Fear

My dad said "most the the stuff you worry about never happens, and if it does, it doesn't amount to much". He said this in his late 80's. My father had followed God long enough to know that nothing is beyond His reach.

As a leader I have learned that truth. Worry, which is rooted in fear, is a waste of time. You can't lead full of worry or full of fear. Don't get me wrong, there have been and will be plenty of times when worry and fear are a part of my leadership. One leader said that "courage is fear that has said it's prayers". Here are some things I think on during these times.

In the book of Philippians chapter 4 Paul says "don't worry about anything, but pray about everything". If I will take all that worry to God then He begins to sort out my thinking and brings His peace into my heart. Good stuff!

Jesus asked, "Can a man add an inch to his height by worry, NO!" Jesus said worry is a waste of time!

Let me go to the real issue. Last night I woke up yet once again in a cold sweat about ... what have I done leaving the comfort of an established church and starting over, we are going to starve, my kids will have to drop out of college, Tara will come to her senses and leave me, I am the biggest fool in the history of man.... All of this was a big lie. Speculation and worry are the seed bed of sin. I choose not to go down that road any further, asked God to help me, and went back to sleep. It is funny how everything is worse at night.

There are 366 verses in the bible about having no fear. That's one for everyday and an extra one for leap year. God knows we are worriers, fearful, crazy speculators, and He wants us to have His peace. I have to choose to accept that peace. I have to put my trust in the Lord. God's word is my source of truth, life, and peace. Through His word His spirit comforts me.

So, stop worrying, start trusting!