, anxiety kept me awake most nights. I lost weight. I fantasized that the worst blizzard in Canadian history would strike, causing the event to be cancelled.

But alas, the dreaded night arrived. When I picked up the microphone and started speaking, I trembled from head to toe. For the first few minutes, I felt like I would faint from terror. Then suddenly, God's peace settled on me, and remained with me for the rest of my speech.

This scenario repeated itself, with gradually lessening severity, the next several times I was asked to speak. As I continued to trust in God's grace and power, the day came when I was truly free from fear.

What if I had never faced that fear? It would continue to rule my life today, governing my decisions and stifling my potential.

Over the years I have spoken with many women who have ideas and dreams. Some dream of starting their own businesses. Others dream of writing songs, or establishing a ministry to reach out to inner city youth, or counselling abused women, or running for political office. As they share these dreams, their faces radiate with passion and joy. Sadly, these passions rarely translate into achievement. Fear quenches the passion and immobilizes them from stepping out to reach for their dreams.

What gifts are buried beneath your fears? If you don't confront those fears, they will rob your dreams, repress your potential and hinder you from discerning your destiny.

Faith = Action

Overcoming fear means changing our focus. Instead of depending on our own strengths or weaknesses, we trust and rely on the strength and power of God working in and through us. The Bible assures us:

I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me - I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me (Phil. 4:13 AMP).

Genuine "God-dependence" produces faith and boldness. This principle is illustrated in the biblical account of Joshua and the Israelites crossing the Jordan River to enter the land that God had promised them.

Between the Israelites and the land of promise was a formidable barrier - the Jordan River. It was flood season at the time God instructed them to cross the Jordan, and the river was overflowing its banks. No bridges, airplanes or boats were available to transport them to the other side of the flooding waters. If they tried swimming, they would surely drown.

God's instructions for crossing the river defied common sense. He said that the priests were to go first and step into the flooding waters, then God would cause the water flowing downstream to stop and pile up into a heap (Josh. 3:13). In other words, the miracle would happen after they stepped into the raging floodwaters.

Many people are waiting for a miracle before taking a step of faith. Human nature says, "Lord, we'll wait on the banks of the Jordan until you part the waters. Once you part the waters, then we'll step into the river."

Faith doesn't work that way. Someone once said, "God is the fastest chess player in the world - it's always your move." You move - then He provides His supernatural power to enable you to do the impossible.

Remember, courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is boldly stepping out in faith and obeying God despite your feelings of fear, being undaunted by obstacles.

What dreams has God placed in your heart? Are you willing to believe His promises? If you are waiting for feelings of fear and inferiority to go away before you step out to embrace those dreams, you'll never fulfill your life purpose.

Decide today that fear will no longer dictate your choices and actions. Place your total dependence on God, and trust in His grace and power as you take the next step on the path to your destiny.

Judy Rushfeldt is an author, speaker, and publisher of the online women's magazine, http://LifeToolsforWomen.com. Her passion is to inspire and equip women to reach their dreams. Her latest book, Making Your Dreams Your Destiny - a woman's guide to awakening your passions and fulfilling your purpose, is available in quality bookstores.

For more information about this life-changing book, or to order online, visit: http://www.MakingYourDreams.com

---

Resisting Temptation - The JESUS Way

One thing that Jesus was NOT - was flashy. When... Read More

Mankinds Ten Worst Enemies: #4 Malice

Malice is a great enemy to mankind. It is evil... Read More

Language of Dreams

Dreams take us not into ourselves, but out of ourselves.... Read More

Anamchara - Meeting With The Master

His name sounds as Finn. He has beautiful blue eyes... Read More

My Experience with Spiritual Healing

Healing is a special gift that any human being can... Read More

Be Abundant...Set a New Mental Equivalent

Limiting beliefs, just like positive, empowering thoughts, provide a foundation... Read More

Why Jesus?

There are many contradictions in life and none more easily... Read More

Healing Your Life

You have everything you need: a miraculous body, a phenomenal... Read More

Love vs. Fear - Volume 18

Breaking with tradition, today's article comes from the 9-23-04 edition... Read More

Americans Need a Savior Not Another Guru

Mrs. Dixon the famous prognosticator and psychic to the stars... Read More

How Does God See You?

How does God see you? Does He like what He... Read More

Unfinished Woman

I'm at that place in life many refer to as... Read More

Soulstretch: Raising the Bar on Nobility and Nicety

In the make-believe world, too, fiction and films are filled... Read More

The Cuddlies

I finally went to the dentist today. I had been... Read More

Tibetan Singing Bowls - Learn More Before You Buy

I recently had the pleasure to interview Richard Rudis, a... Read More

Pray Off Your Debts - in 10 Days or Less

It will all be clear in a minute, but first... Read More

What are Angels? Angelic Guidance Explained

Angels are making their presence felt everywhere. Once I started... Read More

Ancient Wisdom: Can it Still be Applied Today?

*Advice on living a humane and compassionate life.According to text... Read More

Romantic Relationships: A Spiritual Perspective

Meeting someone so attractive, so beautiful. Your heart beats like... Read More

Kundalini Symbology

While study and pursuit of the Kundalini is considered part... Read More

Its Not What You Know, Its What You Do

Knowing what is right and what is wrong in your... Read More

Angels on Assignment

Recently it has come to my attention people are noticing... Read More

7 Ways to Stay Spiritually Balanced

When we find spirituality, or it finds us, the experience... Read More

Why Sit Here Until I Die?

The bible tells a story about four men who sat... Read More

Out of the Closet?

We may sometimes consider the difficulty that occurs with our... Read More

Life Dont Work That Way

It would be nice if the planet - like so... Read More

The Flow Of Money

The more we worry about money, and who's asking for... Read More

A Testimony of an Ex-Mormon

Mormons like to give testimonies. Unlike Mormon testimonies, I will... Read More

A SPIRITUAL SOLUTION - Wisdom From The Fulfillment Forum Books & Study Courses

A few men and women are universally successful but such... Read More

Equal In the Eyes of God

There was a time in my life when I seriously... Read More

Spiritual Solution for Tensions and Anxiety

Realisation and repeated memorization of the true knowledge is the... Read More

Spiritual Surrender: Living a Peace Filled Life

Are you at a crossroad in your life where you... Read More

Salvation: The Divine Imperative

Of the many individuals who were touched through the ministry... Read More